key terms of filter theory

• • Field of Availables: The larger group of potential partners that an individual could realistically form a relationship with. Influenced by: location, age, social class, education, religion, etc. This is who is accessible.
• • Field of Desirables: A filtered group from the field of availables – people we find attractive or compatible based on preferences. Based on: shared attitudes, personality traits, physical attraction. These are people we would consider dating.
• • Law of Attraction: The idea that we are attracted to people who give us positive reinforcement or make us feel good. Related to: reward/need satisfaction theory. Attraction increases when someone is rewarding to be around.
• • Complementarity: The idea that we are attracted to people who have traits that complement our own, especially in long-term relationships. Example: One partner is dominant, the other is submissive. Related to: emotional balance and mutual need fulfilment.
• • Homogamy: The tendency to be attracted to and form relationships with people who are similar to us. Similarities may be in: age, religion, culture, education, or values. Supports theories like: similarity-attraction and the matching hypothesis.