Deck 12: Theories of Group and Family Communication

Question 1

Symbolic convergence theory evolved out of a series of studies referred to as:

A) The "Midwest Studies"
B) The "Stanford Studies"
C) The "Yale Reports"
D) The "Minnesota Studies"
E) The "Zero-history Chronicles"

Answer 1

D

Question 2

During their group presentation, Hayden told an inside joke that only the rest of his group members laughed at. According to symbolic convergence theory, Hayden's inside joke is referred to as:

A) A fantasy type
B) A symbolic cue
C) A rhetorical vision
D) A fantasy theme
E) A fantasy chain

Answer 2

B

Question 3

In the weeks that followed the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the singing of "God Bless America" at baseball games and the phrases "Never Forget" and "United We Stand" all represent ___ that tap into the ___ of America as the "land of the free and the home of the brave."

A) Fantasy chains; fantasy theme
B) Rhetorical visions; fantasy theme
C) Symbolic cues; rhetorical vision
D) Fantasy chains; symbolic cue
E) Symbolic cues; fantasy theme

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The central goals of symbolic convergence theory include:

A) Helping us understand how groups develop a common identity.
B) Helping us identify who is "in" and "out" of the group.
C) Helping us understand how the sharing of group fantasies can aid in group decision-Making.
D) All of the above.
E) A and C only.

Question 5

All of the following statements about dramatizing messages are true, EXCEPT:

A) They contain any form of imaginative language.
B) They often spark the sharing of group fantasies.
C) They occur when group members show tension release.
D) They include figures of speech, metaphors, analogies, and personal narratives.
E) They occur in the "here-and now" communication of the group.

Question 6

According to symbolic convergence theory, the term fantasies refers to:

A) Fictitious and fanciful stories told by group members.
B) Actual events that have happened to group members in the past.
C) Stories that may have occurred in various media outlets.
D) All of the above.
E) A and B only.

Question 7

Symbolic convergence theory makes all of the following claims, EXCEPT:

A) The sharing of group fantasies often distracts group members and stifles their creativity.
B) Symbolic convergence helps create a sense of community among group members.
C) Common group concerns can lead to the sharing of group fantasies, particularly when such concerns related to external pressures or problems.
D) During the process of sharing group fantasies, the members of task-oriented groups will dramatize in ways related to how the group process information, solves problems, and makes decisions.
E) Group members who bring common experiences or personal problems to the group context may be pre-disposed to sharing certain kinds of group fantasies.

Question 8

According to symbolic convergence theory, fantasies that portray sympathetic people who are motivated to do a good job are referred to as ___ fantasies.

A) Mastery
B) Affiliation
C) Achievement
D) Inspiring
E) Conquering

Question 9

Which of the following group processes do symbolic convergence theory, functional theory, and family communication patterns theory explain to some degree?

A) Group formation
B) Group decision-making
C) Group creativity
D) Group enjoyment
E) Group dissolution

Question 10

All of the following scholars contributed to the development of functional theory, EXCEPT:

A) Randy Hirokawa
B) Dennis Gouran
C) Irving Janis
D) John Dewey
E) Ernest Bormann

Question 11

According to Robert Bales, a small group must overcome all of the following "functional problems" to successfully accomplish its goals, EXCEPT:

A) Groupthink
B) Adaptation
C) Expression
D) Instrumental Control
E) Integration

Question 12

Functional theory makes which of the following assumptions?

A) The members of a decision-making or problem-solving group are motivated to make an appropriate choice.
B) The choice confronting the group is obvious.
C) The collective resources of the group in respect to the particular task exceed those of individual members.
D) All of the above.
E) A and C only.

Question 13

All of the following communication behaviors represent counteractive functions, EXCEPT:

A) Going off on tangents unrelated to the task.
B) Going off on tangents unrelated to the task.
C) Sharing information that is either irrelevant or incomplete.
D) Offering possible solutions to the problem.
E) Getting involved in an interpersonal conflict over differences in personality.

Question 14

Logan and his group members experienced a lot of frustration over their group project in chemistry because Dr. Walker gave them very little information to go on and only a week to complete the project. According to functional theory, Logan and his group are experiencing ___ constraints.

A) Egocentric
B) Willful
C) Cognitive
D) Affiliative
E) Non-affiliative

Question 15

After summarizing more than two decades of research on functional theory, communication scholars Orlitzky and Hirokawa found which of the following functions to be the most important for ensuring a quality decision?

A) Developing a thorough understanding of the issue(s) to be resolved.
B) Establishing criteria for possible solutions.
C) Generating a relevant and realistic set of alternative decisions the group could make.
D) Assessing the negative consequences of alternative solutions.
E) Achieving an understanding of what an acceptable solution will include.

Question 16

Within family communication patterns theory, what once was referred to as a ___ orientation is now referred to as a ___ orientation.

A) Concept-; socio-
B) Concept-; conversation
C) Socio-; conversation
D) Conformity; conversation
E) Conversation; concept-

Question 17

Jin-Li's mother thinks that Jin-Li agrees with her position that marijuana is like every other drug that should be prohibited in our society. Contrary to her mother's perceptions, however, Jin-Li believes in the medicinal benefits of marijuana. Which of the following statements accurately describes the degree of co-orientation that is occurring between Jin-Li and her mother?

A) Her mother's accuracy and congruence has created agreement on the topic.
B) Her mother's accuracy and incongruence has produced disagreement.
C) Her mother's inaccuracy and congruence has produced disagreement.
D) Her mother's accuracy and incongruence has produced agreement.
E) None of the above.

Question 18

Growing up as a child, Sloane's parents encouraged her and her siblings to talk about a wide variety of topics, yet they always believed that they (as parents) should make the final decisions for the family. According to FCP theory, Sloane grew up in what type of family?

A) Consensual
B) Pluralistic
C) Laissez-faire
D) Protective
E) Low conformity

Question 19

FCP theory assumes all of the following, EXCEPT:

A) All families are characterized by shared world views that are unique to each family.
B) Family communication patterns emerge from the process of co-orientation.
C) A shared social reality becomes possible only when family members have agreement, accuracy, and congruence.
D) Individuals develop an initial set of schemas from working models of how television characters interact with each other.
E) All humans are driven by a psychological need for consistent cognitions and by a pragmatic need to predict other people's behaviors correctly.

Question 20

FCP theory makes which of the following claims?

A) High conversation orientations produce positive outcomes in families.
B) High conformity orientations produce negative outcomes in families.
C) Children from consensual families usually fare better on a variety of outcomes than children from the other three family types.
D) All of the above.
E) A and B only.

Question 21

The most important element of dramatizing messages is that they occur in the "here-and-now" communication of the group.

Question 22

The culmination of dramatizing messages, fantasy themes, and fantasy types is a fantasy chain.

Question 23

According to functional theory, decision-making and problem-solving groups make the best decisions when the frequency with which group members communicate satisfies fundamental task requirements.

Question 24

High conformity orientations produce positive outcomes in families and in individuals.

Question 25

Symbolic convergence theory is a general theory that spans contexts and cultures.

Question 26

Leaderless groups that are brought together for the first time to accomplish a task are referred to as ___.

Question 27

According to symbolic convergence theory, an inside joke provides an example of a ___.

Question 28

When groups members are so committed to maintaining harmony and good feelings about the group that they become reluctant to share opposing points of view, they are experiencing ___.

Question 29

The degree to which families create a climate in which all family members are encouraged to participate in open discussions about a wide variety of topics is referred to as ___.

Question 30

Families that are high in conversation orientation and low in conformity orientation are referred to as ___ families.