Question 1

When is a spouse least likely to make adaptive attributions about her or his partner's negative behavior?

Accepted Answer

When a couple is experiencing more stress than usual, individuals are less likely to make adaptive attributions about their partner's negative behavior because stress can exacerbate negative perceptions and reduce the ability to view the partner's actions in a positive or understanding light.

Question 2

2.Selim believes that his partner, Amira, is warm, generous, and funnyÑAmira does not see herself in such a positive light as Selim does. Considering the confirmation and self-enhancement motives, what prediction would you make about their relationship, and why?

Accepted Answer

The answer of 2.Selim believes that his partner, Amira, is...

Question 3

You are out to dinner with your good friend Desiree. You know she is perfectly happy and committed to her intimate partner, Sophia, but you point out some of the attractive women sitting at the bar. She looks over and says you need to get your eyes checked, because she does not find them at all attractive. How can you explain her response?

Accepted Answer

Desiree's response is consistent with the derogation of alternatives, where individuals in committed relationships tend to perceive potential alternative partners as less attractive to protect their current relationship and view it in a positive light. Desiree's response suggests that she is not interested in pursuing those women because she is satisfied with her current partner, Sophia.

Question 4

8.What is the empathy accuracy model?

Accepted Answer

The answer of 8.What is the empathy accuracy model?...

Question 5

We would expect relationship partners who make ________ comparisons to be happier than those who make ________ comparisons.

Accepted Answer

Downward comparisons (comparing oneself to those who are worse off) can boost self-esteem and satisfaction, making one feel better about their own situation. In contrast, upward comparisons (comparing oneself to those who are better off) can lead to feelings of inadequacy and dissatisfaction, potentially harming relationship happiness.

Question 6

6.Long-term married partners tend to retrospectively report a U-shaped change in their marital satisfaction (that is, looking back they believe their relationships started out great, worsened somewhat over time, and then improved more recently). On the other hand, research demonstrates that marital satisfaction generally shows a linear decline over time. How can we explain this apparent discrepancy?

Accepted Answer

The answer of 6.Long-term married partners tend to retrospectively report...

Question 7

9.You and your partner are at a party and your partner says something that embarrasses you. Define and provide examples of two kinds of attributions that you might make about your partner's behavior: 1) stable/internal; 2) temporary/internal.

Accepted Answer

The answer of 9.You and your partner are at a...

Question 8

10.You have just returned from a long business trip and your partner is late coming to meet you at the airport. Define and provide examples of two kinds of attributions that you might make about your partner's behavior: 1) stable/external; 2) temporary/external.

Accepted Answer

The answer of 10.You have just returned from a long...

Question 9

4.Kia is very unhappy in her relationship with Denny. She describes Denny as being unreliable and mean, and she belittles his intelligence. What is most likely operating in her views of Denny? Why might Kia be processing information about Denny in ways that contribute to her unhappiness in the relationship?

Accepted Answer

The answer of 4.Kia is very unhappy in her relationship...

Question 10

5.Explain assimilation and accommodation, and provide a relationship example of each.

Accepted Answer

The answer of 5.Explain assimilation and accommodation, and provide a...

Question 11

Maria confides to you that her husband is a very stubborn man but that she respects his ability to stand firm against injustice in the community. This is a(n) ________.

Accepted Answer

Reinterpretation involves changing the way one thinks about a situation or behavior, often finding a positive aspect in something that might initially seem negative. Maria is reinterpreting her husband's stubbornness as a positive trait when it comes to standing against injustice.

Question 12

You are conducting a study on how people organize their knowledge about intimate relationship partners. You predict that people who show ________ as opposed to ________ will be happier in their intimate relationships.

Accepted Answer

High cognitive complexity refers to a person's ability to perceive and process information in a nuanced and sophisticated manner. As a result, people with high cognitive complexity are more likely to be able to understand their partner's thoughts, feelings and motivations and are better equipped to navigate their way through challenging situations. Conversely, individuals with low cognitive complexity may struggle to understand their partner's behavior and motivations, leading to misunderstandings and discord in their relationship. Therefore, individuals who exhibit high cognitive complexity are predicted to be happier in their intimate relationships compared to those with low cognitive complexity.

Question 13

7.Is integration of positive and negative perceptions of the partner good or bad for relationships?

Accepted Answer

The answer of 7.Is integration of positive and negative perceptions...

Question 14

Ali's view of his partner, Ana, is multidimensional and complex. He has an integrated understanding of her strengths and shortcomings. Given that information, what is most likely to be true about his relationship? It is likely to be:

Accepted Answer

Ali's multidimensional and complex view of Ana indicates that he has a more nuanced understanding of her. This should make him more resilient to negative information about her and, therefore, more likely to have a satisfying relationship with her.

Question 15

3.Compare the confirmation and enhancement biases.

Accepted Answer

The answer of 3.Compare the confirmation and enhancement biases....

Question 16

________ involve finding redeeming features within a partner's fault; ________ involve minimizing the broader implications of a partner's fault for the relationship.

Accepted Answer

Reinterpretations involve finding redeeming features within a partner's fault, while refutations involve minimizing the broader implications of a partner's fault for the relationship.

Question 17

1.Early in her relationship with Sean, Barbara loved his spontaneity: on a moment's notice, he would make plans for them to go on a week-long canoe trip or to Mexico on holidays. Now that they have been married 15 years and have two sons, Barbara finds Sean's unpredictability frustrating and feels he is being irresponsible when he makes spur-of-the-moment plans. Based on the chapter about cognitive processing in relationships, what would you say has happened in Barbara and Sean's relationship?

Accepted Answer

The answer of 1.Early in her relationship with Sean, Barbara...

Question 18

John has been married 10 years but is very unhappy with his relationship. There is an attractive female co-worker, Leila, at his office. According to the commitment calibration hypothesis, in which of the following situations is John most likely to DOWNPLAY his perception of Leila's attractiveness?

Accepted Answer

The commitment calibration hypothesis suggests that individuals in a committed relationship will downplay the attractiveness of potential alternative partners when their commitment is threatened or when they are motivated to protect their relationship. In option C, where John frequently needs to consult with Leila on various business projects, his interaction with her is purely professional and does not pose a direct threat to his marriage. Therefore, he is more likely to downplay her attractiveness to maintain his commitment to his marriage.

Question 19

According to the commitment calibration hypothesis, who should rate photos of the attractiveness of attractive members of the other sex the highest (assuming the raters are heterosexual)? People in:

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the commitment calibration hypothesis, who...

Question 20

Maria confides to you that her husband is a very stubborn man but that it is not something that causes trouble in their relationship. This is a(n) ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Maria confides to you that her husband...

Quiz 10: Understanding Each Other