The Filter Theory of Attraction Flashcards
Who developed the filter theory of attraction
Kerckhoff and Davis
What is the filter theory of attraction
The idea that we select our partners by using a series of filters to narrow down the ‘field of availables’ from which we might eventually make our choice
What are the stages of filtering in the filter theory of relationships
1.Social Demography
2.Similarity of attitudes
3.Complementary needs
What is social demography
Refers to variables like age, background and geographic location. The range is already relatively small as we are more likely to come into contact with those in our ethnic, social and educational circles, and be more at ease aroung them
At the first stage of the filter theory, what is attraction particularly to do with
At the first stage, attraction has more to do with social rather than individual characteristics
What is the similarity in attitudes phase of the filter theory of attraction
Involves individuals psychological characteristics, specifically their agreement of attitudes and basic values
Why is similarity of attitudes an important stage of the filter theory
Kerckhoff and Davis found that similarity of attitudes was centrally important at the early part of a relationship as it was the best predictor of the relationship being stable
How do people assess similarity of attitudes through the filter theory
Through disclosure
What is the complementary needs stage of the filter theory
Assessment of complementary needs, as those with different needs like each other because they provide for each other with mututal satisfaction of these opposed needs
Why is an assessment of complementary needs important in the filter theory
Finding a partner complements you ensures your own needs are met
What study did Winch do
Winch’s study of 25 married couples in the US suggested that needs should be complementary rather than similar if marriages are to work, so if one partner was low on a certain attribute their opposite should be high
Who did a study of married couples in the US to assess complementary needs
Winch
What study did Kerckhoff and Davis do
A longitudinal study of 94 dating couples at Uni. Each couple completed two questionaires assessing the degree to which they shared attitudes and values and the degree to which they fulfilled complementary needs. 7 months later they fulfilled another questionaire about how close they felt to their partner compared to at the beginning of the study.
What did Kerckhoff and Davis find from their study
When they divided the couples into short term (those who had been going less than 18 months) and long term (more than 18 months), they found that for short term couples, similarity of attitudes was the most significant predictor of closeness, while for those going long term, complementary needs was the most significant predictor.
Why is the perception of similarity more important than actual similarity in the filtering process
Although research generally supports attitudinal similarity in attraction, it appears the perception of similarity is more important than the actual thing. Researchers have suggested that percieved similarity predicts attraction more strongly than actual similarity, and this was supported by Tidwell et al using questionaires at a speed dating event
Who used questionaires at a speed dating event to test percieved similarities
Tidwell
Why has there been a lack of research support for the filter theory
Levinger et al failed to replicate the results of Kerckhoff and Davis study. In theis study, 330 ‘steadily attached’ couples went through the same procedure as Kerckhoff and Davis study, and there was no evidence either similarity of attitudes or values influenced progress towards premanence of relationshiops. Levinger suggests that Kerckhoff and Davis questionaires were no longer suitable due to the time between the studies, yielding the results
Who tried to replicate Kerckhoff and Davis study
Levinger
How is support for complimentary needs much scarcer than for similarity attraction
Dijkstra and Barelds studied 760 singles on a dating site who were looking for a long term mate. Participants personalities were measured and they were then asked to rate personality characteristics of their ideal mate. Although participants initially indicated taht they desired a complementary partner, there was a strong correlation between their own personality and ideal partners personality
Who found that people on dating apps seek their own kind of person
Dijkstra and Barelds
What is an issue with the sequencing of the filter theory
The filter theory assumes that relationships progress when partners discover shared attitudes and values with their partner, and the possession of needs that complement their own. However, evidence suggests that attitudes towards relationships have changed over the decades since Kerckhoff and Davis made the theory. Thornton and Young-DeMarko found evidence of a weakening norm of marriage, more egalitarian gender roles and changed attitudes to mothers working. As attitudes are constantly changing people may not know partner needs, preferences or values, weakening the relevance of filter theory
Who found that women were more allowed to work
Thornton and Young-DeMarko
