Deck 8: Interpersonal Communication

Question 1

The professor's frequent use of the word "millennial" during lecture when referring to his students offends Luis and makes it hard for him to engage in class. This type of miscommunication is called_____

A) noise.
B) context.
C) background.
D) a display rule.

Answer 1

noise.

Question 2

The absence of nonverbal cues in computer-mediated communication means 

A) you need to be especially careful with your intended meaning.
B) you should choose words carefully.
C) you may need to describe your feelings.
D) all of these.

Answer 2

all of these.

Question 3

Suppose you have a new instructor who is teaching a historically unpopular course at your school. After passing out the syllabus, the first thing he does is ask you and your classmates to grab a donut and a drink. Your classmates get their treats, and he waits until everyone has had a sip or bite before beginning his review of the syllabus. Most likely your instructor did that to__________ . 

A) establish his role as the sender
B) establish the context
C) establish a new channel of communication
D) establish noise to overcome the syllabus message

Answer 3

establish the context

Question 4

Poor communication ranks high as a cause of breakups with

A) gay couples.
B) straight couples.
C) both gay and straight couples.
D) collectivist societies but not individualistic societies.

Question 5

In interpersonal communication, the information that is transmitted from one person to another is called the

A) code.
B) noise.
C) message.
D) context.

Question 6

Among the following, whose social networking profile (e.g., Facebook) would typically elicit the least privacy concerns?

A) Friends.
B) Peers.
C) Family members.
D) Self.

Question 7

_____refers to any stimulus that interferes with accurately expressing or understanding a message.

A) Noise
B) Decoding
C) Channeling
D) Detection

Question 8

Which of the following was NOT listed as a basic guideline for cell phone use in public?

A) Turn off your phone when ringing will disturb others.
B) Keep calls short.
C) Use a catchy tune as a ring tone.
D) Make and receive calls out of earshot from others.

Question 9

In interpersonal communication, the person who originates a message is called the 

A) channel.
B) sender.
C) context.
D) speaker.

Question 10

One explanation when shy students utilize email and social networking is that they are more anxious in an asynchronous communication mode.

Question 11

When your friend calls you at home to make plans for the weekend, the _____    of communication is sound.

A) sender
B) channel
C) message
D) stimulus

Question 12

Imagine that a world-renowned motivational speaker visits your class. After being introduced by your professor, the first thing he does is ask you and your classmates to get out your smartphones. He then instructs you all to turn your smartphones off. The audience groans, he waits, and then begins his speech. Most likely the speaker did that to__________ . 

A) establish his role as the sender
B) ensure his message will be transmitted
C) ensure noise will not compromise his message
D) establish the channel

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT one of the key elements of the interpersonal communication process?

A) Sender.
B) Receiver.
C) Interpreter.
D) Noise.

Question 14

Numerous studies have shown that good communication is most likely to be related to which of the following?

A) Satisfaction in relationships.
B) Employee absenteeism.
C) Reduced risk for cancer.
D) Recovery from posttraumatic stress disorder.

Question 15

Which of the following statements about interpersonal communication is NOT true?

A) Interpersonal communication is a process.
B) Interpersonal communication depends heavily on the sender's social identity.
C) Interpersonal communication is interactional.
D) For communication to be considered interpersonal, at least two people must be involved.

Question 16

The context of interpersonal communication includes 

A) physical environment.
B) the nature of the participants' relationship.
C) the mood of the participants.
D) all of these.

Question 17

Elements in the communication process include all of the following EXCEPT

A) sender.
B) message.
C) personal space.
D) distorting noise.

Question 18

Thinking about one's personal thoughts is called intrapersonal communication.

Question 19

When your friend silently makes faces at you during a class lecture, the channel of communication is primarily 

A) visual.
B) sound.
C) fluent.
D) encoded.

Question 20

_____ is interpersonal communication that takes place through technological tools such as smartphones and computers.

A) Social networking
B) Social-electronic communication
C) Electronically mediated communication
D) Netlingo

Question 21

We are better at sending deceptive messages with our _____than with other body parts.

A) faces
B) body stance
C) hands
D) lower bodies

Question 22

Which of the following is poor advice for avoiding "road rage"?

A) Don't use obscene gestures.
B) Signal before switching lanes.
C) Don't drive when you're angry or upset.
D) Try making eye contact with hostile motorists.

Question 23

Nonverbal communication is most informative when it conforms to the majority culture.

Question 24

Your classmate, Lily, seems to take selfies everywhere! Also, her Twitter updates often consist of seemingly meaningless activities such as using the restroom successfully, and include the detail that she washed her hands afterward. How would the authors of the Spotlight on Research (Hunt et al., 2014) MOST likely interpret Lily's behaviors?

A) Lily is engaging in these behaviors to attract potential mates.
B) Lily is engaging in these behaviors to increase her social status.
C) Lily is engaging in these behaviors to maintain her current relationships.
D) Lily's behaviors are characteristics of mental illness.

Question 25

Which of the following is NOT an example of a general principle of nonverbal communication?

A) It conveys emotions.
B) It uses universally accepted meanings.
C) It may contradict verbal messages.
D) There are cultural differences.

Question 26

The study of people's use of interpersonal space is called 

A) proxemics.
B) territoriality.
C) paralanguage.
D) distance analysis.

Question 27

According to proxemics research, the personal-space zones of men appear to be_____ than those of women.

A) more fluid
B) more social
C) smaller
D) larger

Question 28

The study of communication through body movement is called

A) kinesics.
B) musculature.
C) paralanguage.
D) proxemics.

Question 29

Suppose the CEO of the company you work for tends to visit your location once or twice a year. This is actually rare in your occupational area. The last time the CEO visited your location, a new employee went out of his way to stand near the CEO and look for an opening to initiate a handshake. Evaluate the employee's behaviors, based on proxemics research discussed in the chapter.

A) The new employee's behaviors are relatively common because low status people tend to touch those of higher power.
B) The new employee's behaviors are inconsistent with personal space norms since physical separation tends to increase along with status.
C) The new employee's behaviors are relatively rare because people of lower status are usually shunned when they initiate contact.
D) The CEO must not like the new employee because physical closeness is inversely related to liking.

Question 30

In nonverbal communication, meaning is transmitted from one person to another

A) using coded words that have private meanings.
B) with the aid of computers or other forms of technology.
C) without anyone else being aware of it.
D) through means or symbols other than words.

Question 31

Women require more personal space than men.

Question 32

Nonverbal communication

A) is frequently used to express feelings or emotions.
B) is not influenced by culture.
C) usually occurs in a single channel.
D) is consistent with verbal messages.

Question 33

The idea that men should show less facial expression than women is an example of 

A) proxemics.
B) display rules.
C) nonverbal indicators.
D) attribution features.

Question 34

are norms governing the appropriate display of emotions. 

A) Manners
B) Proxemics
C) Display rules
D) Principles of facial display

Question 35

The size of an individual's personal space is related to which of the following?

A) Social status.
B) Personality.
C) Age.
D) All of these are true.

Question 36

According to Edward Hall, people who interact at distances of 12 feet and beyond are considered to be in the_____ distance zone.

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

Question 37

Gender patterns in eye contact are most likely to be confounded by which of the following?

A) Age.
B) Status.
C) Height.
D) Culture.

Question 38

Facial expressions are most likely to convey messages dealing with

A) intimacy.
B) emotions.
C) personality traits.
D) marital satisfaction.

Question 39

Which of the following is considered the most meaningful aspect of eye contact?

A) Size of pupillary opening.
B) Duration of eye contact.
C) Gender of the people involved.
D) Relationship between the people involved.

Question 40

The anthropologist who described interpersonal distance zones was

A) Sidney Jourard.
B) Edward Hall.
C) Albert Mehrabian.
D) Daryl Bem.

Question 41

Anna is speaking rapidly to Steve as she asks him out to lunch. Her paralanguage most likely conveys_____ in this situation.

A) frustration
B) nervousness
C) uncertainty
D) sadness

Question 42

Conventions for conveying emotion in email communication include

A) use of "emoticons."
B) use of capitalized letters to indicate emphasis.
C) interpretation of capitalized letters as shouting.
D) all of these are true.

Question 43

Using all capital letters in an email is generally considered rude.

Question 44

As an indicator of lying, lack of eye contact is

A) a fairly reliable index of deceptive intent.
B) not a reliable index of deceptive intent.
C) the best indicator of deceptive intent.
D) more reliable in persons of lower status.

Question 45

Nonverbal behaviors that accompany lying are easy to spot.

Question 46

Which of the following is NOT associated with lying?

A) Higher-pitched voice.
B) Less blinking while lying.
C) Relatively short responses.
D) Long pauses before speaking.

Question 47

Ray is leaning back with open arms as he talks to the other members of his study group. He is most likely feeling_____ his peers.

A) anxious with
B) relaxed with
C) amused by
D) admired by

Question 48

In terms of postural cues, a forward lean is most likely to indicate which of the following?

A) Low status.
B) High status.
C) Positive attitude.
D) Anxiety.

Question 49

includes all vocal cues other than the content of the verbal message itself. 

A) Kinesics
B) Proxemics
C) Sublanguage
D) Paralanguage

Question 50

Martin speaks slowly as he gives his answers in an oral examination for a master's degree in psychology. His paralanguage most likely conveys__________in this situation.

A) anger
B) sadness
C) uncertainty
D) frustration

Question 51

Which of the following is NOT a variable of nonverbal sensitivity?

A) Social competence.
B) Age.
C) Academic competence.
D) Emotional competence.

Question 52

Which of the following is NOT a problem in interpreting the results of a polygraph test?

A) Some people experience emotional arousal when telling the truth.
B) Some people can lie without experiencing emotional arousal.
C) Polygraph results are objective in nature.
D) Validity evidence is sparse.

Question 53

Deception on the part of another person may be signaled by

A) pauses before speaking.
B) slowness in speech patterns.
C) giving short answers.
D) shifts in body posture.

Question 54

John and Karla have been dating for a couple weeks. They have been on two dates, and seem to have communicated much more through text messaging. Karla has become frustrated with John because more often than not her longer messages are met with a reply of "OK," "k," or "Kk." Which of the following BEST accounts for Karla's frustration with John?

A) John's use of paralanguage cues.
B) John's lack of fluency in electronically mediated communication.
C) John's not maintaining a barrier between private and public life.
D) John's not using paralanguage cues.

Question 55

The polygraph machine monitors neural activity in the brain.

Question 56

Which of the following is NOT considered an aspect of paralanguage?

A) Loudness of speech.
B) Speed of talking.
C) Content of message.
D) Rhythm of speech.

Question 57

Loud vocalization is most likely to convey which of the following?

A) Anger.
B) Anxiety.
C) Uncertainty.
D) Happiness.

Question 58

Interpreting touch does NOT depend on

A) age.
B) gender.
C) setting.
D) attitude.

Question 59

Which of the following is the most accurate description of the polygraph machine?

A) Emotion detector.
B) Facial expression detector.
C) Lie detector.
D) Criminal behavior detector.

Question 60

Which of the following statements about gender differences in nonverbal communication is accurate?

A) Women are better encoders and decoders than men.
B) Men are better encoders, but women are better decoders.
C) Women are better encoders, but men are better decoders.
D) There are no gender differences in nonverbal communication.

Question 61

Alissa recently moved next door. Because of her health challenges, she is not enrolled at the local junior high school. She has not met anyone in the neighborhood but you. Alissa takes classes online and attempts to establish her friendships and a leap into a virtual community through social media. Based on the research presented in the chapter, it would be MOST reasonable to expect which of the following?

A) Alissa is most likely to share uplifting status updates and personal information.
B) Alissa is most likely to share inappropriate status updates with little personal information.
C) Alissa is most likely to share negative status updates and demonstrate dishonesty.
D) Alissa is most likely to share positive information in an honest manner.

Question 62

In general, research has found that__________ . So, it would be reasonable to expect_____ on an opposite-sex first date.

A) women are more open than men; men to speak longer than women
B) men with traditional gender roles disclose less; women to disclose more
C) women with traditional gender roles disclose non-personal information; men to disclose more
D) men disclose more feelings than women do; women to be effective listeners

Question 63

Self-disclosure includes only verbal communication.

Question 64

Which of the following statements about self-disclosure is NOT true?

A) In the U.S., females tend to be more openly self-disclosing than males.
B) Females share more personal information with same-gender friends than males in the U.S.
C) Self-disclosure is more likely to be equal in other-gender relationships.
D) Men share more personal information than women.

Question 65

Research findings on gender and self-disclosure indicate that

A) females consistently disclose more than males.
B) in an other-gender relationship, self-disclosure is relatively equal for men and for women.
C) men generally disclose more personal information and feelings than women do.
D) the gender disparity in self-disclosure is consistent across cultures.

Question 66

Which of the following is NOT likely to promote effective listening?

A) Paraphrasing the speaker's message.
B) Asking the other person for clarification.
C) Attending to the other person's nonverbal signals.
D) Assuming a body posture with arms and legs crossed.

Question 67

When relationships are in distress, self-disclosure patterns

A) decrease in breadth, but not depth.
B) increase in breadth, but not depth.
C) decrease in breadth and depth.
D) increase in breadth and depth.

Question 68

The involuntary act of verbally communicating your desires and interests to another person is referred to as self-disclosure.

Question 69

Which of the following types of self-disclosure is most likely to lead to feelings of intimacy between individuals?

A) Factual.
B) Conceptual.
C) Emotional.
D) Attributional.

Question 70

To be an effective listener, you need to 

A) pay attention to nonverbal signals.
B) focus solely on the message in the words.
C) be sure to state a lot of your own experiences and views.
D) help solve their problem.

Question 71

Beatrice has very low self-esteem. Beatrice's friend suggested joining Facebook to help her establish meaningful connections with others. What is most likely to happen?

A) Betty will worry about hurting others' feelings.
B) Betty's self-disclosure will be too high in negativity and lead to undesired reactions.
C) Facebook will be too threatening to engage in self-disclosure.
D) Betty will form a lot of new meaningful friendships.

Question 72

In the beginning stages of a relationship with a person of the same sex, men typically disclose more than women do.

Question 73

During class discussion, your professor tends to fall back on a common refrain, "So, what you're saying is . . ." and then repeat portions of your classmates' responses. She does this reliably-no matter how unclear, off the wall, or insightful your classmates' responses might be. MOST likely she does this to help__________ . 

A) convey interest in students via nonverbal cues
B) demonstrate active listening practices
C) pay attention to students' nonverbal signals
D) convey her communication apprehension

Question 74

Active listening consists of one component: paying close attention to what the other person is saying.

Question 75

Once relationships are well established, self-disclosure tends to

A) taper off.
B) become more reciprocal.
C) increase in breadth, but not depth.
D) increase in depth, but not breadth.

Question 76

Dwight is more aware of circumstances when his friends are fearful, and offers assistance more often than others. It is MOST likely that Dwight has_____ facial expressions.

A) a high sensitivity to encoding
B) a high sensitivity to decoding
C) a low sensitivity to encoding
D) a low sensitivity to decoding

Question 77

Steps for making effective small talk include 

A) introducing yourself.
B) commenting on the surroundings.
C) keeping the conversation ball rolling.
D) all of these.

Question 78

Aaron is just getting to know Debbie. He is more likely to disclose

A) his parents' divorce when he was 10.
B) only events with positive emotions.
C) the time he broke into the library at school.
D) all of these.

Question 79

Self-disclosure can aid adjustment by

A) improving self-esteem.
B) enhancing sexual attractiveness.
C) reducing stress.
D) controlling anxiety.

Question 80

Which of the following is likely to be LEAST effective in initiating a conversation with a stranger?

A) Comment on your surroundings.
B) Select an obscure topic.
C) Introduce yourself.
D) Keep the conversational ball rolling by elaborating on the initial or a related topic.