filter theory

• Who conducted the study on partner selection criteria in 1962?

  Kerckhoff and Davis
• What was the main focus of Kerckhoff and Davis's study?


  To discover criteria people use to choose a partner
• What type of relationships did Kerckhoff and Davis mainly study?

  Short-term relationships of fewer than 18 months
• What are the filters identified by Kerckhoff and Davis for partner selection?

  • Sociodemographic
  • Similarity of attitudes
  • Complementarity
• Why did Kerckhoff and Davis refer to the criteria for partner selection as 'filters'?


  Because they help people sift through potential partners to choose the right one