similarity in attitudes

• similarity in attitudes describes how people want to form relationships with those who share their attitudes, outlook, worldview etc.
• Similarity in attitudes forms second level of filtering, more specific criteria are applied i.e. nobody wants to date someone just because they live around the corner; there has to be some meeting of minds involved
• only in first 18 months of relationship formation that similarity in attitudes is a key factor, once the relationship is established this filter has been passed and need to establish similarity is not as vital
• if the couple do not share values, beliefs and attitudes then there is no firm foundation on which to build the relationship (Byrne, 1997)