AO1

• Filter theory

  Kerchoff & Davis (1962)


  compared attitudes and personalities of student couples in the short term (less than 18 months)

  They devised filter theory to explain how romantic relationships form and develop

  field of avaliables

  field of desirables
• what is meant by 'field of avaliables'?

  the entire set of potential partners
• what is meant by 'field of desirables'?


  a narrower range of desirable potential partners
• 1st filter name

  social demographic
• social demographic contains?

  For example: social, education, ethnic, religion

  Accessibility of a potential partner - you're more likely to want someone who is similar to you socially and culturally

  anyone who doesn't fit into that category is discounted as a potential partner

  the outcome is homogamy - being with someone who is similar to you both socially and culturally
• 2nd filter is?

  Similarity of attitudes
• Similarity of attitudes contains?

  sharing similar beliefs and attitudes which promotes self-disclosure
• Similarity of attitudes

  Byrne (1997)


  similarity increases attraction e.g law of attraction

  If that's not present then the relationship will eventually 'fizzle out
• Similiarity of attitudes

  Bahns et al (2016)


  similarity is important as it helps make social situations more comfortable

  it pays to interact with a partner who shares: attitudes, goals and values as it makes the relationship run more smoothly and reduces the likelihood of conflict
• what is the 3rd filter?

  Complementary filter
• what happens in complementary filter?

  meeting one another's needs

  important in long term relationships

  for example: making your partner laugh and your partner enjoys laughing

  it gives a feeling of being whole when with the other person