NOT DONE Filter theory

Filter theory

An explanation of relationship formation.

States that a series of different factors progressively reduces the range of available romantic partners to a much smaller pool of possibilities.

Includes social demography, similarity in attitudes and complementarity.

Social demography

Demographics are features that describe populations.

Social demographics focus on geographical location and social class.

Such factors filter out a large number of available partners.

This means many relationships are formed between partners who share social demographic characteristics

Similarity in attitudes

We are attracted to partners who share our basic values in the earlier stages of a relationship, and tend to discount available individuals who differ markedly from us in their attitudes

Complementarity

Similarity becomes less important as a relationship develops, and is replaced by a need for your partner to balance your traits with opposite ones of their own