Question 1

The _________ involves the degree to which we feel safe, supported, and understood in a relationship.

Accepted Answer

The term "relational climate" refers to the overall atmosphere of a relationship, including how safe, supported, and understood each person feels. This concept is crucial in understanding the quality and health of interpersonal relationships.

Question 2

Whenever Suzanne has a problem, she talks to her friend, Sarah. "With Sarah, I always feel safe, supported, and understood." The comfort that Suzanne is expressing is related to

Accepted Answer

The comfort Suzanne expresses is related to the "relational climate," which refers to the emotional atmosphere created by the interactions between her and Sarah. This climate makes her feel safe, supported, and understood, indicating a positive and nurturing environment within their relationship.

Question 3

When our relational climate is supportive and based on mutual trust, respect, and support, we say it's a ________ climate.

Accepted Answer

A

Question 4

Jonah suggests that the relational climate he has with his father is conforming. Which of the following descriptions best fits this type of climate?

Accepted Answer

A conforming relational climate is characterized by mutual respect, active listening, and support, which aligns with Jonah's father taking the time to listen, offering advice when asked, and respecting his son's decisions.

Question 5

In a disconfirming climate, the relational climate is characterized by defensiveness, negative judgments, and

Accepted Answer

In a disconfirming climate, the relational atmosphere is often marked by defensiveness and negative judgments, leading to mistrust among individuals. This is because the negative interactions and lack of positive affirmation make it difficult for trust to develop or be sustained.

Question 6

Megan finds it difficult to talk to her friend, Julie. "Whenever I try to get some insight into my problem, Julie just judges me without hearing all the evidence, if she even takes the time to listen." Megan's description best fits the ___________ type of relational climate.

Accepted Answer

Megan's description indicates a disconfirming relational climate, where her feelings and thoughts are not being acknowledged or validated by Julie, but rather judged or dismissed. This contrasts with a confirming climate, where individuals feel valued and understood.

Question 7

The _______ climate is most likely to contribute to defensiveness because we feel the listener's judgment has been imposed on us.

Accepted Answer

The disconfirming climate is most likely to contribute to defensiveness because it implies a lack of regard or invalidation of the person's feelings or opinions, making one feel judged or dismissed.

Question 8

According to Buber (1970), being accepted and respected by others contributes to our psychological growth and

Accepted Answer

Buber (1970) posits that being accepted and respected by others is crucial for our psychological growth and leads to self-actualization, which is the realization or fulfillment of one's talents and potentialities.

Question 9

The most basic level of confirmation in a relational climate is

Accepted Answer

Recognizing another's existence is considered the most basic level of confirmation in a relational climate because it involves the fundamental acknowledgment of the other person as being present or real, which is the foundational step in any form of interpersonal engagement or communication.

Question 10

Walking across campus, Mary smiles or establishes eye contact with those individuals she recognizes. This is an example of what level of confirmation in a relationship?

Accepted Answer

Recognizing another's existence is the correct answer because Mary's actions of smiling or establishing eye contact with those she recognizes are basic acknowledgments of their presence, which is the foundational level of confirming someone's existence in interpersonal communication.

Question 11

One way to punish others is to withdraw from interactions, including recognizing their existence or acknowledging their existence. This is also known as giving the other person the

Accepted Answer

The "silent treatment" refers to the act of ignoring someone or refusing to acknowledge their presence as a form of punishment or emotional manipulation.

Question 12

The second level of confirmation in relational climate involves

Accepted Answer

Acknowledging another person's thoughts, feelings, or actions is the second level of confirmation in relational climate, as it goes beyond mere recognition and involves actively engaging with and validating their experiences.

Question 13

After a long day at work, Greg came home and announced, "I've had the worst day ever!" Which of the following would be a supportive response to the announcement consistent with the second level of confirmation in relational climate?

Accepted Answer

The second level of confirmation in relational climate involves acknowledging and responding to the feelings or thoughts of the other person. Option D, "I'm sorry you had a hard day. Do you want to talk about it?" directly acknowledges Greg's feelings and offers support, making it a supportive response.

Question 14

Not acknowledging another person's thoughts, feelings, or actions may leave a person

Accepted Answer

Not acknowledging another person's thoughts, feelings, or actions can lead to them feeling unimportant or misunderstood because it suggests their input or presence is not valued.

Question 15

Accepting another person's thoughts or feelings as valid is also called

Accepted Answer

The answer of Accepting another person's thoughts or feelings as...

Question 16

Stefanie is feelings stressed because, yet again, she has taken on too many projects that need to be completed in a short period of time. When she expresses her concerns to her friend, Stacy, Stacy endorses her statement by responding,

Accepted Answer

Stacy's response in choice A shows empathy and understanding towards Stefanie's situation, acknowledging her feelings and the difficulty of her circumstances without judgment or dismissal.

Question 17

Although effective communication involves a variety of skills, the single most important of these skills is

Accepted Answer

Listening is considered the most important communication skill, as it enables one to understand the message being communicated, respond appropriately, and build better relationships.

Question 18

Good listening skills involve hearing, understanding, and

Accepted Answer

Good listening skills include responding in a manner that clarifies or confirms your understanding of what was said, demonstrating that you have accurately heard and processed the information.

Question 19

Adults ranked __________ the best communication skill for effectiveness in both family and broader settings (Nolvin, 1984).

Accepted Answer

Listening is often cited as a critical skill for effective communication in various settings, including both family and broader social or professional contexts. Nolvin's study highlights the importance of active listening over other forms of emotional response or sensory perception.

Question 20

The first step of listening involves

Accepted Answer

The first step of listening involves the physical element: hearing, which is the act of perceiving sound.

Quiz 8: Listening