Deck 11: Improving Communication Climates

Question 1

It's okay to reword the assertive message format to suit your own particular style of speaking.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Messages shaping the communication climate of a relationship can be both verbal and nonverbal.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

A supportive climate usually results from the expression of empathy.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Perception makes little difference in determining whether a message is disconfirming.

Question 5

Stating your intentions is an important element of an assertive message.

Question 6

If an attack to our presenting self is justified, we will not react defensively.

Question 7

When you decide to acknowledge an accurate criticism, an apology is also necessary.

Question 8

Being ignored is less disconfirming than being dismissed or attacked.

Question 9

Since ambiguous responses leave your partner unsure of your position, they would likely be interpreted as disconfirming.

Question 10

When coping with criticism, it isn't a good idea to ask what else is wrong because it just brings up too much material to handle at one time.

Question 11

Once a progressive spiral has been established in a relationship, it is likely to continue indefinitely.

Question 12

What Gibb describes as "spontaneity" means saying the first thing that comes into your mind.

Question 13

Just recognizing the other person isn't enough to be considered confirming.

Question 14

A communication climate has to do with the way people feel about each other as they carry out activities.

Question 15

Defensiveness is often a self-perpetuating cycle.

Question 16

Tangential responses are one type of disconfirming message.

Question 17

Behavior that fits into Gibb's category of "strategy" attempts to manipulate the other into doing what you want.

Question 18

Whereas acknowledging others means you are interested in their ideas, endorsement means that you agree with them.

Question 19

A spiral is always negative.

Question 20

The assertive message format should always be used in the order given in your text for best results.

Question 21

Jenna says, "Sophia, I'm really upset about how we divide the cooking chores." Sophia retorts, "Speaking of cooking, my secretary brought in great cookies today." Sophia's response is an example of a(n)​

A)​impervious response.
B)​interrupting response.
C)​irrelevant response.
D)​impersonal response.
E)​tangential response.

Question 22

Cassie felt ignored because Jaime kept playing on his phone during their lunch together.This example best illustrates which type of disconfirming message?

A)​impersonal
B)ambiguous
C)​incongruous
D)​irrelevant
E)​impervious

Question 23

Another term which describes the Gibb defensive category of neutrality would be​

A)​understanding.
B)​aggressive perception.
C)​positive/negative balance.
D)​displaced loyalty.
E)​indifference.

Question 24

"Rankism" best relates to which of these behaviors?

A)​evaluation
B)superiority
C)​control
D)​strategy
E)​certainty

Question 25

Which of these strategies has been used successfully to protest slavery, secure rights for women, reject war, oppose racial segregation, and accomplish other great social change in principled and pragmatic ways?

A)​aggressiveness
B)​nonviolence
C)​neutrality
D)​all of the above
E)​none of the above

Question 26

Asking for more information from your critics as a way to respond nondefensively means you need to be prepared to accept the comments.

Question 27

Evaluative language is also described as

A)​"me" language.
B)​"it" language.
C)​"you" language.
D)​"neutral" language.
E)​"supportive" language.

Question 28

People who act in accordance with Gibb's category of equality communicate that

A)​everyone is equal in every way.
B)​while they may have greater talent in some areas, all have just as much worth as human beings.
C)​all human beings are created with the capacity to be equal in all areas.
D)​All of these answers are correct.
E)​None of the above answers are correct.

Question 29

The communication climate in a relationship is determined by the​

A)​roles each person has in the relationship.
B)​similarities of the parties.
C)​degree to which each person feels valued.
D)​amount of self-disclosure that occurs.
E)​listening and perceptual skills that each individual brings to the relationship.

Question 30

A confirming response may

A)​criticize the other.
B)​criticize the other.
C)​reveal deception.
D)​recognize manipulation.
E)​control the other.

Question 31

The term that describes the emotional tone of a personal relationship is​

A)​mood.
B)​tone.
C)​climate.
D)​environment.
E)​foundation.

Question 32

Which of these behaviors is characterized by the use of "we" language?​

A)​evaluation
B)​description
C)​problem-orientation
D)​strategy
E)​provisionalism

Question 33

The most visible way disconfirming messages reinforce one another, as when one attack leads to another and another, is termed a(n)​

A)​escalatory conflict spiral.
B)​de-escalatory conflict spiral.
C)​cognitive dissonance reaction.
D)​impervious dyad.
E)​pillow-talk incident.

Question 34

Brianne angrily waited three minutes at the counter before the clerk finished his phone conversation and signaled awareness that Brianne was waiting.Brianne would've felt better if the clerk had at least __________ her while she was waiting.

A)​recognized
B)​acknowledged
C)​endorsed
D)​been assertive with
E)​responded nondefensively

Question 35

A consequence statement can describe

A)​what happens to you, the speaker.
B)​what happens to the person you're addressing or to others.
C)​why you're bothered or pleased by another's behavior.
D)​what happens without moralizing about it.
E)​All of these answers are correct.

Question 36

According to research findings about defensiveness, when one person in a dyad acts in a defensive manner​

A)​a counterattack is appropriate.
B)​the partner will be supportive.
C)​a defensive spiral usually results.
D)​perceptions are not realistic.
E)​self-disclosure usually takes place.

Question 37

All of the following are disconfirming messages except

A)​interrupting the other person.
B)​giving ambiguous responses.
C)​ignoring the other person.
D)​using a problem-oriented approach.
E)​responding with clichés.

Question 38

Your instructor tells you how poor your writing ability is and how wrong it is for you not to work harder on it.That instructor used the Gibb category of​

A)​description.
B)​evaluation.
C)​problem orientation.
D)​equality.
E)​provisionalism.

Question 39

All of the following are behavioral descriptions except​

A)​"I notice you're frowning."
B)​"I saw you walk out of the party."
C)​"Your behavior tells me you're angry."
D)​"You've shouted the last three times we've discussed money."
E)​"You haven't said 'I love you' in over a week."

Question 40

Lilly calls Cameron to invite her to a party, leaving the message on Cameron's voicemail.After two days, Cameron still hasn't returned Lilly's call.Lilly might interpret this as what type of response?​

A)​impervious.
B)​interrupting.
C)​irrelevant.
D)​tangential.
E)​impersonal.

Question 41

"How many times do you think I'll have to explain this to you?!"

A)​evaluation
B)​control
C)​neutrality
D)​superiority
E)​certainty

Question 42

"It's my way or the highway!"

A)​evaluation
B)​control
C)​neutrality
D)​superiority
E)​certainty

Question 43

Describe a recent incident when you were defensive.Explain which part of your self-concept you were protecting, and describe the consequences of your defensiveness.

Question 44

"I don't really need your input.I've already made my decision."

A)​evaluation
B)​control
C)​neutrality
D)​superiority
E)​certainty

Question 45

Which of the following statements is the best supportive alternative to the accusation, "You just don't try hard enough."​

A)​"You should try harder."
B)​"You give up too easily."
C)​"I'm worried you'll fail with two D's."
D)​"You should study two hours every night."
E)​"It's time we had a talk about trying."

Question 46

"That's the way of the world.Get used to it."

A)​evaluation
B)​control
C)​neutrality
D)​superiority
E)​certainty

Question 47

"You're a slob!"

A)​evaluation
B)​control
C)​neutrality
D)​superiority
E)​certainty

Question 48

Which of the following is a nondefensive response to the criticism, "You've really messed up that account now"?​

A)​"Tell me what, in your mind, I did that upset you."
B)​"Not taking Mr.Kimble to dinner endangers the account?"
C)​"So you're upset that the account may be lost?"
D)​"Losing that account might really hurt our department?"
E)​All of these answers are correct to respond nondefensively to that criticism.

Question 49

Consider this saying, "I can be right or I can be happy." Discuss this in terms of defensiveness/nondefensive concepts from the text, as well as any pertinent Gibb climate components.

Question 50

How do defensive behaviors work in the sphere of work relationships? Given your knowledge of Gibb's categories, what advice would you give to a manager?​

Question 51

"You are such a couch potato" is an example of what Gibb defense-arousing behavior?​

A)​evaluation.
B)​control.
C)​strategy.
D)​neutrality.
E)​superiority.

Question 52

Imagine the following scene: Your instructor (we'll call him Dr.Roberts) angrily thrusts your research paper back at you saying, "This paper is not only late, it is full of errors." Write a response to Dr.Roberts that demonstrates three different ways to respond using Chapter Ten's strategies for handling criticism nondefensively.

Question 53

If others start criticizing you, one productive way to respond is to

A)​tell them to stop the criticism.
B)​point out that criticism is not productive.
C)​criticize them to show them how it feels.
D)​ask for more specifics about what the criticism involves.
E)​just back off; there's no effective way to deal with this kind of "no-win" situation.

Question 54

Use the Assertive Message Format to respond to one of two situations described below, labeling each of the five parts of the message.A friend is in the habit of borrowing your belongings and not returning them to you without you having to ask for them back several times.Now your friend is returning a sweater of yours and there's a stain on it.One of your friends has been especially supportive lately, has called often, spent time getting you out socially and even prepared dinner for you to help you get through a difficult time.