AO1 - Filter Theory

• Kerchoff and Davis suggested that when selecting from a range of people who are potentially available to them, however not all available partners are desirable to us, therefore people will use three 'filters' to narrow down the choice to people they believe will produce the best sustainable relationship
• 1. Social demography

  • Refers to factors such as ethnic group, level of education, religion, geographical location or social class
  • Our realistic field of 'availables' is constrained by our social circumstances
  • Anyone who is 'too different' will be discounted as a potential partner, for example, if they live too far away
  • The outcome of this filter is homogamy which means you are more likely to form a relationship with someone who is socially or culturally similar
• 2. Similarity in attitudes

  • Similar attitudes were found to be important in the development of romantic relationships but only for those who had been together for less than 18 months
  • A similarity of basic values allows for greater and deeper communication and self-disclosure
  • If similarity does not exist, the relationship will often fizzle out, e.g. partners have little in common
• 3. Complementarity

  • For long term relationships, research suggests partners need to be able to 'meet each others needs'
  • Two partners compliment each other when they have traits the other lacks, for example, one partner may like to nurture whilst the other person in the relationship may like to be nurtured
  • At a later stage of the relationship, opposites attract - complementarity is important as it gives two romantic partners the feeling that together they may form a whole and this adds depth to their relationship, which increases attraction