Deck 4: Understanding Nonverbal Messages

Question 1

During a recent conversation, Alexis observed Patricia making a nonverbal gesture that she could not interpret. Later, she asked Patricia what she had really meant. Which strategy was Alexis using to get the information?

A) the expectancy violation model
B) visual dominance
C) cultural context
D) perception-checking

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Our _____ determines what we consider appropriate touching.

A) visual dominance ratio
B) touch ethic
C) territorial markers
D) public space

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Nonverbal communication may best be defined as communication other than written or spoken language that _____.

A) is strictly intentional
B) creates meaning
C) contradicts meaning
D) is strictly involuntary

Answer 3

B

Question 4

With tears in her eyes, Lori told her husband he should use their one ticket to the World Series game because he had been a fan since he was a little boy. What function of a nonverbal message is Lori demonstrating?

A) repeating
B) complementing
C) substituting
D) contradicting

Question 5

The reason we say that nonverbal communication is more believable than verbal communication is that _____.

A) verbal communication is a conscious activity, much of our nonverbal communication is not
B) nonverbal communication is mostly under our conscious control
C) verbal communication is more ambiguous than nonverbal communication
D) nonverbal communication is less obvious to others than verbal communication

Question 6

Nonverbal communication scholar Albert Mehrabian says that nonverbal communication conveys _____ of the emotional meaning of our messages.

A) about half
B) about one-third
C) the vast majority
D) very little

Question 7

Which of the following is an example of an artifact?

A) money
B) jewelry
C) education
D) friends

Question 8

The librarian whispered to the students that only talking quietly was allowed. By whispering her message to emphasize her point, the librarian was using a nonverbal cue to _____ her message.

A) repeat
B) accent
C) substitute for
D) regulate

Question 9

The six primary emotions of the human face identified by researchers Ekman and Friesen include all of the following except _____.

A) grief
B) surprise
C) fear
D) disgust

Question 10

Kevin wanted his grandmother to know how much he appreciated the money she gave him for his birthday. He gave her a big hug, and said with enthusiasm, "Thanks Gram. I really can use this!" Kevin's voice and hug are examples of which function of nonverbal behavior?

A) repeat
B) complement
C) substitute
D) regulate

Question 11

While on a trip to the Mediterranean, Carl notes that men tend to stand very close to each other-actually touching-when talking to one another on the street. Carl is observing the _____ space between these men.

A) intimate
B) personal
C) social
D) public

Question 12

Stephanie was disapproving when Danielle asked a total stranger for directions, something Stephanie was brought up to believe was dangerous. This scenario demonstrates the _____ theory.

A) expectancy violations
B) emotional expression
C) perception checking
D) halo effect

Question 13

Leah moves closer to George and begins to converse with him from about two feet away. Leah has chosen to move within George's _____ space.

A) intimate
B) personal
C) social
D) public

Question 14

Kinesics is demonstrated through a person's _____.

A) use of space
B) voice
C) use of time
D) body

Question 15

When her children rushed into the house after school, Marlo raised her finger to her lips to indicate they should be quiet because she was on the phone. What function was this behavior serving?

A) reinforcing
B) complementing
C) substituting
D) contradicting

Question 16

What form of nonverbal behavior did researcher William Chaplin relate to personality?

A) a smile
B) eye contact
C) a shrug
D) a handshake

Question 17

According to Mehrabian's research, the most significant source of emotional meaning in our communication is our _____.

A) tone
B) words
C) face
D) posture

Question 18

Jenner tends to mumble when he speaks and he has long periods of silence as he tries to remember what he wants to say. These nonverbal aspects of Jenner's voice are examples of _____.

A) paralanguage
B) proxemics
C) kinesics
D) affect displays

Question 19

Janet discussed her performance review with her new supervisor, Mrs. Abrams. As they were talking, Janet sat in a chair about eight feet away from her supervisor, who was behind her desk. Which spatial zone was Janet using?

A) intimate space
B) personal space
C) social space
D) public space

Question 20

When Nigel used a "thumbs up" gesture in his speech to indicate enthusiasm, he was surprised to see anger on a few faces in the audience. Later, he learned that this is considered a rude gesture in some countries. Nigel forgot about the _____ nature of nonverbal communication.

A) ambiguous
B) culture bound
C) continuous
D) rule-governed

Question 21

Perception checking is a tool that can help us interpret other people's behavior more accurately.

Question 22

The visual dominance ratio compares the amount of eye contact made while speaking with others with the amount of eye contact made while listening to them.

Question 23

Message duration refers to how long it takes someone to respond to another person's communication.

Question 24

Kinesics is the study of human body movements, gestures, and posture.

Question 25

Burgoon's model that suggests we develop rules or expectations for appropriate nonverbal behavior, whether we know it or not, and react when those expectations are broken is the _____ theory.

Question 26

Which dimension of Mehrabian's framework for interpreting nonverbal cues focuses on cues that indicate status, position, and importance?

A) immediacy
B) dominance
C) arousal
D) reverence

Question 27

While most of the class raised their hand quickly after the professor asked who was ready for the test, Jonah and Miles were slow to raise their hands. This is a variance in _____.

A) empathy
B) message duration
C) response latency
D) arousal

Question 28

Kyle gave a "okay" sign to Trevor to let him know he agreed with what Trevor was saying. Kyle used this signal as a way to contradict his verbal message.

Question 29

Mutual eye contact, smiling, and leaning forward are all examples of immediacy behaviors.

Question 30

We say that nonverbal communication is _____, because our actions may have more than one interpretation, and because the exact meaning of a nonverbal message may only be known by the person displaying it.

Question 31

When Allen entered the classroom, he saw that he had a few minutes to spare, so he set his bag down on his favorite seat and went to the hallway to get a soft drink. Allen was using his bag as a(n) _____.

A) immediacy display
B) affect display
C) territorial marker
D) artifact

Question 32

The audience members smiled and nodded in agreement as Shari told about her struggles shoveling snow during the worst winter on record. The smiles displayed by the audience are forms of _____.

A) territoriality
B) immediacy
C) dominance
D) affect displays

Question 33

Your friend's tattoo would be an example of an artifact.

Question 34

When Bethany asked Karl if he thought the speaker was saying the village should increase taxes, she was using _____ to make sure she was interpreting the message correctly.

Question 35

For those who are deaf, sign language is a type of nonverbal communication.

Question 36

The halo effect is a way to assess the negative qualities of a person's nonverbal communication.

Question 37

_____ is the study of human movements, gestures, and posture.

Question 38

Using one's voice to add intensity to a particular word is an example of using a nonverbal accent cue.

Question 39

Raising two fingers in the "V for victory" sign instead of saying it aloud demonstrates the nonverbal function of _____.

Question 40

_____ is the study of how close or far away from people and objects we position ourselves.

A) Haptics
B) Kinesics
C) Vocalics
D) Proxemics

Question 41

Detail the six elements that give insight into the nature of nonverbal communication.

Question 42

Discuss how haptics can be affected by culture.

Question 43

The zone that Hall defined as _____ space extends from 12 feet and beyond.

Question 44

Examine the primary nonverbal cues that are used in deception.

Question 45

_____ or vocalics are the pitch, rate, and volume of one's speech and the use of silence, which are all part of nonverbal behavior.

Question 46

Describe the multiple functions of nonverbal messages.

Question 47

The dimension of Mehrabian's framework of nonverbal communication that communicates the balance of power in a relationship is _____.

Question 48

The study of how close or far away from people and objects we position ourselves is _____.

Question 49

List and discuss the four reasons for studying nonverbal communication.

Question 50

Territorial _____ are the things and actions that show that you have claimed occupancy or ownership of a space.