filter theory Flashcards
(3 cards)
limitation:explanation of attraction in romantic relationships is that some of its stages have become less relevant
E - For example, as modern society is much more multi-cultural and interconnected (in particular due to the internet) than in the 1960s, social demography may becoming less of a barrier to developing a relationship as it once was.
E - This may lead to the criticism that the theory’s explanation of attraction in romantic relationships lacks temporal validity. Its conclusions may have been true for a particular time, when people were only able to connect with those near them, but now it is less relevant in a more connected age. However, although the relevance of some aspects of the social demography filter may have been affected by technological change, it’s difficult to see how others, such as complementarity of needs will have changed. Arguably filter theory needs updating, but this
strength:there is research support
E – Using a longitudinal design, Kerckhoff and Davis (1962) found that for couples dating under 18 months, similarity in attitudes was the most significant predictor of for one partner’s feeling of intimacy towards the other, but for longer term relationships complementarity mattered more.
E – These findings support filter theory’s prediction that as a relationship develops, complementarity of needs supersedes similarity in attitudes in determining the level of attraction within a romantic relationship. This suggests that filter theory can explain the development of attraction in romantic relationships. These findings are especially credible as they make use of a longitudinal design. One advantage of this design is that it provides a full chronological view of events, allowing the researchers to make stronger claims about the causal relationship between the variables in filter theory and the development of attraction (e.g., having similar attitudes precedes, and therefore causes, greater attraction). This is superior to relying on a questionnaire administered at a single time, as this would make it difficult to establish the direction of causation between levels of attraction and variables, like complementarity of needs.
L – Therefore, this study provides support for filter theory as an explanation for attraction, and this support is strengthened by the use of a longitudinal design.
limitation:overly simplistic
E:this theory explains attraction in terms of basic variables e.g. social demography.
E:this suggests research could be explained bette using a holistic approach rather than a few variables. furthermore, there are large variations in what people find attractive because everyone has differing individuals views
