Question 1

Most Hispanic, southern European, and Middle Eastern cultures are classified as low-contact cultures.

Accepted Answer

Hispanic, southern European, and Middle Eastern cultures are generally considered high-contact cultures, as they tend to value close personal relationships and physical touch as a form of communication.

Question 2

Most research strongly supports the common notion that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

Accepted Answer

False

Question 3

Which of the following vocal behaviors is a dimension of nonverbal communication?

Accepted Answer

All three choices are vocal behaviors that make up the dimension of nonverbal communication. Tone of voice refers to the pitch or inflection used in speaking, rate of speech refers to the speed at which someone speaks, and loudness refers to the volume or intensity of someone's voice. Therefore, all the choices are correct.

Question 4

Why do people tend to believe nonverbal messages even when they contradict verbal messages?

Accepted Answer

Nonverbal communication is often considered to be more authentic than verbal communication because it is harder to control. People are often more aware of what they are saying than how they are saying it, and may not realize that their nonverbal cues are contradicting their words. Additionally, nonverbal cues can be more difficult to interpret accurately, leading to miscommunications and misunderstandings.

Question 5

Which aspect of facial attractiveness refers to the relative size of facial features, such as the nose or ears?

Accepted Answer

Proportionality refers to the relative size of facial features, and how they fit together to create a balanced and harmonious appearance. Symmetry refers to the balance of features on either side of the face, while rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure to alter the shape and size of the nose. Asymmetry refers to a lack of symmetry or balance in facial features.

Question 6

Which of the following emotional states was NOT identified by Paul Ekman as having a universal facial expression?

Accepted Answer

Paul Ekman identified six universal emotional states with corresponding facial expressions: happiness, sadness, fear, anger, disgust, and surprise. Jealousy was not included in this list.

Question 7

People tend to be most attracted to others whose natural body odors are different from their own.

Accepted Answer

This is because humans have an evolutionary preference for genetic diversity in their potential partners, and different body odor can be a sign of different genes and immune system compatibility.

Question 8

When nonverbal cues conflict with verbal cues, people usually believe the verbal statements.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that in cases of conflicting verbal and nonverbal cues, people tend to trust the nonverbal cues more than the verbal statements. This is because nonverbal cues are often seen as more genuine and difficult to fake, while verbal statements can be more easily manipulated.

Question 9

The face communicates more information than any other nonverbal channel.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that the face is capable of communicating a wide range of emotions, including happiness, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, disgust, and contempt. It is also capable of conveying subtle nuances of meaning, such as sincerity, trustworthiness, and dominance. Research has found that people are better at recognizing emotions from facial expressions than from any other type of nonverbal cue, including body language or tone of voice. Therefore, the face is considered to be the most important nonverbal channel for communication.

Question 10

Which of the following pairs of nonverbal channels is the most powerful means of communicating emotion?

Accepted Answer

Facial expression and vocal behaviors are the most powerful means of communicating emotion because they work in conjunction with each other to convey the full range of emotions. The face expresses the primary emotions, while the voice adds the variations and nuances that help to convey the intensity and depth of those emotions.

Question 11

The pupil of the eye contracts when we look at someone we find attractive.

Accepted Answer

The pupil of the eye typically dilates, not contracts, when we look at someone we find attractive due to increased arousal and interest.

Question 12

Of all the senses, smell is most strongly tied to memory.

Accepted Answer

This is a widely accepted fact supported by scientific research. The olfactory bulb, which processes smells, is closely connected to the brain's limbic system, which is responsible for memories and emotions. This is why certain scents can trigger vivid memories and emotions associated with those memories.

Question 13

Even during a phone conversation, you are able to infer something about the speaker's mood and personality by listening to his or her vocal cues. That fact illustrates which of the following claims about nonverbal communication?

Accepted Answer

The statement that "you are able to infer something about the speaker's mood and personality by listening to his or her vocal cues" indicates that nonverbal communication is present in the phone conversation, making option B the best choice. Option A is incorrect because there is no comparison of verbal and nonverbal communication in the statement. Option C is also incorrect because the statement simply identifies that vocal cues give us information about the speaker, but it does not suggest that nonverbal communication conveys more meaning than verbal communication overall. Option D is incorrect because there is no mention of metacommunication (communication about communication) in the statement.

Question 14

Contemporary research suggests that approximately what percentage of meaning is transmitted nonverbally?

Accepted Answer

Contemporary research suggests that approximately 65-70% of meaning is transmitted nonverbally. This includes facial expressions, tone of voice, body language, and other nonverbal cues. Verbal communication, such as words and language, only accounts for 30-35% of meaning.

Question 15

Arousal is an increase in energy.

Accepted Answer

Arousal is often described as an increase in energy, activation, or stimulation of the autonomic nervous system. This can lead to physical changes such as increased heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure.

Question 16

Voices that have low amounts of inflection are said to be monotone.

Accepted Answer

Monotone refers to a voice or speech pattern that is flat and lacks variation in pitch and inflection.

Question 17

Children who are regularly touched develop stronger immune systems than those who are not.

Accepted Answer

Touch has been shown to increase levels of the hormone oxytocin, which has been linked to improved immune function through its effects on reducing stress and inflammation in the body. Regular touch in childhood can therefore strengthen the immune system.

Question 18

According to the text, the face is used primarily to communicate all of the following except

Accepted Answer

The text states that the face is primarily used to communicate identity, emotion, and attractiveness, but does not mention intellect. Therefore, choice D is the best answer.

Question 19

Rick's manager, Susan, called him into her office one afternoon to discuss his annual evaluation. As soon as Rick sat down, Susan said, "Rick, your performance is unacceptable and I'm going to have to let you go." After a moment of silence, Susan grinned and winked at Rick and he knew she was joking. Susan used nonverbal communication to

Accepted Answer

Susan used a wink to convey that she was teasing, which is an example of metacommunication. Metacommunication is the communication about communication, or using nonverbal cues to clarify or modify a message. So, Susan's wink was a metacommunicative signal that indicated that her statement about Rick's performance was not to be taken seriously.

Question 20

Our use of time can send powerful messages about value and power.

Accepted Answer

Our use of time can communicate what we prioritize and deem important, and also demonstrate power dynamics in relationships and organizations.

Quiz 6: Nonverbal Communication