Deck 10: Improving Communication Climates

Question 1

The most damaging kind of disconfirming response is disagreeing with the other person.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Incongruous responses contain two messages that seem to deny or contradict each other.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

When coping with criticism, it isn't a good idea to ask what else is wrong because it just brings up too much material to handle at one time.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Tangential responses are one type of disconfirming message.

Question 5

When you respond nondefensively to criticism, you can agree with the truth of what the critic is saying.

Question 6

Messages shaping the communication climate of a relationship can be both verbal and nonverbal.

Question 7

The Gibb categories define behaviors that can improve or hurt the communication climate.

Question 8

Stating your intentions is an important element of an assertive message.

Question 9

Just recognizing the other person isn't enough to be considered confirming.

Question 10

Acknowledgment is more confirming than recognition.

Question 11

A controlling message can be verbal or nonverbal.

Question 12

It's okay to reword the assertive message format to suit your own particular style of speaking.

Question 13

INSTRUCTIONS for questions 81-84: Match each statement with the family communication pattern it characterizes.
a.consensual
b.pluralistic
c.protective
d.laissez-faire
Once a progressive spiral has been established in a relationship, it is likely to continue indefinitely.

Question 14

Since ambiguous responses leave your partner unsure of your position, they would likely be interpreted as disconfirming.

Question 15

Perception makes little difference in determining whether a message is disconfirming.

Question 16

Whereas acknowledging others means you are interested in their ideas, endorsement means that you agree with them.

Question 17

You shouldn't have to repeat the assertive message format if you express yourself clearly in the first place.

Question 18

INSTRUCTIONS for questions 81-84: Match each statement with the family communication pattern it characterizes.
a.consensual
b.pluralistic
c.protective
d.laissez-faire
Defensiveness is often a self-perpetuating cycle.

Question 19

Endorsement is the strongest type of confirming message.

Question 20

The assertive message format should always be used in the order given in your text for best results.

Question 21

It's impossible to honestly accept the other person's point of view while maintaining your own position.

Question 22

Once engaged in a negative spiral, it is impossible for a couple to recover.

Question 23

A communication climate has to do with the way people feel about each other as they carry out activities.

Question 24

One advantage of paraphrasing a critic's comments is that the intensity of the attack may be reduced.

Question 25

Research suggests that agreeing with a correct fact when criticized is highly effective in restoring a damaged reputation with the critic.

Question 26

Asking for more information from your critics as a way to respond nondefensively means you need to be prepared to accept the comments.

Question 27

The most common form of acknowledgement is listening.

Question 28

Children whose parents use more confirming messages tend to have higher self-esteem and less stress.

Question 29

Employees usually do not appreciate open-door policies at work because it makes their bosses seem weak.

Question 30

A supportive climate usually results from the expression of empathy.

Question 31

A spiral is always negative.

Question 32

If an attack to our presenting self is justified, we will not react defensively.

Question 33

Behavior that fits into Gibb's category of "strategy" attempts to manipulate the other into doing what you want.

Question 34

In order to truly respond nondefensively to criticism you must always agree with the critic's judgment of you.

Question 35

What Gibb describes as "spontaneity" means saying the first thing that comes into your mind.

Question 36

Being ignored is less disconfirming than being dismissed or attacked.

Question 37

The emotional tone of a relationship is called the communication climate.

Question 38

When others confront us with attacks on our presenting self, we are likely to become defensive.

Question 39

When you decide to acknowledge an accurate criticism, an apology is also necessary.

Question 40

Another word to describe Gibb's defensive behavior of neutrality is indifference.

Question 41

In marriage, stonewalling is a strong predictor of divorce.

Question 42

In marriage, complaining is healthy, as long as the complaint is worded as a personal criticism rather than as a behavioral description.

Question 43

Others may interpret your lack of interaction in social media sites as a disconfirming message.

Question 44

Clicking "like" on someone's Facebook post can be a way to send a confirming message.

Question 45

Brianne angrily waited three minutes at the counter before the clerk finished his phone conversation and signaled awareness that Brianne was waiting.Brianne would've felt better if the clerk had at least __________ her while she was waiting.

A)recognized
B)acknowledged
C)endorsed
D)been assertive with
E)responded nondefensively

Question 46

Trust and morale on the job can be increased by something as simple as saying "hello" or "thanks" in e-mail messages.

Question 47

The responsibility for reducing defensiveness in an interpersonal exchange belongs only to the person receiving criticism.

Question 48

In order to be successful in real life, we should try to word our assertive messages as closely as we can to the authors' examples.

Question 49

Complaining is the most destructive way to disagree with another person.

Question 50

You are less likely to get a defensive response if you deliver criticism in a way that protects the presenting self (or "face")of the other person.

Question 51

The most confirming type of message is acknowledgement.

Question 52

Fifteen percent of students report having abused someone online, and 30 percent report having been victims of cyberbullying themselves.

Question 53

Abusing your rank or status over others by demeaning, humiliating, or exploiting them is called "rankism."

Question 54

Which of these strategies has been used successfully to protest slavery, secure rights for women, reject war, oppose racial segregation, and accomplish other great social change in principled and pragmatic ways?

A)aggressiveness
B)nonviolence
C)neutrality
D)all of the above
E)none of the above

Question 55

Which of these behaviors is characterized by the use of "we" language?

A)evaluation
B)description
C)problem-orientation
D)strategy
E)provisionalism

Question 56

Aggressiveness can only occur in face-to-face situations.

Question 57

"Rankism" best relates to which of these behaviors?

A)evaluation
B)superiority
C)control
D)strategy
E)certainty

Question 58

The authors suggest that aggressiveness is the behavior we should all strive for in relationships.

Question 59

Argumentativeness is actually admired in some, and is associated with a number of positive attributes.

Question 60

Cassie felt ignored because Jaime kept playing on his phone during their lunch together.This example best illustrates which type of disconfirming message?

A)impersonal
B)ambiguous
C)incongruous
D)irrelevant
E)impervious

Question 61

Gibb's categories provide a useful way for us to examine our

A)self-concept.
B)patterns of self-disclosure.
C)defensive and supportive behaviors.
D)manipulative behaviors.
E)perceptual differences.

Question 62

Evaluative language is also described as

A)"me" language.
B)"it" language.
C)"you" language.
D)"neutral" language.
E)"supportive" language.

Question 63

All of the following are behavioral descriptions except

A)"I notice you're frowning."
B)"I saw you walk out of the party."
C)"Your behavior tells me you're angry."
D)"You've shouted the last three times we've discussed money."
E)"You haven't said 'I love you' in over a week."

Question 64

All of the following are disconfirming messages except

A)interrupting the other person.
B)giving ambiguous responses.
C)ignoring the other person.
D)using a problem-oriented approach.
E)responding with clichés.

Question 65

A consequence statement can describe

A)what happens to you, the speaker.
B)what happens to the person you're addressing or to others.
C)why you're bothered or pleased by another's behavior.
D)what happens without moralizing about it.
E)All of these answers are correct.

Question 66

Which of the following is an accurate feeling statement?

A)"I feel like you're angry at me."
B)"I feel like going home now."
C)"I feel angry when you laugh at me."
D)"I feel you ought to be more careful."
E)All of these answers are correct are feeling statements.

Question 67

The most visible way disconfirming messages reinforce one another, as when one attack leads to another and another, is termed a(n)

A)escalatory conflict spiral.
B)de-escalatory conflict spiral.
C)cognitive dissonance reaction.
D)impervious dyad.
E)pillow-talk incident.

Question 68

Your instructor tells you how poor your writing ability is and how wrong it is for you not to work harder on it.That instructor used the Gibb category of

A)description.
B)evaluation.
C)problem orientation.
D)equality.
E)provisionalism.

Question 69

The communication climate in a relationship is determined by the

A)roles each person has in the relationship.
B)similarities of the parties.
C)degree to which each person feels valued.
D)amount of self-disclosure that occurs.
E)listening and perceptual skills that each individual brings to the relationship.

Question 70

Which of the following is an interpretation?

A)"I got an A on my history paper."
B)"Sue only cares about herself."
C)"I sure appreciate your help."
D)"Would you tell me what you mean by that?"
E)All of these answers are correct are interpretations.

Question 71

The elements of an assertive message are

A)feeling, interpretation, assertion, and consequence.
B)behavior, interpretation, feeling, assertion, and intention.
C)behavior, assertion, aggression, and interpretation.
D)behavior, interpretation, feeling, consequence, and intention.
E)assertion, aggression, negotiation, interpretation, and intention.

Question 72

"I know that isn't going to work under any circumstances" is an example of the Gibb defensive category of

A)evaluation.
B)control.
C)superiority.
D)certainty.
E)strategy.

Question 73

Intention statements can communicate

A)where you stand on an issue.
B)requests of others.
C)descriptions of how you plan to act in the future.
D)a, b, and c above.
E)only interpretations of behavior.

Question 74

Another term which describes the Gibb defensive category of neutrality would be

A)understanding.
B)aggressive perception.
C)positive/negative balance.
D)displaced loyalty.
E)indifference.

Question 75

A confirming response may

A)criticize the other.
B)agree with or acknowledge the other.
C)reveal deception.
D)recognize manipulation.
E)control the other.

Question 76

The term that describes the emotional tone of a personal relationship is

A)mood.
B)tone.
C)climate.
D)environment.
E)foundation.

Question 77

The text suggested that you may react nondefensively to criticism by

A)asking for a "time-out."
B)guessing about the specifics of a critic's remarks.
C)criticizing yourself.
D)giving the reasons for your behavior.
E)telling the critic to stop.

Question 78

According to research findings about defensiveness, when one person in a dyad acts in a defensive manner

A)a counterattack is appropriate.
B)the partner will be supportive.
C)a defensive spiral usually results.
D)perceptions are not realistic.
E)self-disclosure usually takes place.

Question 79

Defensiveness is the process of protecting your

A)interpretations.
B)sense data.
C)perceived self.
D)presenting self.
E)None of the above answers are correct.

Question 80

People who act in accordance with Gibb's category of equality communicate that

A)everyone is equal in every way.
B)while they may have greater talent in some areas, all have just as much worth as human beings.
C)all human beings are created with the capacity to be equal in all areas.
D)All of these answers are correct.
E)None of the above answers are correct.