AO1

• Filter theory suggests that there is a field of availables and a field of desirables. Kerkhoff and Davis explain attraction in terms of attitudes and personalities. First, you consider the field of availables, which are the pool of potential partners who are accessible to us, and from this, we select the field of desirables. via three filters of varying importance at different stages of a relationship.
• The first filter is social demography, which are factors that influence the chances of meeting, for example age or education. Demographics are features that describe populations. Social demographics include geographical location and social class. Anyone who is too different or too far away. is not a potential partner and is filtered out before the next stage. The outcome is homogamy where the partner is similar to you and shares your background.
• The second filter is similarity in attitudes. This is through sharing beliefs and values and is important for couples who have been together less than 18 months. In the early stages of a relationship, agreeing on basic values promotes better communication and self-disclosure. Byrne found that similarity in attitudes causes mutual attraction. Where such similarity does not exist, it is found that often the relationship fades after only a few dates.
• The third filter is complementarity. Partners complement each other when they have traits that the other one laugh. For example, one partner may enjoy making another partner laugh and in turn this partner enjoys being made to laugh. This is important in the longer stages of a relationship. It is thought to give the romantic partners a feeling of togetherness and making a whole. For example, partners will feel like they are meeting each other's needs if one likes caring and the other enjoys being cared for.