Filter Theory

• What are the 3 'filters'?


  1. Socal demography (location, education, social class and ethnic group)
  2. Simularity in attitudes
  3. Complimentairity of needs (They together form a whole)
• Research support for filter theory.


  Kerchkoff and Davies (1962)

  • 94 students
  • Compared <18 month relationships with >18 month relationships. (self-report)
  • Found that simularity attitude was the most important factor up to 18 months.
  • Over 18 months, complimentairy needs became the most important.
• Lack of temporal validity


  Online dating apps increase the field of individuals and online dating makes locational factors less of a problem.

  Social changes have led to relationships between ethnic groups.
• This theory could be reductionist.


  It is too simplistic (complimentairy is vital for success)