Relationships

• Filter theory is the idea that we chose romantic partners using a series of filters that narrow down the people available to make a final choice.
• Complementarity is how well two people fit together as a couple and meet each other's needs
• Attitude similarity is if people share similar attitudes, values and beliefs then communication is easier and so a relationship is more likely to progress
• Social demography is variables such as age, social background and location, which determine the likelihood of individuals meeting
• Kerckhoff and Davis (1962) aims: to investigate how important shared attitudes, values and complementarity are in predicting how close a couple are.
• Kerckhoff and Davis (1962) procedure: a longitudinal study of 94 dating couples where each partner completed two questionnaires, one assessing their shared attitudes and values, one assessing the degree of need complementarity. Seven months later, couples assessed how close they felt to their partner compared to the start.
• Kerckhoff and Davis (1962) findings: Less than 18 months - similarity of attitudes was the most significant predictor of how close they felt to their partner. More than 18 months - complementarity of needs was predictive of how close they felt to their partner.
• A negative of filter theory is that there is a lack of research support. For example, Levinger (1970) failed to replicate Kerckhoff and Davis's study. Therefore, it does not give the study external reliability. Thus, more research is needed to be able to say the results are reliable and accurate.
• A positive of filter theory is that it allows people to make predictions about future interactions with a person. For example, Duck claims people use a variety of information to decide whether to continue a relationship. Therefore, filtering stops people making the wrong decision and regretting it.
• Self-disclosure is the extent to which a person reveals personal information about themselves (intimate thoughts, feelings, experiences)
• Collins and Miller thought that if someone reveals more information to another person, they like them a lot
• Berg and Archer suggested that the more one person discloses to another, the more disclosure is expected in return
• Social penetration theory (Altman and Taylor) claims that as a romantic relationship develops, communication switches from superficial to deeply personal topics, penetrating their public persona to reach their private self
• Sprecher studied the impact self-disclosure using reciprocity has on the liking of another person. He found that in the reciprocal condition people scored higher in liking, closeness, similarity and enjoyment. Showing there's a positive correlation between reciprocal disclosure and security and liking.
• Sprecher also studied 50 couples and found a positive correlation between self-disclosure and relationship stability.
• A positive of self-diclosure explanation is research evidence. Collins and Miller conducted a meta-analysis which supports that self-disclosure plays the central role in relationship maintenance. Therefore, there is supporting research, thus increased external reliability.