Deck 9: Communicating Conflict

Question 1

Knowing what ______ is will not keep it from happening.

A) history
B) conflict
C) story
D) intentionality

Answer 1

B

Question 2

When people who have incompatible goals interact and interfere in each other's ability to achieve those goals, ______ occurs.

A) emotional contagion
B) co-rumination
C) interpersonal conflict
D) interdependence

Answer 2

C

Question 3

A key part of interpersonal conflict is ______.

A) intentionality
B) independence
C) compatible goals
D) perception

Answer 3

D

Question 4

The fact that conflicts are developed and maintained through verbal and nonverbal communication means ______ is taking place.

A) interaction
B) perception
C) interdependence
D) reciprocity

Question 5

Regardless of emotional intensity, conflict is not occurring unless ______.

A) it is happening in real time
B) the people must know each other
C) there is interaction between people
D) it requires only one person

Question 6

Individuals must be ______, or interpersonal conflict will not arise.

A) equal
B) interdependent
C) independent
D) present

Question 7

"It would bother me if my significant other smoked, but I don't care if my coworkers do. It doesn't affect me," says Sierra. Sierra's lack of conflict with her coworkers reflects the absence of ______ in their relationship.

A) perception
B) interaction
C) incompatible goals
D) interdependence

Question 8

Some people believe that all conflict is just a matter of ______.

A) ignorance
B) miscommunication
C) poor listening
D) choice

Question 9

"If we just learned how to communicate better, all our problems would go away," says Blanca. Blanca believes in which myth about conflict?

A) It is always best to talk through conflicts.
B) Conflict is just miscommunication.
C) All conflict can be resolved through good communication.
D) Conflict is caused by a mismatch in meta-emotion.

Question 10

John loves the computer game Minecraft, but his best friend, Steve, tells him he thinks it's a waste of time. Which type of conflict does their disagreement represent?

A) image
B) value
C) relational
D) content

Question 11

Susan and Peter have been together for years and seem to fight about the same things. Their experience reflects the concept that conflict forms ______.

A) patterns
B) waves
C) cycles
D) history

Question 12

When Jared raises his voice at her, Kristi can't help but raise her voice right back. Pretty soon they're yelling at each other. Jared and Kristi are exhibiting ______.

A) symmetrical withdrawal
B) symmetrical escalation
C) symmetrical negotiation
D) pursuit-withdrawal

Question 13

Middle school friends Richie and Hafez disagreed over the weekend, and now they both feel too awkward to talk to each other. They avoid each other in the hallways and sit far apart at lunch. Richie and Hafez are exhibiting ______.

A) symmetrical negotiation
B) pursuit-withdrawal
C) symmetrical escalation
D) symmetrical withdrawal

Question 14

"I feel exhausted from fighting. I'm going to go do some work in the office," says Tom to Sybill. Ten minutes later, Sybill opens the door and continues their previous disagreement. Tom and Sybill are exhibiting ______.

A) symmetrical escalation
B) symmetrical withdrawal
C) withdrawal-pursuit
D) pursuit-withdrawal

Question 15

Partners who listen to each other and offer suggestions for dealing with the conflict at hand exhibit ______.

A) symmetrical withdrawal
B) symmetrical negotiation
C) symmetrical escalation
D) withdrawal-pursuit

Question 16

People cope with conflict through individual ______.

A) styles
B) patterns
C) cycles
D) waves

Question 17

Mark doesn't want to rock the boat, so he focuses primarily on Jason's feelings with little regard for his own. Which conflict style is Mark exhibiting?

A) competing
B) avoiding
C) compromising
D) accommodating

Question 18

Which conflict style is primarily nonconfrontational?

A) compromising
B) accommodating
C) avoiding
D) competing

Question 19

"Our fights have gotten so frequent that I think Nick and I need to see a counselor," says Alfie. Which conflict style is Alfie exhibiting?

A) compromising
B) neglect
C) avoiding
D) third-party

Question 20

Children exposed to a lot of family conflict often experience ______ in adulthood.

A) negative psychological consequences
B) avoidance behavior
C) passive-aggressive behavior
D) compromising behavior

Question 21

"My father was verbally abusive all the time when I was a kid, so I barely notice it when someone else is," says Makenzie. Childhood conflict caused Makenzie to become ______ to verbal aggression as an adult.

A) averse
B) hypersensitive
C) desensitized
D) immune

Question 22

Intentional harm inflicted through repeated unwanted actions directed to someone of lesser power is known as ______.

A) neglect
B) competing
C) bullying
D) violence

Question 23

Derek makes fun of all the girls in his class, shoving them on the playground and pulling their hair. Derek is engaging in ______.

A) cyberbullying
B) bias bullying
C) early violence
D) competing conflicts

Question 24

Yesterday some older kids at school shoved Samir into his locker. Today he is afraid to go to school because he is convinced it will happen again. Even though it only happened once, Samir is still experiencing bullying because ______.

A) he believes it will happen again
B) he received intentional harm
C) he has less power than the other kids
D) he experienced physical abuse

Question 25

Whenever Lesley posts on Instagram, she receives cruel, anonymous comments. Lesley is experiencing ______.

A) meta-conflicts
B) early violence
C) bias bullying
D) cyberbullying

Question 26

Twelve-year-old Brooke feels humiliated when her boyfriend Alphonse makes fun of her weight in front of his friends. Brooke's experience best reflects which fact about psychological violence?

A) Violence often begins in the family.
B) Psychological violence often leads to physical violence.
C) Violence in relationships begins early.
D) Violence occurs when conflict becomes extreme.

Question 27

The positive interaction ratio involves ______.

A) saying nothing negative
B) saying more positive things than negative things
C) saying more negative things than positive things
D) saying equal amounts of positive and negative things

Question 28

"Looking back, I can't remember Kim saying one nice thing about me during any of our disagreements," says Eliot. Kim is likely exhibiting a ______.

A) competing conflict style
B) neglect conflict style
C) negative interaction ratio
D) positive interaction ratio

Question 29

According to psychologist John Gottman, the magic ratio for positive-to-negative ratios in marriage is ______.

A) 3:2
B) 1:1
C) 2:3
D) 5:1

Question 30

According to the explanatory process model, conflict goes through the stages in which order?

A) proximal context, distal context, conflict interaction, distal outcomes, and proximal outcomes
B) distal context, proximal context, conflict interaction, proximal outcomes, and distal outcomes
C) distal context, proximal context, conflict interaction, distal outcomes, and proximal outcomes
D) proximal context, distal context, conflict interaction, proximal outcomes, and distal outcomes

Question 31

The background that frames the specific conflict is called ______.

A) proximal context
B) distal context
C) conflict interaction
D) distal outcomes

Question 32

Which episode of the explanatory process model contains the history between two parties?

A) distal context
B) proximal context
C) distal outcomes
D) conflict interaction

Question 33

Which episode in the explanatory process model refers to the rules, emotions, and beliefs of those engaged in the conflict?

A) distal outcomes
B) conflict interaction
C) distal context
D) proximal context

Question 34

"No screaming or throwing things when we argue," Zia says to Yasmine. Zia's rules become part of the ______.

A) distal context
B) conflict interaction
C) proximal context
D) distal outcomes

Question 35

"You keep spending money when I thought we wanted to save it," Karen says to Claude. "We've been going out a lot for working lunches," Claude responds. Karen and Claude's interaction is an example of ______.

A) conflict interaction
B) distal context
C) distal outcomes
D) proximal context

Question 36

When one or both members of a relationship begin to address problematic problems, it forms the ______.

A) distal outcomes
B) conflict interaction
C) proximal context
D) distal context

Question 37

The immediate results after conflict interaction comprise the ______.

A) distal context
B) proximal context
C) proximal outcomes
D) distal outcomes

Question 38

"How about I start following a savings plan?" Claude suggests to Karen after their fight over his spending habits. Claude's suggestion is a part of the ______.

A) proximal outcomes
B) distal context
C) proximal context
D) conflict interaction

Question 39

The feelings that the two people have about their previous conflict become part of the ______.

A) conflict interaction
B) distal outcomes
C) distal context
D) proximal outcomes

Question 40

A teacher's ability to persuade you to conform to the rules of the classroom is an example of ______.

A) management
B) conflict
C) power
D) intrigue

Question 41

Having the ability to control the behavior of another person is known as ______.

A) power
B) management
C) bullying
D) aggression

Question 42

When Anna's mother tells her she cannot have a particular toy, Anna starts kicking, screaming, and crying in the toy store to get what she wants. Anna is attempting to achieve her goals through ______.

A) indirect application of power
B) direct and virtual use of power
C) hidden use of power
D) direct application of power

Question 43

"If you don't stop hitting your sister, I will have to put you in a time out," says Kristine. Kristine is attempting to achieve her goals through ______.

A) hidden use of power
B) indirect application of power
C) direct and virtual use of power
D) direct application of power

Question 44

Threats and promises express ______.

A) management
B) power
C) conflict
D) aggression

Question 45

Using power without letting it be known that power is being used is called ______.

A) direct application of power
B) hidden use of power
C) direct and virtual use of power
D) indirect application of power

Question 46

Jimmy thanks Chelsea for picking him up at the airport. "It was a long drive out here in all the rain. You owe me one," says Chelsea. Chelsea's statement is an example of ______.

A) a relational message
B) direct and virtual use of power
C) hidden use of power
D) the competing conflict style

Question 47

When one person defines the relationship two people have with one another, that individual is sending a(n) ______.

A) I-message
B) direct and virtual use of power
C) relational message
D) indirect application of power

Question 48

Hidden power is also known as ______.

A) implicit power
B) unobtrusive power
C) indirect power
D) invisible power

Question 49

When examining the role of sex in power dynamics of couples in the United States, the stereotypical view would say that ______.

A) husbands had more power
B) wives had more power
C) power was equal
D) in-laws had more power

Question 50

Dante, in the heat of the debate, remained relaxed while Chris was in an uproar. He says, "I always love having a healthy discussion with you." Which effective conflict management skill was Dante exhibiting?

A) presume goodwill and express goodwill
B) lighten up and reframe
C) listen
D) practice cultural sensitivity

Question 51

Changing something that has a negative connotation into a more positive one is referred to as ______.

A) presuming goodwill
B) lightening up
C) reframing
D) listening

Question 52

"At first I found Elsie's views on Islam frustrating. Now I see them as a potential source of discussion," says Malcolm. Malcolm is engaging in ______.

A) listening
B) lightening up
C) expressing goodwill
D) reframing

Question 53

Which would you expect someone who enters conflict presuming and expressing goodwill to say?

A) "I'm sure we both want to resolve this issue constructively."
B) "We're seeing this issue negatively, but I think there's a silver lining."
C) "What do you think we could do to improve the situation?"
D) "We're coming at this problem from different cultural backgrounds."

Question 54

"This argument just reminds me how passionate you are. I really admire that about you," says Jocelyn. Which effective conflict management skill is Jocelyn exhibiting?

A) presuming goodwill and expressing goodwill
B) lightening up and reframing
C) listening
D) practicing cultural sensitivity

Question 55

Which would you expect to hear from someone who focuses on his or her partner by asking questions?

A) "I'm sure we both want to resolve this issue constructively."
B) "We're seeing this issue negatively, but I think there's a silver lining."
C) "What do you think we could do to improve the situation?"
D) "We're coming at this problem from different cultural backgrounds."

Question 56

Which conflict management skill is especially effective at identifying areas of further discussion after both people have had a chance to speak?

A) asking questions
B) lightening up and reframing
C) presuming and expressing goodwill
D) practicing cultural sensitivity

Question 57

While Pauline was yelling, Nabil simply continued knitting, paying no attention to her. On which effective conflict management skill does Nabil particularly need to improve?

A) presuming goodwill and expressing goodwill
B) lightening up and reframing
C) listening
D) practicing cultural sensitivity

Question 58

When you tune into your own cultural norms before judging others, you are beginning the practice of ______.

A) reframing
B) expressing goodwill
C) presuming goodwill
D) cultural sensitivity

Question 59

Which would you expect someone who is engaging in cultural sensitivity to say?

A) "I'm sure we both want to resolve this issue constructively."
B) "We're seeing this issue negatively, but I think there's a silver lining."
C) "What do you think we could do to improve the situation?"
D) "We're coming at this problem from different backgrounds."

Question 60

Conflicts about conducting a conflict are known as meta-conflicts.

Question 61

Serial conflicts concern the relationship between two people.

Question 62

The primary factors that affect conflict interaction are age and occupation.

Question 63

The pattern of symmetrical escalation can go on forever.

Question 64

A relationship may end as a result of symmetrical withdrawal.

Question 65

The pursuit-withdrawal and withdrawal-pursuit patterns are referred to as schismogenesis.

Question 66

Behavior must involve repeated unwanted actions to be defined as bullying.

Question 67

Violence in relationships tends to start in adulthood.

Question 68

Violence and aggression is only physical.

Question 69

Incest is a form of family violence.

Question 70

There are six episodes to the explanatory process model.

Question 71

A relationship's history involves the areas of disagreements that partners have discussed in the past.

Question 72

Distal outcome can feed into the distal context for the next conflict.

Question 73

Using threats and promises to communicate the potential use of direct power is an example of the hidden use of power.

Question 74

Threats and promises are excellent examples of using direct and virtual use of power.

Question 75

Even though you'd rather become an actor, you major in pre-med because you know your parents would prefer that. This is an example of hidden use of power.

Question 76

Maintaining eye contact and nodding to show that you are listening is part of expressing goodwill.

Question 77

Listening to the other person is an essential part of managing conflict.

Question 78

"Am I only thinking about the way we do things in America?" is a question you may ask yourself when you are practicing cultural sensitivity.

Question 79

For conflict to occur, people must have some degree of interdependence. Give an example from your own life that supports this assertion.

Question 80

"Syd and I just have different communication styles. That's why we're always arguing," says Stephanie. Identify the common myth about conflict that Stephanie is expressing.