Deck 14: Maintaining and Repairing Relationships

Question 1

Relationship maintenance mechanisms have been studied by researchers from two different scholarly camps. These two camps are based on ________ and ________ respectively.

A) the investment model; communication research
B) the attachment model; contentment
C) commitment; intimacy
D) credits; debits

Answer 1

the investment model; communication research

Question 2

When Carla's friends ask her what she plans to do over the weekend, she includes her husband in her response. She usually says, "We will visit his farm this Sunday," or "We plan to just stay at home and watch some movies."
In relationship studies, this change in self-definition is referred to as:

A) positive illusion.
B) perceived superiority.
C) cognitive interdependence.
D) the Michelangelo phenomenon.

Answer 2

cognitive interdependence.

Question 3

The cognitive maintenance mechanism in which a partner's faults are judged to be relatively trivial and the relationship's deficiencies are considered to be relatively unimportant is known as:

A) positive illusion.
B) perceived superiority.
C) cognitive interdependence.
D) the Michelangelo phenomenon.

Answer 3

positive illusion.

Question 4

Betty is in a stable marriage. Lately, her colleagues have noticed that her boss appears to be romantically interested in her. When they mentioned it to her, she told them that she hasn't noticed his advances. In the context of relationship maintenance mechanisms, Betty is displaying:

A) positive illusions.
B) inattention to alternatives.
C) perceived superiority.
D) accommodation.

Question 5

Samantha and Sam often talk about how their relationship is better than most of their friends' relationships. They consider their 28-year-old marriage to be special and talk about other marriages that end in divorce. This is an example of how Samantha and Sam:

A) are derogating alternatives to maintain their relationship.
B) have a perceived superiority with regard to their relationship.
C) have a willingness to sacrifice to maintain their relationship.
D) are engaging in the Michelangelo phenomenon.

Question 6

In the context of relationship maintenance mechanisms, which of the following is a cognitive maintenance mechanism?

A) Forgiveness
B) Accommodation
C) Perceived superiority
D) Self-control

Question 7

Ben enjoys singing and has recorded a few albums. His wife, Julia, encourages him to sing more often and promotes his albums on social media. In the context of relationship maintenance mechanisms, this is termed as:

A) the Michelangelo phenomenon.
B) a positive illusion.
C) perceived superiority.
D) cognitive interdependence.

Question 8

In the context of relationship maintenance mechanisms, which of the following is a behavioral maintenance mechanism?

A) Perceived superiority
B) Rituals
C) Derogation of tempting alternatives
D) Positive illusions

Question 9

Which of the following relational maintenance strategies proposed by Canary and Stafford is the best predictor of a happy marriage?

A) Positivity
B) Openness
C) Understanding
D) Social networks

Question 10

Couples who participate in the PREP program are encouraged to:

A) develop highly romantic and positive expectations of their future.
B) express their expectations of sex clearly and openly.
C) avoid seeming too eager to develop their relationship.
D) live apart and do things on their own for a few weeks.

Question 11

Janet believes that her husband does not have any interest in their relationship and that their marriage is doomed. Her marital therapist is working on getting her to make note of her husband's positive contributions to the marriage and to believe that even bad relationships can thrive with patience and effort. Janet's marital therapy is most likely:

A) traditional behavioral couple therapy.
B) cognitive-behavioral couple therapy.
C) integrative behavioral couple therapy.
D) emotionally focused couple therapy.

Question 12

Wes and Sandra often bicker about the unequal distribution of housework and the lack of fun in their relationship. Their marital therapist focusses on improving their communication skills during conflict and suggests that they share household chores. The therapist also works on getting them to accept that their individual ideas of fun differ fundamentally and helps them develop adaptive emotions to manage this difference. Their marital therapy is most likely:

A) traditional behavioral couple therapy.
B) insight-oriented couple therapy.
C) integrative behavioral couple therapy.
D) emotionally focused therapy.

Question 13

Andrew and Betty obtain help from a family therapist to repair their relationship. After de-escalating their problematic interactional cycles, the therapist asks them to accept their own disowned needs for security, to accept their partner's evolving construction of the situation, and to create emotional engagement with each other. Lastly, the therapist tries to consolidate new patterns of attachment behavior. Which approach does this description best represent?

A) Behavioral couple therapy
B) Cognitive-behavioral couple therapy
C) Integrative behavioral couple therapy
D) Emotionally focused couple therapy