Flashcards
Filter Theory
Cards in this deck (9)
- 1Filter Theory- Social Demography
- Silimarity in Attitudes
- Complementarity of Needs - 2Social Demography- Refers to variables such as age, social background and geographical location which determine the likelihood of individuals meeting
- Social circumstances reduce the range of people we able to meet
- The range is restricted as we are more likely to come into contact with people of the same or similar social demography - 3Similarity of Attitudes- Involves individuals' psychological characteristics, specifically their agreement on attitudes and basic values
- Found to be of central importance at the start of a relationship and predictor of relationship stability
- Through disclosures to each other, individuals are able to weigh up decisions about the continuation or termination of the relationship - 4Complementarity of Needs- Involves the assessment of opposing needs (eg: need to be caring and the need to be cared for) - provide each other with mutual satisfaction
- If one partner was low in a particular attribute, then the other should be high. Not the same as 'opposites attract' - needs should be harmonious rather than conflict - 5Key Study Kerckhoff and Davis (1962)- A longitudinal study of 94 US uni couples
- Each partner completed 2 questionnaires assessing the degree to which they shared attitudes, values & the degree of need complementarity
- 7 months after initial testing, they completed another questionnaire to compare how they felt = 'progress toward permanence' - 6Key Study Kerckhoff and Davis (1962- Initial analysis of results, the only similarity appeared to be related to partner closeness
- Divided couples into long and short term (±18 months) - found that short term partners relied on similarity of attitudes and values and long term need complementarity - 7EvaluationThe perceived similarity may be more important than actual similarity
> Research has generally supported the importance of attitudinal similarity in attraction
> Some researchers found that perceived similarity predicts attraction more strongly than actual similarity
> This research was supported in a speed-dating study - 8EvaluationA problem for filter theory
> The key study assumes that relationships progress when partners discover shared attitudes and values etc
> These are constantly changing over time and individuals are often not fully aware of their partner's attitudes and values - 9EvaluationLack of research support
> Researchers failed to replicate the results
> 330 couples who were 'steadily attached' went through the same procedures
> No evidence that either similarity of attitudes and values or complementarity of needs influenced progress toward permanence
> The questionnaires used in the first study were not appropriate due to changes in social values
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- A level Psychology (Relationships) Flashcards on Filter Theory, created by Chanelle Titchener on 03/05/2019.
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- Chanelle Titchener
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