Filter theory AO1 and AO3

Who proposed filter theory?

Kerckhoff and Davis

What does filter theory argue?

people rely on a number of social and personal factors to filter potential partners from a 'field of availables' to a 'field of desirables' through the application of these filters

What are the initial filters?

Social and demographic filters

- proximity

- religion

- race/ethnicity

- education

Physical attractiveness is also key at this stage

what is the purpose of the initial filters?

to narrow down the field of availables down to those people we could realistically meet

What is the second major filter?

Similarity

- shared ideas

- shared interests

- shared values

if they have these, they are more likely to be attracted to each other

What does Rubin argue about similarity?

- we seek similarity as we want social validation for our interests

- we are drawn to the possibility of engaging in the same activities

- we may assume people who are similar to us are less likely to reject us

What is the final filter?

Complementarity of emotional needs

- extent to which the couple fit together and meet each other's emotional needs

- does slightly support 'opposites attract' as we are attracted to people whose behaviour takes account for our deficits

- in the long term, we are drawn to people whose needs are harmonious with our own

What did they base their theory off of?

- research with 94 couples at Duke University

- short term couples and long term couples

- questionnaire over a 7 month period

- found personality, similarity and agreement on basic values were the most important factor in the short term relps

- complementary of needs was the most important factor in long term relps

AO3 OF FILTER THEORY

Social demography (support)

- we tend to form relps with people of the same ethnic group, cultural, social, religious etc. backgrounds as us

- Taylor et al -> 85% of Americans married in 2008 married someone of their own ethnic group, supporting social demographic ideas

- geographical proximity is also a good indicator of whether 2 people are likely to become romantically involved

- Clark -> 50% of citizens of Columbia, USA were married to people who initially lived within walking distance of their house

Similarity in attitudes

- 'alikes' rather than opposites attract

- Buss - "the tendency of opposites to marry has never been reliably demonstrated, with the single exception of sex"

- Lea and Duck -> Similarity in attitudes, beliefs and ways of thinking are common indicators of strong friendships and attraction

- Singh et al -> dissimilar attitudes depress liking

Complementarity of emotional needs

- Vast majority of evidence contradicts this

- Dijkstra and Barelds -> studied 760 college students and found strong correlations between the personality of the individual and the personality of their ideal partner