Deck 9: Understanding Interpersonal Relationships

Question 1

The degree to which relational partners mutually confirm, value, and accept each other's sense of self is known as which of the following?

A)a complementary relationship
B)a relationship of circumstance
C)a competitive symmetrical relationship
D)interpersonal intimacy

Answer 1

D

Question 2

A highly intimate, close relationship in which a large amount of self-disclosure has occurred over a wide range of topics would most likely represent ________ of disclosures.

A)a breadth but not depth
B)a depth but not breadth
C)a breadth and depth
D)neither breadth nor depth

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Predicted outcome value theory claims that people are most attracted to

A)relationships that potentially have greater rewards than costs.
B)relationships they believe are most likely to increase their self-concept.
C)people who they predict will like them.
D)relationships where intimacy is most likely.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following is most likely an example of a relationship of circumstance?

A)your lover
B)your friend
C)your physician
D)your classmate

Question 5

When the decision about where to eat is in question, John usually defers to Phil.On the other hand, when it comes to which movie to see, John usually makes the decision.John and Phil's friendship seems to work that way in general.John is the expert and in charge of some things and Phil in others.Which of the following best characterizes their friendship?

A)complementary
B)symmetrical
C)parallel
D)dependent

Question 6

Rory has realized that she and Boothe seem to increasingly find fault with one another and engage in coercive conflict.She and Boothe are at which stage of relationship de-escalation?

A)deintensification
B)turmoil or stagnation
C)separation
D)post-separation

Question 7

Paul and Henrietta are both aware of a mutual attraction between them.They talk before class each day, but mostly about how the class is going and what they think about the teacher.At which stage of relational escalation are they?

A)preinteraction awareness
B)acquaintance
C)exploration
D)intensification

Question 8

Which of the following is the name for the theory that suggests that each of us has our own boundaries and rules for sharing personal information?

A)symbolic interactionism
B)social penetration
C)communication privacy management theory
D)the Johari window

Question 9

Bill and Marilyn have begun to further develop their own language code (idioms and inside jokes), use fewer words to communicate, and rely more on nonverbal cues including increased physical contact and decreased physical distance during conversations.At which stage of relationship escalation are they?

A)exploration
B)intensification
C)intimacy
D)active involvement

Question 10

This dialectical tension concerns our wish to disclose information while maintaining our privacy.

A)connectedness versus autonomy
B)predictability versus novelty
C)certainty versus uncertainty
D)openness versus closedness

Question 11

Which of the following elements of interpersonal attraction is most likely to be a source of long-term maintenance attraction rather than one of short-term initial attraction?

A)physical attraction
B)fashion sense
C)proximity
D)attitude similarity

Question 12

Being ________ means that each partner relies fairly equally on the other to meet needs.

A)physically attractive
B)interdependent
C)nearby
D)competent

Question 13

Steven and Sean have been friends for a long time, but it is clear that Steven likes to be in charge and Sean prefers to go along.Which of the following type of relationship best characterizes their friendship?

A)complementary
B)symmetrical
C)parallel
D)interdependent

Question 14

Francois and Pierre are brothers who are constantly challenging one another.When deciding what, how, or when to play, they both believe the other should defer to his judgment.What kind of relationship do they most likely have?

A)complementary
B)symmetrical
C)parallel
D)independent

Question 15

Complementary needs refers to

A)our desire to receive compliments from those to whom we are attracted.
B)when each partner contributes something to the relationship that the other wants or needs.
C)the attraction we have for people who live in close proximity to us.
D)needs determined by the attitudes we have about our strengths and weaknesses.

Question 16

The reciprocal nature of self-disclosure is called the ________ effect.

A)interpersonal
B)dyadic
C)halo
D)circle

Question 17

Which of the following is most likely an example of a relationship of choice?

A)coworkers
B)classmates
C)teammate
D)counselor

Question 18

Liza and Charles have been friends for quite a while.They argue quite a bit about almost every decision that has to be made.If Liza wants to see a movie, Charles wants to go to dinner first.If Charles wants to stay home and watch TV, Liza always wants to do something else.Which of the following best characterizes the type of relationship they seem to have?

A)complementary
B)interdependent
C)competitive symmetrical
D)parallel

Question 19

The approach that represents a model of self-disclosure that reflects both breadth and depth of shared information is

A)the Johari window.
B)implicit personality theory.
C)the communibiological approach.
D)the social penetration model.

Question 20

At which stage of relational escalation is physical contact and risky self-disclosure most likely to first appear?

A)acquaintance
B)exploration
C)intensification
D)intimacy

Question 21

Filtering is a process in which we increase the number of partners at each stage of relational development by applying selection criteria that a potential close friend must meet.

Question 22

Brett and Ernie have realized that they are becoming closer as a couple, but they still appreciate that they are separate individuals and have their own lives outside the relationship.This is realization is known as

A)reframing.
B)cyclic alternation.
C)recalibration.
D)segmentation.

Question 23

Which of the dialectical tensions was found to be the most important in the study of married couples reported in your textbook?

A)connection versus autonomy
B)predictability versus novelty
C)openness versus closedness
D)fussy versus complacent

Question 24

Turning points are associated with positive OR negative changes in a relationship.

Question 25

We tend to like people who like us.

Question 26

A person is more likely to be attracted to a next-door neighbor than someone down the block.

Question 27

Einar sees Alexandra every day across the room in his history class but has never talked with her.Einar likes the way Alexandra looks, including the way she dresses and how she wears her hair.He's even more attracted to her apparent intelligence and the way she handles herself in class discussions and during interactions with the instructor.He'd like to know more about her, so he asks one of his friends about her.Einar, using a passive strategy to gain information about her, is probably in the preinteraction awareness stage of any relationship that might develop between them.

Question 28

When Alicia found out that Aaron had another girlfriend she didn't know about, she was hurt and felt betrayed.Even though Aaron never said there was no one else and they weren't officially "exclusive," Alicia confronted Aaron and said she didn't want to see him anymore.This event was a reflective turning point in their relationship.

Question 29

Relationships of circumstance can also be relationships of choice.

Question 30

Looking for clues to validate or invalidate an online claim is called warranting.

Question 31

In their relationship, Ida and Harold tend to share power and that power tends to shift back and forth between them, depending on situations.This type of relationship is known as a parallel relationship.

Question 32

Predicted outcome value theory asserts that people assess the potential rewards of a relationship based upon the possible costs to determine whether or not to invest in developing a relationship.

Question 33

Interpersonal intimacy is defined as the degree to which relational partners mutually confirm, value, and accept each other's sense of self.

Question 34

Sylvia is somewhat dissatisfied with her friendship with Sarah, in part because Sarah has been depressed a lot lately and isn't as much fun to be around anymore.Sylvia maintains her friendship with Sarah in spite of these reservations, partly because she feels that over the years she has known Sarah, Sarah has been there when Sylvia needed her and they have a lot of history together.According to social exchange theory, which of the following best explains why Sylvia continues to be friends with Sarah?

A)immediate rewards
B)forecasted rewards
C)cumulative rewards
D)expected rewards

Question 35

It is in the de-intensification stage that the perspective of the relationship changes from "we" and "us" to "you" and "me."

Question 36

According to relational dialectics theory, each pair of tensions is present in every relationship.

Question 37

Helen and Martin, in a relationship for some time, seem to be leading more separate lives and spending less time as a couple these days.They limit their interactions and don't see each other as a best friend or relational partner.They also have begun to divide their property in terms of what belongs to each of them rather than what is collectively theirs, and they speak in terms of "you" and "me" rather than "we" and "us." The two are most likely engaged in which stage of relational de-escalation?

A)separation
B)stagnation
C)deintensification
D)individualization

Question 38

After her separation from Lisa, Sara has created a public statement for people who ask about the breakup and has also to come to grips with losing the relationship.Steve Duck calls this "grave-dressing," and it occurs at which point in relational de-escalation?

A)individualization
B)separation
C)post-separation
D)turmoil

Question 39

Intelligence is a more important predictor of initial attraction in eventual romantic relationships than in friendships.

Question 40

In their relationship, neither Bette nor Sam wants to take control or make decisions.This type of relationship is known as a competitive symmetrical relationship.

Question 41

Name and briefly describe three of the four types of costs and rewards that are considered as part of social exchange theory.

Question 42

How can Meghan explain to Danny what power is in a relationship and how power can impact a relationship?

Question 43

How can the social exchange theory and relational dialectics theory be combined to predict the future of a relationship?

Question 44

Name and describe the stages of relational de-escalation and what occurs at each of the stages, paying particular attention to communication behaviors at each stage.

Question 45

Describe each of the three types of power relationships in an analysis of which one you think is best.

Question 46

Arrange the five levels of self-disclosure described by John Powell, from the LEAST to the MOST revealing.

Question 47

Name and describe the stages of relational escalation, identifying what happens during each stage, particularly the self-disclosures that occur at each stage.

Question 48

What is the difference between a relationship of circumstance and a relationship of choice? Provide an example of each.

Question 49

How do short-term initial attraction and long-term maintenance attraction differ?

Question 50

Describe dialectical theory and name and describe the three dialectical tensions.