Deck 13: Communication Climate

Question 1

Romances, friendships, and families-just like neighborhoods, cities, and countries-have different communication climates, defined by their __________.

A) metacommunication
B) problem orientation
C) social tone
D) content messages

Answer 1

C

Question 2

In what way is a communication climate unlike the weather?

A) Communication climates affect most people exposed to them.
B) Communication climates can change over time.
C) A relationship can be overcast at one time and sunny at another.
D) People can change their communication climates.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

What has research about cyberbullying established?

A) Cyberbullying has been linked to poor academic performance, depression, withdrawal, drug and alcohol abuse, and even suicide.
B) Grade, or elementary, school is the peak period for cyberbullying.
C) Few schools or companies have policies that can help provide protection against cyberbullying.
D) Victims of cyberbullying are far more likely to tell adults about online harassment than their friends.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

When you exclaim to your brother, "You're such a loser," he laughs at your affectionate teasing, although a bystander might assume your comment was critical. This illustrates how the interpretation of a message as confirming or disconfirming is __________.

A) objective
B) subjective
C) provisional
D) evaluative

Question 5

What type of message essentially says, "You don't matter," "You're not important," or "You don't exist"?

A) Confirming
B) Disconfirming
C) Aggressive
D) Assertive

Question 6

Rank the following kinds of confirming messages from most to least positive.

A) Acknowledgment, Endorsement, Recognition
B) Recognition, Acknowledgment, Endorsement
C) Acknowledgment, Recognition, Endorsement
D) Endorsement, Acknowledgment, Recognition

Question 7

"That's the best lecture I've heard all year" is a statement that communicates __________.

A) endorsement
B) recognition
C) acknowledgment
D) certainty

Question 8

Positive attributes such as organizational assimilation, communicative competence, and a willingness to confront others when wronged are associated with __________.

A) complaining
B) argumentativeness
C) acknowledgment
D) recognition

Question 9

Unlike __________ messages, __________ messages demean the worth of others and is corrosive to relationships

A) argumentative; aggressive
B) aggressive; argumentative
C) disregarding; complaining
D) complaining; disregarding

Question 10

Ghosting, stonewalling, and the silent treatment are all variations of ____________.

A) argumentativeness
B) aggressiveness
C) ostracism
D) bullying

Question 11

Phubbing conveys which type of message?

A) Argumentativeness
B) Aggressiveness
C) Complaining
D) Disregard

Question 12

When you write your instructor to question your essay grade, you are careful to convey respect in your message. As a competent communicator, you do not want to arouse defensiveness, which you understand is __________.

A) active
B) reactive
C) interactive
D) proactive

Question 13

Defensiveness is related to concepts of presenting self and __________.

A) face
B) convergence
C) divergence
D) disinhibition

Question 14

Which request would be best received by an employee at a call center?

A) "Tell me why . . . "
B) "Could you tell me if . . . ?"
C) "I need to know . . ."
D) "I'm unhappy with . . . "

Question 15

What kind of messages judge another person, usually in a negative way that lacks specifics?

A) Evaluative
B) Descriptive
C) Strategic
D) Provisional

Question 16

"I would like more details about your format for the presentation" is what kind of message?

A) Evaluative
B) Descriptive
C) Strategic
D) Neutral

Question 17

Descriptive messages often use what kind of language?

A) "I" language
B) "You" language
C) "We" language
D) "They" language

Question 18

Problem orientation is consistent with which approach to problem solving?

A) Lose-Win
B) Win-Lose
C) Lose-Lose
D) Win-Win

Question 19

"Either you increase your sales figures, or you find a new job." This statement reflects which of Gibb's categories?

A) Problem orientation
B) Provisionalism
C) Description
D) Control

Question 20

The terms dishonesty and manipulation are associated with which of Gibb's behaviors?

A) Certainty
B) Strategy
C) Provisionalism
D) Spontaneity

Question 21

What kind of questions are a form of strategic communication because they try to trap others into desired responses?

A) Indirect
B) Direct
C) Counterfeit
D) Rhetorical

Question 22

Blurters tend to be high in ____________.

A) certainty
B) empathy
C) perspective taking
D) verbal aggressiveness

Question 23

Which attitude is disconfirming because it communicates a lack of concern for the welfare of another and implies that the other person isn't very important to you?

A) Neutrality
B) Empathy
C) Certainty
D) Provisionalism

Question 24

Thinking of someone as a person rather than a number conveys which of Gibb's positions?

A) Neutrality
B) Empathy
C) Certainty
D) Provisionalism

Question 25

"You're really foolish enough to believe that?" is a statement conveying which of Gibb's positions?

A) Neutrality
B) Empathy
C) Certainty
D) Superiority

Question 26

Words such as "perhaps," "possibly," and "could" characterize which of Gibb's approaches?

A) Empathy
B) Provisionalism
C) Spontaneity
D) Description

Question 27

Also good for the bottom line, what is the cornerstone of democracy, according to the textbook?

A) Face-to-face conversation
B) Multimodality
C) Digital technology
D) Metacommunication

Question 28

Which of the following is an open question?

A) Do you like your new car?
B) How was the exam?
C) What do you think of the city's new rules to help prevent the spread of COVID?
D) When will you finish your degree?

Question 29

You tend to digress and ramble when telling a story. Which guideline for conversation are you overlooking?

A) Keep it focused.
B) Keep it positive.
C) Keep it interesting.
D) Keep it appropriate.

Question 30

Which is the best way to keep your contributions to a conversation interesting for your audience?

A) Focus on topics about which you are passionate.
B) Analyze your audience and stick to topics they care about.
C) Avoid oversharing.
D) Keep it appropriate.

Question 31

Which of the following is a behavioral question that you might be asked in an interview?

A) Tell me about a time when you experienced conflict with a coworker.
B) What are your greatest strengths?
C) What are your greatest weaknesses?
D) If you were a tree, what kind would you be?

Question 32

"Was that TMI?" is a question that reflects which feature of competent communication?

A) Self-actualization
B) Self-fulfilling prophecy
C) Self-monitoring
D) Self-esteem

Question 33

What is the best approach if you're at a loss for words?

A) Interrupt the speaker and ask for clarification.
B) Change the topic.
C) Ask a question.
D) Focus on listening.

Question 34

Although __________ involves politeness, it is more than that, featuring the ability to disagree without disrespect, seek common ground, listen past one's preconceptions, and teach others to do the same.

A) Civility
B) Self-actualization
C) Empathy
D) Accommodation

Question 35

When you become trapped in a perspective that you're right, and the other person is wrong, which biological structure might be to blame?

A) Liver
B) Amygdala
C) Intestines
D) Pancreas

Question 36

What is the primary goal of civil dialogue when conversing about a disagreement?

A) Criticizing the other person's perspective
B) Accommodating the other person's needs
C) Establishing a respectful communication climate
D) Solving a problem

Question 37

Communication climate is determined by the degree to which people see themselves as valued.

Question 38

In marriage, a confirming climate is the best predictor of marital satisfaction.

Question 39

The interpretation of a message as confirming or disconfirming is objective.

Question 40

Argumentativeness and complaining are two ways to disagree without necessarily being disconfirming.

Question 41

The way you present your ideas makes all the difference in maintaining a positive climate while arguing a point.

Question 42

Defensiveness is only the responsibility of the person who feels threatened.

Question 43

Evaluation focuses on behavior that can be changed rather than on personal characteristics that cannot.

Question 44

Descriptive statements can be just as honest as their evaluative counterparts.

Question 45

Problem orientation is often typified by "We" language.

Question 46

Spontaneity means blurting out what you're thinking as soon as an idea comes to you.

Question 47

Empathizing with people requires agreeing with them.

Question 48

Good conversationalists take cues about topics that interest the other person.

Question 49

Staying aware means being hypervigilant and hypercritical.

Question 50

It's best to enter a conversation with the goal of understanding, not trying to change the other person's mind.

Question 51

Metacommunication should be avoided in civil dialogue.

Question 52

How does confirming communication differ from disconfirming communication?

Question 53

How can you verbally endorse others?

Question 54

What are 2 types of disagreeing messages?

Question 55

Identify 3 types of disconfirming messages.

Question 56

What are 5 principles of casual conversation?

Question 57

When you are taking your turn to speak in casual conversation, what should you keep in mind?

Question 58

What is the STAR method, and what does it stand for?

Question 59

Describe the effects of confirming messages on children, students, and married couples, according to research on this topic.

Question 60

Identify and define Gibb's categories of defense-provoking versus supportive behaviors.

Question 61

Describe the 10 guidelines for civil communication.