Filter Theory

• Kerckhoff & Davis : compared attitudes and personalities of student couples in short-term (less than 18 months) and long-term relationships. They devised a filter theory to explain how romantic relationships form and develop.
• Field of availables : the entire set of potential romantic partners but not everyone who is available is desirable to us.
• Filter Theory : there are three main factors that act as filters to narrow down our range of partner choice to a field of desirables.
• Social demography : people are more likely to form relationships with others who are socially and demographically similar, a concept known as homogamy. Factors such as social class, age, religion, education level, location, ethnicity, etc. increase the likelihood of interaction and shared experiences, making relationships more likely to form.