Question 1

Joe refuses to listen to his wife, Luciana, and is particularly resistant to considering her complaints. Joe's behavior illustrates

Accepted Answer

Stonewalling occurs when one person withdraws from a conversation or refuses to engage in the discussion, particularly in response to another's complaints or grievances, which is what Joe is doing by not listening to Luciana.

Question 2

Mark is angry because his wife invited friends over when he wanted to relax. He decides to act bored during the entire evening. Mark's behavior reflects

Accepted Answer

The answer of Mark is angry because his wife invited...

Question 3

One year into marriage, the average spouse says 'I love you,' hugs and kisses their partner, makes their partner laugh, and has sexual intercourse _________ as often as when they were newly wed.

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that sexual frequency tends to decline during the first year of marriage, with the average couple having intercourse about half as often as they did during their honeymoon phase.

Question 4

Sue Ellen feels that she has an unhappy relationship with her partner, Carole. She has been angry with Carole for a long time, but she won't express it openly. Sue Ellen's behavior reflects

Accepted Answer

Sue Ellen's behavior reflects a refusal to express her anger openly. This can lead to passive-aggressive behavior and may make the situation worse. It's important to express one's feelings in a constructive way in order to address any issues in the relationship.

Question 5

Social psychologist John Gottman identified "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse." Which of the following is NOT one of these?

Accepted Answer

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse identified by John Gottman are criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling. Sabotage is not one of the identified behaviors.

Question 6

Chronic criticism, nagging, nitpicking, and sarcasm are all forms of

Accepted Answer

These behaviors are indicative of passive-aggression, where individuals express their negative feelings subtly rather than directly or openly.

Question 7

Counselors generally advise that an important aspect of learning to disagree involves expressing anger

Accepted Answer

Expressing anger directly, in a respectful and appropriate manner, is an important aspect of learning to disagree. This allows for open communication and can lead to a better understanding and resolution of the issue at hand. Indirect expressions of anger, such as passive aggression or random outbursts, can be counterproductive and damaging to relationships.

Question 8

Coping in which each partner attempts to cope with his or her own strain in ways that do not harm the relationship and also attend to the other's emotional needs is called

Accepted Answer

Relationship-focused coping is when both partners attempt to cope with their own stress or strain in a way that does not harm the relationship but also attends to the emotional needs of their partner. This type of coping can strengthen the relationship and improve communication and support between partners.

Question 9

Mike's wife, Lynne, resents him going drinking with his friend Asher. Whenever this subject comes up, Mike makes comments like "What can you do if I go drinking with Asher?" and "What are you going to do about it?" Mike's behavior illustrates

Accepted Answer

Mike's behavior of making provocative statements like "What are you going to do about it?" shows belligerence, which is a behavior that is hostile and aggressive.

Question 10

__________ means preparing to defend oneself against what one presumes is an upcoming attack.

Accepted Answer

Defensiveness refers to preparing to defend oneself against what one presumes is an upcoming attack.

Question 11

According to psychologists Nathaniel Branden and Robert Sternberg, in order to nourish a romantically loving relationship, couples should

Accepted Answer

According to Branden and Sternberg, accepting one's partner's shortcomings is an important aspect of maintaining a romantically loving relationship. This means recognizing and respecting that no one is perfect, and being able to love and appreciate one's partner despite their flaws. Avoiding expressing love materially (B) may be a personal preference for some couples, but it is not a universal requirement for nourishing a romantic relationship. Sharing personal information with close friends (A) can be healthy for individuals, but it is not necessarily helpful for the relationship itself. Taking the relationship for granted (D) can lead to complacency and a lack of effort, which can ultimately harm the relationship.

Question 12

Sociologist Judith Wallerstein conducted lengthy interviews with 50 predominantly white, middle-class couples in northern California. In order to participate, both husband and wife had to define their marriage as

Accepted Answer

Wallerstein conducted lengthy interviews with couples who defined their marriage as happy, indicating that she was specifically studying successful marriages.

Question 13

Huston and Melz called both bland and tempestuous unions __________ because these two marriage types evidenced only one of two desirable attributes.

Accepted Answer

Huston and Melz referred to bland and tempestuous unions as "mixed blessing marriages" because these types of marriages exhibited only one desirable attribute, making them a mix of good and bad qualities.

Question 14

Christina is angry with her husband Tyrone for spending too much time and energy on his business endeavors, and she expresses dislike for his very expensive car. This is an illustration of

Accepted Answer

Displacement is the act of redirecting one's emotions, such as anger, onto a less threatening or more accessible target, in this case, Tyrone's business endeavors and expensive car. Christina may be unable to express her anger towards Tyrone directly or feels that it would be unproductive or risky to do so, and so she displaces her anger onto something that feels more manageable or controllable to her.

Question 15

According to Shelly Gable's research the "correct" response by one partner to the other's having something positive happen is characterized by

Accepted Answer

According to Shelly Gable's research, the "correct" response by one partner to the other's having something positive happen is characterized by active enthusiasm, which involves sharing in the excitement and expressing genuine interest and positive emotions towards the other person's experience.

Question 16

The feeling that one's spouse is inferior or undesirable reflects

Accepted Answer

The feeling that one's spouse is inferior or undesirable is a sign of contempt, which involves expressing disgust or hatred towards the partner. Criticism involves attacking one's partner's personality or character, stonewalling involves withdrawing from conversations or interactions, and belligerence involves hostile and aggressive behavior towards one's partner.

Question 17

__________ involves making disapproving judgments or evaluations of one's partner.

Accepted Answer

Criticism involves making negative judgments or evaluations of one's partner, such as attacking their character or personality, rather than focusing on specific behavior. Defensiveness involves responding to criticism with defensiveness rather than accepting responsibility for one's actions. Sabotage involves intentionally undermining one's partner, and belligerence involves confrontational and aggressive behavior towards one's partner.

Question 18

According to the text, contempt, criticism, defensiveness, stonewalling, and belligerence

Accepted Answer

The text states that contempt, criticism, defensiveness, stonewalling, and belligerence characterize unhappy marriages and signal impending divorce.

Question 19

Social psychologist John Gottman has made his reputation in the field of

Accepted Answer

John Gottman is known for his research on marital communication, specifically on predicting divorce and analyzing the ways couples interact with each other. His work has contributed significantly to the field of couples therapy and has been widely influential in helping couples strengthen their relationships. He is not known for clinical social work, sex therapy, or listening therapy.

Question 20

Psychologists Nathaniel Branden and Robert Sternberg have developed some rules for nourishing a romantically loving relationship. Which of the following is NOT one of these?

Accepted Answer

Being bluntly honest can often be hurtful and damaging to a relationship. While honesty is important, it should be delivered in a compassionate and considerate way.

Quiz 11: Communication in Relationships Marriages and Families