Deck 11: Managing Interpersonal Conflicts

Question 1

A conflict can exist even if the parties in conflict are not dependent on each other.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

The text says that "stopping and counting to ten" applies to win-win problem solving.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

One key to the win-win approach to conflict resolution is to look for the single best solution at the beginning of your conversation.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Some scholars assert that conflict style is often determined simply by a person's biological makeup.

Question 5

When people express hostility in obscure ways, "passive aggression" occurs.

Question 6

An avoiding conflict style reflects the belief that there is no good way to resolve the conflict at hand.

Question 7

The win-win approach to conflict resolution requires parties to reach a solution through compromise.

Question 8

Direct aggression is described as physical attacks and swearing, but does not include teasing or nonverbal gestures.

Question 9

Destructive fights often start because the initiator confronts a partner who isn't ready for a confrontation.

Question 10

Interdependence must exist between two parties in order for a conflict to exist.

Question 11

Avoidance is never an effective conflict style to choose.

Question 12

Research has shown that strong marriages manage conflict in constructive ways.

Question 13

As long as one person in the relationship is aware of the disagreement, a conflict exists.

Question 14

Gender is the most important variable in determining conflict style.

Question 15

In high-context, collectivist countries, avoidance and accommodation are considered positive, appropriate ways to handle conflict.

Question 16

With enough skill you should be able to use win-win problem solving successfully in almost any conflict.

Question 17

College students who kept diaries of their relationships reported that they took part in about 10 arguments per week.

Question 18

The situation at hand and the behavior of the other person in the conflict are more powerful determinants of a person's conflict style than gender.

Question 19

A conflict can exist only when both parties are aware of a disagreement.

Question 20

A full-fledged conflict will not occur unless the individuals involved try to prevent one another from achieving their goals.

Question 21

A complementary conflict style can be problematic for couples, but a symmetrical one will not be.

Question 22

In a symmetrical conflict style, the partners use different but mutually reinforcing behaviors.

Question 23

Conflict rituals are not necessarily wrong until they become the only way relational partners handle their conflicts.

Question 24

A win-win, collaborative approach might be beneficial, but it isn't very realistic to use due to its detail and complicated structure.

Question 25

Conflict is considered relational because it is determined by the way the parties interact with each other.

Question 26

What conflict style to choose should be determined by the style you are most comfortable using.

Question 27

Lack of time for yourself and others is a common source of conflict in relationships.

Question 28

Due to the "Queen Bee" complex, women are less likely to invest time in mentoring, coaching, and sponsoring other women because they are afraid new success will undermine their own.

Question 29

The ethnic background of communicators is not a significant factor in their views regarding conflict.

Question 30

Collaboration is considered the single "best" way to resolve a conflict.

Question 31

Although avoidance of conflict is tempting, your partner is likely to experience more frustration and discomfort than he/she would if you were to face your conflicts in a constructive way.

Question 32

Research shows that investing time and money in mentoring others pays off for the protégé but rarely for the mentor.

Question 33

A constructive conflict style is rarely used, due in part to people not being aware that it is a viable alternative to a competitive approach.

Question 34

Controlling resources like money, staffing, and time in order to keep employees from being successful is a form of workplace bullying.

Question 35

Even when accommodation is a genuine act of kindness, it is not considered an acceptable style because the accommodator is showing a lack of regard for him/herself.

Question 36

Contempt is communicated verbally rather than nonverbally.

Question 37

Probably the most important cultural factor in shaping attitudes toward conflict is an orientation toward individualism or collectivism.

Question 38

Women are more likely than men to view withdrawal from conflict as more harmful to the relationship than do men.

Question 39

Destructive behaviors included in the "four horsemen" described by researcher John Gottman are likely to feed off each other and develop into destructive conflict rituals.

Question 40

Compromise is considered a win-win conflict style because each person gets at least some of what they want.

Question 41

Individuals in low-context cultures typically resolve conflict by

A)avoidance.
B)indirect communication.
C)nonassertion.
D)All of these answers are correct.
E)None of these answers are correct.

Question 42

Conflict rituals are

A)inherently wrong.
B)the best way to solve the variety of conflicts that are part of any relationship.
C)almost always positive.
D)unacknowledged but repeating patterns of dealing with conflict.
E)All of these answers are correct.

Question 43

A person who buys a piece of new furniture, finds it damaged, and says nothing because he doesn't want to confront the retailer, is engaging in the personal conflict style of

A)avoiding.
B)accommodating.
C)indirect communication.
D)compromising.
E)None of these answers are correct.

Question 44

In a survey of conflict views of college men and women, women were described as being

A)more concerned with maintaining the relationship during a conflict.
B)more concerned with power in the conflict.
C)more interested in the content of the conflict.
D)more ego-involved in the conflict than men.
E)All of these answers are correct.

Question 45

If both partners are willing, the collaborative win-win approach is very likely to be successful.

Question 46

Men are more likely than women to

A)be more competitive.
B)be more cooperative.
C)give reasons for their suggestions.
D)gossip, backbite, and exclude others.
E)begin proposals with the word "lets."

Question 47

Which of the following is not an example of workplace bullying?

A)assertive language
B)impossible deadlines
C)behind the back criticism
D)withholding resources employees need to be successful
E)nit picking

Question 48

Complementary and symmetrical conflict styles have been shown to produce

A)marriages that got back together after conflict.
B)couples who find other mates while getting divorced.
C)a greater percentage of divorces that are settled amicably.
D)both "good" results as well as "bad" ones.
E)divorces that only have the facade of politeness.

Question 49

If you listen to your partner sincerely, avoid judgmental attacks, and empathize with his/her concerns, there's a good chance you'll get the same behavior in return.

Question 50

Win-win problem solving is seldom used because

A)there is a lack of awareness of it.
B)emotional reflexes prevent constructive solutions.
C)it requires both persons' cooperation.
D)win-win problem solving is actually the most used problem-solving style of all.
E)a, b, and c are correct.

Question 51

When people deliver subtle aggressive messages involving feelings of resentment, anger, or rage that they aren't able or willing to express directly, they are engaging in what psychologist George Bach calls

A)defense arousal.
B)nonverbal conflict.
C)pseudo-messages.
D)crazymaking.
E)one-up conflict resolution.

Question 52

The "ownership" of a problem almost always belongs to

A)the person who is dissatisfied.
B)the person to whom the complaint is directed.
C)the person with the lowest amount of self-disclosure.
D)the person with the greatest amount of passive aggressive behavior.
E)the most assertive person.

Question 53

You and your partner's pattern of managing disagreements that repeats itself over time is called your

A)relational conflict style.
B)cognitive dissonance pattern.
C)harmony/disharmony pattern.
D)"Vesuvius."
E)assertive message format.

Question 54

In order for a conflict to exist, two interdependent parties must perceive

A)incompatible goals.
B)scarce resources.
C)interference from the other party in achieving their goals.
D)a, b, and c are correct.
E)both a and c are correct.

Question 55

Researcher John Gottman has been able to predict with over 90 percent accuracy whether a marriage will end in divorce by looking for evidence of

A)complementary conflict styles.
B)the four horsemen of destructive conflict styles.
C)crazymaking behaviors.
D)direct aggression.
E)pseudoaccomodation.

Question 56

An uncontrolled, spontaneous "explosion," a "Vesuvius," is

A)encouraged by your text as a first step to solving conflict.
B)therapeutic when you feel it's impossible to be relational and your partner understands what you're doing.
C)a great way of eliminating defensive behaviors by "clearing the air."
D)one way to make sure your partner will listen to you.
E)All of these answers are correct.

Question 57

Which of the following strategies is not recommend as a way to manage workplace bullying?

A)Reframe your thinking.
B)Negotiate with the offender.
C)Appeal to a third party.
D)Back off.
E)All of the above are recommended strategies.

Question 58

In the "Looking At Diversity" reading, Marilyn Jorgensen recommends which of the following strategies when working with people from a different cultural background?

A)Face conflict head on, and get to the bottom of any conflicts right away.
B)Slow down and adopt an attitude of curiosity.
C)Show genuine interest in the other person.
D)both b and c
E)none of the above

Question 59

Stonewalling sends a(n)__________ message to the other person.

A)assertive message
B)confirming
C)disagreeing
D)disconfirming
E)competing

Question 60

Women are more likely than men to say "we have to talk about it" because

A)women are more accommodating than men.
B)women are more insecure than men.
C)women view withdrawal from a conflict as more injurious than men.
D)women are more demanding than men.
E)women are more direct than men.

Question 61

In the Communication Transcript in Chapter Eleven, Chris tries to resolve a conflict with her roommate Terry over cleaning their apartment by

A)relying on authority as a source of power.
B)using the "Vesuvius" method to get Terry's attention.
C)appealing to their mutual self-interests.
D)employing "crazymaking" strategies.
E)None of these answers are correct

Question 62

Studies of different cultures and conflict reveal that

A)assertiveness is valued worldwide.
B)North Americans avoid confrontation more than other cultures studied.
C)individualistic cultures are less assertive than collective ones.
D)the assertiveness appropriate in North America could be perceived as rude and insensitive in collectivist cultures.
E)All of these answers are correct are true.

Question 63

At which step in the win-win, collaborative process would brainstorming be appropriate?

A)Identify your problem and unmet needs.
B)Negotiate a solution.
C)Make a date.
D)Describe your problem and needs.
E)Consider your partner's point of view.

Question 64

Of the following statements, which most accurately describes the part gender plays in conflict style?

A)Gender is less important in determining conflict style than the behavior of the other person in the conflict.
B)Research indicates that the stereotype of women as passive is nearly 90% accurate.
C)There are virtually no discernible differences between the conflict styles of men and women.
D)When actual behaviors are observed, women are more likely to withdraw from discussion issues than men are.
E)All of these answers are correct.

Question 65

The distinguishing characteristic in win-lose problem solving is

A)passivity.
B)power.
C)aggression.
D)discussion.
E)assertiveness.

Question 66

In order to decide which conflict style you should use, you should consider

A)the situation.
B)the other person.
C)your goals.
D)the relationship.
E)All of these answers are correct.

Question 67

Of the following, what is not a step in negotiating a solution in the collaborative conflict style approach?

A)Identify and define the conflict.
B)Generate a number of possible solutions.
C)Evaluate the alternative solutions.
D)Decide on the best solution.
E)All of these answers are steps.

Question 68

When unhappy couples argue, they

A)use evaluative "you" language.
B)ignore each other's nonverbal relational messages.
C)have minimal empathy for the other.
D)are not problem-oriented.
E)All of these answers are correct .

Question 69

One of the best methods to use to describe your problem and needs to a partner during conflict resolution is

A)paraphrasing.
B)perception checking.
C)the assertive message format.
D)high-level abstractions.
E)emotional description.

Question 70

Avoiding is sometimes an appropriate style to choose when

A)the issue is temporary or minor.
B)speaking up might cause physical harm.
C)the relationship isn't worth the effort.
D)a and b are correct.
E)All of these answers are correct.

Question 71

Alicia wanted to see a movie with her friends Friday night, but ended up at a bar since that's where most of the girls wanted to go.Alicia used what conflict style in this situation?

A)avoiding
B)collaborating
C)compromising
D)competing
E)accommodating

Question 72

Conflict rituals

A)are always damaging.
B)should be replaced with compromise.
C)most often involve avoidance by both of the participants in the conflict.
D)become problems when they are seen as the only way to resolve problems.
E)are defined as ways partners use guilt and intimidation to fight dirty.

Question 73

The conflict style where one has a low concern for him/herself and a high concern for others is called

A)avoiding.
B)collaborating.
C)compromising.
D)competing
E)accommodating.

Question 74

Audra and Alfonso argue and Alfonso storms out of the house.Audra calls Alfonso asking for forgiveness.He returns and they reconcile.Soon they fight again with Alfonso once again leaving.This is an example of a(n)

A)complementary style.
B)symmetrical style.
C)conflict ritual.
D)avoiding style.
E)win-lose.

Question 75

The habitual approach you take when your needs appear incompatible with what another wants is called your

A)conflict ritual.
B)conflict style.
C)passive aggression.
D)conflict manner.
E)crazymaking.

Question 76

When Brody steered clear of Miranda after they had an argument, he was using what style of conflict?

A)accommodating
B)compromising
C)avoiding
D)passive aggression
E)crazymaking

Question 77

All of the following are types of direct verbal aggression except

A)teasing.
B)character attacks.
C)threats.
D)shoving.
E)nonverbal emblems.

Question 78

A competing/win-lose conflict style

A)involves high concern for self and low concern for others.
B)can sometimes enhance a relationship.
C)has a distinguishing characteristic of power.
D)occurs when people perceive a situation as being an "either-or" one.
E)All of these answers are correct.

Question 79

At which step in the win-win, collaborative process would you utilize the assertive message format?

A)Identify your problem and unmet needs.
B)Negotiate a solution.
C)Make a date.
D)Describe your problem and needs.
E)Consider your partner's point of view.

Question 80

Rhonda complains to Collin that she's tired of their weekend routine.Irritated, Collin snaps back that he's tired of her complaining.Their conflict pattern reflects which of the following conflict styles?

A)complementary
B)symmetrical
C)tangential
D)conditional
E)None of these answers are correct