Factors affecting attraction: filter theory

• what is meant by filter theory?

  people choose a romantic partner by using a series of filters that narrow down the field of availabilities from which we might eventually make our choice
• Who was the filter theory of attraction devised by?

  Kerckoff and Davis
• what are the three main filter's/stages prominent in different stages of partner selection?

  • social demography- variables such as age, background and religion determining the likelihood of individuals meeting in the first place are most likely the most important factors in initiating a relationship.
  • similarity in attitudes- if people share similar attitudes, values and beliefs, communication is easier so a relationship is likely to progress
  • Complementarity of needs- how well two people fit together and meet each other's needs, providing each other with mutual satisfaction of opposed needs
• describe what's involved in social demography

  • refers to variables such as age, social background and geographical location
  • these determine the likelihood of individuals meeting in the first place
  • social circumstances reduce the range of people available for us to meet
  • fairly restricted as we are more likely to contact people from own own ethnic, social and educational groups, and those living clos to us geographically
  • These are the people we are similar to and more at ease with
  • Therefore in this stage attraction has more to do with social rather than individual characteristics
• describe what is involved in similarity of attitudes

  • psychological characteristics- specifically the agreement on attitudes and values
  • Kerckoff and Davis found that similarity of attitudes was of central importance at the start of any relationship, best predictor of relationship stability
  • Through disclosures to each other, individuals weigh up decisions about whether or not to continue or terminate the relationship
  • Partners who are very different in terms of values aren't considered suitable for continuing a relationship, so are filtered from the field of possible long-term partners
• Describe what is involved in complementarity of needs

  • People having different needs like each other more because they provide each other with mutual satisfaction of opposed needs
  • Finding a partner who complements ensures needs are likely to be met
  • Winch- studied 25 married US couples, stated that social needs (eg dominance and defence) should be more complementary than similar if marriages are to work
  • If one partner is low in an attribute, the other should be high in it
  • In long-term relationships people are attracted to people who's needs are harmonious not conflicting with their own
• describe the procedure of the key study by Kerckoff and Davis

  • longitudinal study of 94 dating couples in US
  • each partner in the couple completed 2 questionnaires assessing degree to which they shared attitudes and values (Index of value consensus test)
  • and the degree of need complementarity (FIRO-B test)
  • 7 months after initial testing, couples completed a further questionnaire assessing how close they felt to their partner compared to how they felt at the beginning of the study
  • researchers believed this would indicate progress towards permanence in the relationship
• describe the findings of the key study by Kerckoff and Davis

  • In initial analysis of the results, only similarity appeared to be related to partner closeness.
  • But when the researchers divided the couples into short term and long term relationships (dating 18 mths vs dating more than 18 mths) a difference emerged
  • >18 mths- similarity of attitudes was the most significant predictor of how close they felt to the partner
  • <18mths- only complementarity of needs was predictive for how close each individual felt to their partner
• evaluation of the filter theory?

  • 😊Research by Kerckoff and Davis- longitudinal study
  • 😊 Duck- filtering process means you can avoid investing into relationships that won't work- strategic assessment as the process allows you to be exposed to person's true feelings
  • ☹️ Lack of research support- Levinger et al- failure to replicate- studied 330 couples, attitude similarity/complementarity of needs didn't influence progress towards permanence. Questionnaires Davis + K used outdated, lack of temporal validity
  • ☹️ cultural bias- US couples investigated (WEIRD samples)- process could be different for non-Westerners (beta bias and imposed etic) lack of generalisation as not all relationships begin with similar social demographics, complementarity of needs may not always indicate permanence