Deck 15: Ending Relationships

Question 1

Which of the following is the best example of an indirect and unilateral strategy of breaking up?

A) Just fade away, Kay.
B) Just blame the other, brother.
C) Just walk out the back, Jack.
D) Just date someone new, Lou.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Metaphors about relationships "fading into the sunset" and being "a wonderful garden that is slowly turning into an empty lot" suggest that a relationship is following the general pathway to relational endings called:

A) conscious choice.
B) atrophy.
C) separation.
D) sudden death.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Uncertainty and lack of closure about a relationship breakup is associated with

A) ongoing preoccupation with the breakup
B) relational regret
C) less recovery from the breakup
D) all of the above

Answer 3

D

Question 4

People weigh costs and rewards in the _____________ phase of Duck's dissolution model.

A) intrapsychic
B) dyadic
C) social
D) grave-dressing

Question 5

According to research cited in the text (Blumstein & Schwartz, 1983), which of the following types of relationships are most likely to break up?

A) heterosexual marriages
B) gay male couples
C) lesbian couples
D) all of the above types of relationship are equally likely to break up

Question 6

According to Duck's phase model of relational dissolution, relational repair becomes less probable when relationships reach the _________ phase.

A) intrapsychic
B) dyadic
C) social
D) grave-dressing

Question 7

Research on the intergenerational transmission of divorce has shown that children of divorced couples are _____________________to get divorced than are children of non-divorced couples.

A) about 2 times less likely
B) about 3 times more likely
B) slightly less likely
C) about 1 ½ to 2 times more likely

Question 8

Which of the following is most likely to cause a relationship breakup?

A) disillusionment
B) antagonism
C) lack of money
D) contentiousness

Question 9

According to your textbook, the best unilateral strategy for ending a relationship is _________________, and the best bilateral strategy for ending a relationship is _________________.

A) positive tone, negotiated farewell
B) negotiated farewell, positive tone
C) dating other people; relational ruses
D) relational ruses; dating other people

Question 10

Leah tells Brayden that she "just wants to be friends" when she actually wants to end the relationship altogether. What disengagement strategy has Leah used?

A) cost escalation
B) pseudo de-escalation
C) the relationship talk trick
D) avoidance

Question 11

Self-blame and other negative relationship thoughts following a breakup is associated with:

A) improved relationships following the breakup
B) relationship reconciliations.
C) depression
D) suicide

Question 12

The main difference between catastrophe theory and stage models of relationship dissolution such as Duck's dissolution model is that:

A) catastrophe theory proposes that relationships may end suddenly rather than moving through stages.
B) the stages of catastrophe begin after the relationship ends.
C) catastrophe theory is a model of conflict rather than relational dissolution.
D) catastrophe theory focuses only on stages related to the intrapsychic phase, the denial phase, and the terminating phase.

Question 13

John and Tammy have been having problems for a while. When John finds out that Tammy had an affair, he thinks to himself "I mean it! This time we are breaking up" This cognitive threshold would push John into which stage of Duck's model of relationship dissolution?

A) intrapsychic phase
B) dyadic phase
C) social phase
D) grave-dressing phase

Question 14

On again, off again relationships are characterized by

A) less approval from their social networks
B) less positivity
C) less love
D) all of the above

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT one of the specific reasons for break up listed in the textbook?

A) lack of similarity
B) low levels of sexual activity
C) money
D) alcohol and drugs

Question 16

Research has shown that children of divorced parents are less likely to talk about the state of their family when:

A) their parents have only been divorced for a short period of time.
B) they think their parents might get back together.
C) they perceive the divorce to have been amicable and fair.
D) they feel caught between their parents.

Question 17

Which of the following statements about sex differences is TRUE according to your textbook?

A) Men report boredom as a reason for breaking up more often than do women.
B) Women report inequity as a reason for breaking up more than do men.
C) Women report lack of autonomy as a reason for breaking up more than do men.
D) All of the above are True.

Question 18

Research has found that the most common way of breaking up in dating relationships is to use strategies that are:

A) bilateral and direct.
B) unilateral and direct.
C) bilateral and indirect.
D) unilateral and indirect.

Question 19

Research has shown that in dating and marriage relationships, women are

A) more likely than men to initiate breakups.
B) less likely than men to initiate breakups.
C) more likely than men to use indirect strategies.
D) less likely than men to use unilateral strategies.

Question 20

____________________ occurs when people's positive images of their partners and their relationships start to fade.

A) relationship disillusionment
B) perceptual disruption
C) relational negativity
D) communication breakdown

Question 21

Which of the following does the text recommend doing after ending a relationship?

A) Move quickly into another relationship to avoid the short-term health consequences that could result from the end of a significant relationship.
B) Rapidly express love and affection in a new relationship to show the other person that you have not lost your ability to love other people.
C) Let any new relationship evolve slowly and naturally.
D) Eventually communicate with your ex-partner that you no longer hold any grudges against them and that you have forgiven them and yourself.

Question 22

The "dumpee" in relational break usually offers little resistance.

Question 23

A primary goal of a successful breakup according to your text is to minimize distress for your partner.

Question 24

Catastrophe theory suggests that most relationship are destined for a disastrous and painful breakup.

Question 25

The women's equality issue most likely to be associated with marital breakup is:

A) men's desire to have more children than women want.
B) if husbands are upset about the wife's job or career.
C) equality of educational opportunity.
D) women's excessive political involvement.

Question 26

The "direct dump" is a unilateral breakup strategy.

Question 27

According to your text which is the WORST (least effective) relationship termination strategy?

A) avoidance
B) the direct dump
C) hinting
D) confrontation

Question 28

Most divorces are initiated by husbands.

Question 29

Positive outcomes or relationship breakups:

A) are relatively rare
B) include being able to vent about and criticize your ex.
C) personal growth and self-confidence
D) all of the above

Question 30

Avoiding one's ex-partner is the best strategy for both people to "get over" the distress of a relational breakup.

Question 31

Catastrophe theory predicts that relationships like earthquakes they result in destructive breakup.

Question 32

Jennifer tells Kyle that she "just want to be friends" when she actually wants to end the relationship altogether. She has used pseudo de-escalation as a strategy.

Question 33

Most dating breakups are mutual rather than the decision of just one of the relational partners.

Question 34

Based on what you have learned about relationship disengagement discuss at least three principles that would lead to less painful breakups for both parties.

Question 35

The dyadic phase where we confront and interact with our partner is one of Duck's five stages of relational dissolution.

Question 36

One of the common reasons for relational breakup according to your text is lack of money.

Question 37

Feeling excessive jealousy is one of the top two reasons for dating breakups.

Question 38

The biggest problem with money that leads to breakups in marital relationship is how much the man makes in relation to the woman.

Question 39

The least common kind of relational disengagement strategy is indirect and bilateral.

Question 40

The MOST IMPORTANT reason for termination of dating for both men and women is conflicting sexual attitudes.

Question 41

What role does interest in another person play in relationship breakups it play the same role in both dating relationships and marriages?

Question 42

What are the most common reasons for dating breakups hese similar for heterosexual, gay, and lesbian couples he same reasons also predict a likelihood of divorce?

Question 43

Discuss the stage models of relationship breakups. What are the advantages of the various stage models are problems with stage models?

Question 44

What are the two major dimensions of relationship breakups o they impact the communication strategies employed during a breakup?