Deck 9: Verbal and Nonverbal Communication

Question 1

Vague language, also known as _________ language, forms the basis for many misunderstandings.

A) abstract
B) confusing
C) irrelevant
D) incongruent

Answer 1

abstract

Question 2

Abstract language is often conceptualized as a(n) ________, with highly abstract language at the top and increasingly more specific language on the lower levels.

A) continuum
B) mountain
C) ladder
D) iceberg

Answer 2

ladder

Question 3

Sometimes, the use of abstract language isn't intentional; rather, it stems from the assumption that others see things the same way we do. This is known as the

A) conversational bias.
B) False consensus bias.
C) fundamental attribute error.
D) internal attribution.

Answer 3

internal attribution.

Question 4

One type of abstract language, ____________, involves words or phrases that gain their meaning by comparison.

A) descriptive language
B) relative language
C) static language
D) nonverbal language

Question 5

Two types of abstract language include ________ language and ________ language.

A) descriptive; specific
B) relative; static
C) nonverbal; verbal
D) individual; group

Question 6

Within abstract language, _________ terms are interpreted in different ways by different people, based on each person's own experiences and preferences.

A) specific
B) static
C) relative
D) individual

Question 7

Max wanted to stop by a friend's house on the way home from work. When his wife asked how long he would be, he replied, "Just a little while." Three hours later, he came home to an angry woman. The misunderstanding created here was a function of _______ language.

A) specific
B) static
C) individual
D) relative

Question 8

Language that implies a situation or person is always the same is also known as ________ language.

A) relative
B) descriptive
C) specific
D) static

Question 9

"Andrea is always late!" This statement is an example of ________ language.

A) relative
B) descriptive
C) static
D) specific

Question 10

"You are never home!" is to ________ language as "You have been working a lot this week, and I miss you" is to ________ language.

A) static; relative
B) static; descriptive
C) descriptive; static
D) relative; static

Question 11

Sometimes, static language also includes exaggerations of the behavior's frequency. This is also known as the

A) acculturation.
B) overregulation.
C) fallacy of overgeneralization.
D) elaboration.

Question 12

To avoid misunderstandings, replace abstract terms with ________ terms and include specific examples that describe what happened and when it occurred.

A) concrete
B) relative
C) I-language
D) relative.

Question 13

_________ occurs when we blame someone else for our own feelings.

A) Fallacy of overgeneralization
B) Fallacy of causation
C) I-language
D) Internal attribution

Question 14

After his dog used the carpet for a restroom, Jake screamed, "You make me so mad!" This is an example of the

A) fallacy of overgeneralization.
B) fallacy of causation.
C) I-language.
D) internal attribution.

Question 15

When we use ________ language, it implies the other person is to blame for our feelings or the situation.

A) I
B) you
C) behaviorally descriptive
D) emotionally descriptive

Question 16

Debra turned left at the light and was hit by an oncoming car. Her husband, Derek, responded with, "You scared me so much! Why didn't you look where you were going?"
This is an example of a(n) ________ statement.

A) I
B) you
C) personal description
D) situation description

Question 17

Language that takes responsibility for the impact the other person's behavior has on you, rather than scolding or placing blame, is called ________ language.

A) I
B) you
C) personal
D) situational

Question 18

Debra turned left at the light and was hit by an oncoming car. Her husband, Derek, responded with, "I was so scared when I found out you were hurt. What happened?"
This is an example of a(n) ________ statement.

A) I
B) you
C) personal
D) situational

Question 19

An effective I-statement includes three basic elements: a behavioral description, an emotional description, and a(n)

A) closing statement.
B) evaluative statement.
C) consequence.
D) status statement.

Question 20

Within an I-statement, a(n) ________ description is a clear, specific, and factual description of a person's behavior.

A) motivational
B) emotional
C) behavioral
D) influential

Question 21

"You didn't take the trash out today" is an example of ________ description, an element of the I-statement.

A) motivational
B) emotional
C) influential
D) behavioral

Question 22

The second component of an effective I-statement involves stating how you felt when the behavior occurred. This is also called a(n)_______ description.

A) behavioral
B) emotional
C) factual
D) personal

Question 23

"I felt taken for granted when you were late for dinner three times this week." This statement includes a behavioral description and a(n) ________ description.

A) personal
B) situational
C) factual
D) emotional

Question 24

The third component of an effective I-statement is to state the ________ or impact the behavior has on you.

A) consequence
B) feeling
C) influence
D) meaning

Question 25

________ involve behaviors that occur repeatedly in a relationship.

A) One-time events
B) Ongoing patterns
C) Temporary issues
D) Consequences

Question 26

Serious consequences discussed in I-statements should be prefaced with statements that ________ the consequence.

A) soften
B) clarify
C) increase
D) define

Question 27

Using phrases such as "I'm worried that…" or "I'm wondering if…" before stating a consequence transmits the gravity of our concerns, but in a way that is ______ threatening to the receiver.

A) less
B) more
C) equally
D) not

Question 28

________ communication relies more on attention to contextual details and less on explicit language to transmit its message.

A) High-context
B) Low-context
C) Western
D) Eastern

Question 29

________ context communication is more indirect, while ________ context communication is more direct.

A) Low; high
B) High; low
C) Personal; situational
D) Situational; personal

Question 30

Collectivist cultures prefer _______ context communication because of the value placed on group harmony.

A) high
B) low
C) moderate
D) neutral

Question 31

Individuals communicating from a Western perspective prefer ______ context communication.

A) high
B) low
C) moderate
D) neutral

Question 32

According to Sumeko Iwao, greater value is placed on _______ understanding between individuals in Japan.

A) intuitive
B) direct
C) low context
D) individualistic

Question 33

________ context communication relies on clear concrete and explicit language.

A) High
B) Low
C) Moderate
D) Personal

Question 34

Individuals communicating in ________ context cultures do not pay the close attention to contextual detail that their ________ context counterparts do.

A) high; low
B) personal; impersonal
C) impersonal; personal
D) low; high

Question 35

According to your text, the culture with the highest context culture is

A) Greek.
B) American.
C) German-Swiss.
D) Japanese.

Question 36

According to your text, the culture with the lowest context culture is

A) Greek.
B) American.
C) German-Swiss.
D) Japanese.

Question 37

Phrases that typify direct communication, such as "Don't beat around the bush," are characteristic of ________ context cultures.

A) high
B) low
C) moderate
D) personal

Question 38

According to Gudykunst and Ting-Toomey (1988), cultural communication styles can be divided into elaborate, exacting, and _______ styles.

A) metaphoric
B) succinct
C) melodic
D) specific

Question 39

Using many colorful and expressive words to convey a message is typical of ________ language.

A) succinct
B) exacting
C) elaborate
D) melodic

Question 40

Using many metaphors, similes, and adjectives to add detail and exaggerate the message is typical of ________ language.

A) succinct
B) exacting
C) elaborate
D) melodic

Question 41

________ communication is clear and specific in that it states the facts and no more.

A) Succinct
B) Exacting
C) Elaborate
D) Melodic

Question 42

________ communication is similar to the low context communication preferred by Americans.

A) Succinct
B) Exacting
C) Elaborate
D) Melodic

Question 43

A more understated language that says very little and relies on the listener to understand the unspoken meaning is also known as _________ communication.

A) succinct
B) exacting
C) elaborate
D) melodic

Question 44

In Chinese and Native American cultures, __________ is valued over talk.

A) task orientation
B) silence
C) facial expression
D) written expression

Question 45

Joe, a Native American college student, rarely speaks in class, and when he does, says very little. Although the other students think Joe is unintelligent, his professor knows better. She suspects his limited verbal expression is because his culture emphasizes _______ communication.

A) succinct
B) exacting
C) elaborate
D) melodic

Question 46

A third cultural difference in communication involves whether the goal of communication is task oriented or ________ oriented.

A) message
B) language
C) abstract
D) person

Question 47

Dr. Mason sometimes seems short with students and appears more task oriented than relationship oriented. Which of the following choices best describes her communication style?

A) Instrumental
B) Language
C) Abstract
D) Person

Question 48

In general, ________ cultures prefer __________ communication and _________ cultures prefer _________ communication.

A) individualist, affective; collectivist, instrumental
B) individualist, instrumental; collectivist, affective
C) collectivist, succinct; individualist, elaborative
D) collectivist, elaborative; individualist; succinct

Question 49

According to Tannen's (1986) research on male and female communication patterns, men see the world in a(n) _________ way and women see the world in a(n) ________ way.

A) egalitarian; hierarchical
B) cooperative; competitive
C) hierarchical, egalitarian
D) holistic; individualistic

Question 50

A world view that focuses on "getting ahead" will rely on _________ communication whereas a world view focusing on equality will rely on ______ communication.

A) affective; instrumental
B) collectivist; individualist
C) empathic; problem-solving
D) instrumental; affective

Question 51

One gender difference in communication involves the goal of communication. For men, it revolves around _________; for women, it revolves around

A) equality; status.
B) empathy; problem solving.
C) relationships; power.
D) problem solving; empathy.

Question 52

Men often focus on the ________, whereas women emphasize on the __________ in conversation.

A) details; status differences
B) big picture; details
C) relationship; status differences
D) details; big picture

Question 53

Males consider it _________ appropriate to ask for help as compared to females (Tannen, 1990).

A) never
B) equally
C) more
D) less

Question 54

One of the first things we need to do to overcome gender differences in communication is to ________ them.

A) ignore
B) emphasize
C) acknowledge
D) overlook

Question 55

According to Burgoon (1994), at least 65 percent of the interpretation of a message is accounted for by __________ communication.

A) verbal
B) nonverbal
C) both verbal and nonverbal
D) peripheral

Question 56

Sometimes our nonverbal behaviors are not consistent with our verbal communication. When this happens, we say our nonverbal communications

A) have a lack of fit.
B) are incongruent.
C) are nonrepresentative.
D) are irrelevant.

Question 57

________ is a nonverbal behavior that has different meanings in different cultures.

A) Asking questions
B) Eye contact
C) Task-oriented communication
D) Smiling

Question 58

Jason was often told by his mother to stand up straight. It wasn't until he studied human relations in college that he learned an erect posture signaled confidence and honesty in _________ cultures.

A) Eastern
B) Western
C) collectivistic
D) feminine

Question 59

_________ involves the direction your body is facing relative to those with whom you are interacting.

A) Body posture
B) Body orientation
C) Physical appearance
D) Personal space

Question 60

In Western culture, facing a person directly when speaking indicates

A) a lack of interest.
B) dishonesty.
C) directness and interest in the other person.
D) that we are trying to end the conversation.

Question 61

Touch is often used by a communicator to help

A) build rapport.
B) signal the conversation is over.
C) decrease trust.
D) decrease compliance.

Question 62

In conversation, men and women in Western culture use touch

A) similarly.
B) differently, in that men use touch for status and women use touch for intimacy.
C) differently, in that women use touch for status and men use touch for intimacy.
D) differently, in that men use touch more often than women.

Question 63

In Arab culture, ____________ is/are an important part of nonverbal communication.

A) taste
B) touch
C) facial expressions
D) smell

Question 64

The ____________ phenomenon is the name given by social psychology for the strong relationship between attractiveness and other characteristics, such as friendliness and intelligence.

A) "Beauty-Success"
B) "What Is Good Is Beautiful"
C) "What Is Positive Is Beautiful"
D) "What Is Beautiful Is Good"

Question 65

Austin had a graduate school interview planned for March, and his mother asked whether he planned on removing his facial piercings. He replied, "Oh, Mom, they will accept me or not accept me based on my credentials, not my looks." What does Austin's mom know that he doesn't?

A) He will be taken less seriously if he dresses in a manner that conforms to the expectation of the profession.
B) Piercings are the new "in" thing in graduate school.
C) He will be taken more seriously if he dresses in a manner that conforms to the expectation of the profession.
D) His piercings will be irrelevant in the interview.

Question 66

Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between personal space and a person's status?

A) Status is unrelated to personal space.
B) Individuals with lower status demand greater amounts of personal space.
C) Individuals with higher status demand greater amounts of personal space.
D) Individuals with higher status demand lesser amounts of personal space.

Question 67

___________ is/are communication that is verbal, but wordless.

A) Pseudolanguage
B) Facial expressions
C) Paralanguage
D) Gestures

Question 68

Marriage researcher John Gottman has discovered that one of the best predictors of long-term marital success is tone of voice. This is an example of

A) pseudolanguage.
B) facial expressions.
C) paralanguage.
D) gestures.

Question 69

When Lydia talks, she uses a lot of expressions involving the movement of her hands, arms, and other parts of the body. These nonverbal expressions are also known as

A) pseudolanguage.
B) facial expressions.
C) paralanguage.
D) gestures.

Question 70

A new restaurant in town specializes in romantic music and soft lighting. The owners are probably aware of the research demonstrating the effects of physical environment on behavior. Studies have confirmed

A) faster music and harsher lighting tend to create more relaxed moods.
B) faster music and softer lighting tend to create more relaxed moods.
C) slower music and harsher lighting tend to create less moods.
D) slower music and softer lighting tend to create more relaxed moods.

Question 71

Compared to cultures low in contact, cultures high in contact tend to be

A) less open with each other.
B) less likely to use nonverbal cues to signal warmth and closeness.
C) more nonverbally expressive.
D) more verbally expressive.

Question 72

Which of the following regions is considered a low contact culture?

A) Russia
B) Arabia
C) Latin America
D) Great Britain

Question 73

When it comes to nonverbal communication, individuals in collectivistic cultures tend to

A) be less open with each other.
B) coordinate their schedules and actions with their family groups.
C) be more self-centered about activities and plans.
D) express less synchrony when dancing.

Question 74

Individuals from high power distance cultures encourage emotions that

A) equalize power differences among members.
B) minimize power differences among members.
C) promote and maintain power differences among members.
D) are easily understood by all members of the culture.

Question 75

Individuals in ________ power distance cultures are ________ sensitive to the impact of their paralanguage on others.

A) high; less
B) low; more
C) high; more
D) low; less

Question 76

Which of the following can help people avoid the fallacy of causation that may be caused by I-language?

A) Context
B) Self-talk
C) Fundamental attribution
D) Self-efficacy

Question 77

Websites in ________________ cultures rely more on imagery, while websites in ________________ cultures rely more on text.

A) low-context; high-context
B) high-context; low-context
C) low uncertainty-avoidance; high uncertainty-avoidance
D) high uncertainty-avoidance; low uncertainty-avoidance

Question 78

Websites with cues for navigation repeated in multiple places for easy reference are more likely to be found in ____________ cultures.

A) high-context
B) high-power distance
C) low-context
D) low-power distance

Question 79

Websites with pop-up windows that promote additional exploration are most common in ______________ cultures.

A) high uncertainty-avoidance
B) low uncertainty-avoidance
C) high-context
D) low-context

Question 80

Workers in _______________ cultures prefer minimal instruction from their supervisors.

A) high-context
B) high-power distance
C) low-power distance
D) low-context