Question 1

Knowing what ______ is will not keep it from happening.

Accepted Answer

Conflict is a natural part of human interaction and can occur regardless of one's understanding of it.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

Interpersonal conflict occurs when individuals or groups have incompatible goals and interfere with one another's ability to achieve these goals.

Question 3

A key part of interpersonal conflict is ______.

Accepted Answer

Perception plays a crucial role in interpersonal conflict because it involves how individuals understand and interpret the actions, words, and behaviors of others. Conflicts often arise not from the objective reality of a situation but from the differing perceptions of the individuals involved.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

Conflicts are developed and maintained through interaction, which involves both verbal and nonverbal communication between parties.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

Conflict inherently involves interaction between individuals or parties. Without some form of interaction, whether verbal, physical, or otherwise, the dynamic necessary for conflict does not exist.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

Interpersonal conflict arises when individuals are interdependent, meaning their actions, decisions, or emotions affect each other. Independence or physical presence alone does not inherently lead to conflict, nor does equality necessarily prevent or cause it.

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.

Accepted Answer

Sierra's lack of conflict with her coworkers over smoking indicates there is no interdependence in that aspect of their relationship; her coworkers' smoking habits do not affect her personally, unlike with her significant other.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

Miscommunication is often believed to be a root cause of conflict because when people fail to communicate their thoughts, feelings, or needs clearly, misunderstandings can arise, leading to conflict.

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?

Accepted Answer

Blanca's statement implies that she believes all problems (conflicts) can be resolved if people simply learn how to communicate effectively, aligning with the myth that good communication can solve all conflicts.

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?

Accepted Answer

The answer of John loves the computer game Minecraft, but...

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 ______.

Accepted Answer

Conflicts often form patterns, as recurring issues and behaviors can create predictable cycles in relationships.

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 ______.

Accepted Answer

Jared and Kristi are exhibiting symmetrical escalation, where both parties mirror each other's actions by escalating the conflict, in this case through raising their voices.

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 ______.

Accepted Answer

Richie and Hafez are both withdrawing from each other, avoiding interaction and physical proximity, which is characteristic of symmetrical withdrawal, where both parties mirror each other's distancing behavior.

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 ______.

Accepted Answer

Tom is withdrawing by going to the office to avoid the conflict, while Sybill is pursuing by continuing the disagreement, which exemplifies a withdrawal-pursuit pattern.

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

Symmetrical negotiation refers to a communication pattern where both partners participate equally in the conversation, listening to each other and offering suggestions to resolve the conflict. This contrasts with patterns like symmetrical withdrawal (both partners withdraw), symmetrical escalation (both partners escalate the conflict), and withdrawal-pursuit (one partner withdraws while the other pursues).

Question 16

People cope with conflict through individual ______.

Accepted Answer

People cope with conflict through individual styles, which refer to the different ways individuals handle and manage conflict situations.

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?

Accepted Answer

Mark is exhibiting the accommodating conflict style, which involves putting the other person's needs and concerns above one's own, often at the expense of one's own interests. This is evident from his focus on Jason's feelings while neglecting his own.

Question 18

Which conflict style is primarily nonconfrontational?

Accepted Answer

Avoiding is a nonconfrontational conflict style where an individual does not address the conflict directly, often sidestepping or withdrawing from it to avoid confrontation.

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?

Accepted Answer

Alfie is suggesting involving a counselor to help resolve the conflicts, which aligns with the third-party conflict style. This approach involves seeking the help of an external party to mediate or help resolve the issues.

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

Children exposed to a lot of family conflict often experience negative psychological consequences in adulthood, such as anxiety, depression, and difficulties in forming healthy relationships.

Quiz 9: Communicating Conflict