Final answer:
People first filter potential friends or romantic partners based on physical attractiveness, and then consider other factors like socioeconomic status, interests, values, and shared experiences from family and school.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the filtering model in the context of relationship formation, people first filter for factors relating to physical attractiveness. This initial stage of filtering is believed to be driven by immediate perceptions and judgements when meeting potential friends or romantic partners. It encompasses the quick, often subconscious, evaluations of a person's appearance and non-verbal behaviors.
After this initial filter, other factors become increasingly important in the decision-making process for forming relationships, including reciprocity, self-disclosure, shared interests and values, and social and economical status. Over time, shared experiences, such as those from family and school, become crucial in the impact these agents of socialization have on an individual’s relationship choices.