Deck 2: What Is Family Communication

Question 1

Which one of the following statements about family communication is not correct?

A) From a systems perspective, it is not productive to analyze each family member separately.
B) A systems perspective and a transactional approach to understanding family communication oppose each other.
C) Families with strong external boundaries tend to value privacy.
D) As two or more family members interact, they create a context for one another and relate to one another in that context.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Using the circumplex model, families can be plotted along both the adaptability and cohesion axis. Which statement is correct?

A) Young couples function best in the center of the two dimensions of cohesion and adaptability.
B) Adolescents function best when they have average cohesion and adaptability, midway between rigidity and chaos.
C) Older couples like it best when adaptability is high and cohesion is low.
D) Ethnic families do not fit this model because they adapt and bond by different processes.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Which of the following is not a supporting or secondary family function?

A) Developing agreement about family images
B) Developing modes of interaction into family themes
C) Finding ways to deal with biosocial issues, such as gender, age, and power
D) Finding means to provide financial and emotional support to all members

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Which one of the following is not one of the three essential dimensions in Olson et al.'s circumplex model?

A) Distance regulation
B) Adaptability
C) Communication
D) Cohesion

Question 5

The finding that both mothers and fathers regard sexual infidelity as more distressing when committed by a daughter-in-law than by a son-in-law is an example of which of the following concepts?

A) Gendered familial expectations
B) Gendered family themes
C) Gendered family identity
D) Rigid boundaries

Question 6

Genograms can be useful for studying family communication patterns because

A) They identify hierarchies in families
B) They identify social, biological and psychological issues and relationships among multiple generations
C) They identify communication boundaries among family subunits
D) They identify changes in relational development among family members over time

Question 7

Research demonstrates that families often have bidirectional interpersonal patterns. This means:

A) Parents are not always in control of their children
B) Children tend to have a love-hate relationship with their parents
C) Parents and children influence each other's behaviors
D) Children struggle with different dialectical tensions with their parents as they get older

Question 8

Michael and Molly have been dating for a few years and are thinking about getting engaged. They love each other, but Molly is very concerned that they struggle too much with some communication issues. Michael is from a big, loud Italian family and tends to be very communicatively open and occasionally confrontational with Molly. Molly is from a small Norwegian family and feels really uncomfortable with conflict. She's not sure if she can spend her life in a family of people who are as loud and conflictual as Michael's. Michael, in turn, complains that she and her family are too passive aggressive and wishes they could be more "open" and "express themselves." Michael and Molly's communication problem can best be described by which of the following terms?

A) Dialectical tensions
B) Biosocial conflicts
C) Family theme differences
D) Ethnic family issues

Question 9

Metacom+A11munication occurs when:

A) People communicate about communication
B) People misunderstand one another
C) People communicate across cultures
D) People communicate about trivial matters

Question 10

Single dad Craig is trying to decide how to talk with his adolescent daughter about going through puberty. He feels uncomfortable talking with her about taboo issues, but knows that
He should. Which secondary characteristic is Craig managing?

A) Images
B) Boundaries
C) Themes
D) Biosocial issues

Question 11

The Ramirez family is very traditional. They celebrate traditional Mexican holidays and strictly observe Catholic holidays/holy days as well. They assume very
Traditional gender roles and expect strict and complete obedience from their
Children, without question. According to the Circumplex Model, which level of
Adaptability does the Ramirez family demonstrate?

A) Chaotic
B) Flexible
C) Structured
D) Rigid

Question 12

The Johannes family experiences very high levels of closeness, and each member exhibits very little individuality. They also operate under a very strict rule system, and Mr. Johannes (the father) makes all decisions in the family with no discussion. Considering the two primary family functions, how would you label this family?

A) Connected and chaotic
B) Enmeshed and rigid
C) Enmeshed and disengaged
D) Connected and structured

Question 13

In Joe's family, his mother sees herself as a protector, but he sees her as a babysitter. They have established conflicting or asynchronous _________________.

A) Boundaries
B) Images
C) Reflections
D) Roles

Question 14

The family or families in which a person was raised is called:

A) Natural family
B) Family-of-origin
C) Nuclear family
D) First family

Question 15

Families with extremely high cohesion are referred to as nonconflictual.

Question 16

Family meanings develop over time and have a common symbolic basis.

Question 17

Families are defined through their interactions more than through their structure.

Question 18

Transactional communication means persons have a mutual impact upon each other.

Question 19

Families do not tend to shift on the cohesion/adaptability axis as children age.

Question 20

Most individuals develop communication skills within the family context.

Question 21

A family theme is a mental picture of what is expected in the behavior of family members. For example, Mother is a "proud hen."

Question 22

"Men should buy the family cars and work full time" is an example of a biosocial belief.

Question 23

As people become closer and more familiar with one another, their communication becomes more static and does not change very much on a day-to-day basis.

Question 24

It is reasonable to assume that when two people witness or experience the same event, they will perceive and assign meaning to the event in the same way based upon a shared reality.