Question 1

We tend to develop relationships with individuals who we perceive to be unusual or unique ______.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that we tend to develop relationships with individuals who we perceive to be similar to ourselves in some way, even if that similarity is just a base level characteristic such as age or gender. However, if the individual is completely unique or unusual, we may be initially drawn to them because they stand out, but the relationship is unlikely to develop unless we can find some common ground or similarity.

Question 2

We perceive individuals to be similar to us if they share character traits with us. By way of contrast, we perceive individuals to be complementary to us if they appear to ______.

Accepted Answer

Complementary individuals are those who possess character traits that we lack or wish we had. Therefore, choice D is the best answer.

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of a relationship that reflects complementarity?

Accepted Answer

Complementarity refers to a relationship where each partner brings different qualities or abilities that complement the other. In this example, Emily's desire for travel complements Jacques' experience and knowledge of different countries and cultures.

Question 4

______ is the term used to describe the situation that emerges when an individual is more likely to be attracted to things that they see frequently relative to those things that are rarely or never seen.

Accepted Answer

The term used to describe this situation is the mere exposure effect. This effect suggests that people tend to develop a preference for things simply because they are familiar with them, which occurs through repeated exposure.

Question 5

In an effort to seem more similar to a desirable person or to make it clear that we are indeed different from another person, we often make changes in our ______.

Accepted Answer

Nonverbal behaviors are often adjusted to either mirror someone we wish to be associated with or to differentiate ourselves from someone we do not wish to be associated with. This can include changes in body language, facial expressions, and other forms of nonverbal communication.

Question 6

While the agreed to amount distance considered "good manners" varies by culture, there is a near-universal understanding that exhibiting "good manners" requires some amount of distance.

Accepted Answer

This statement is generally true. While the specific distance considered "good manners" may vary by culture, there is generally an expectation that individuals exhibit some level of spatial awareness and distance in social interactions as a sign of respect and politeness.

Question 7

Communication theorist Edward T. Hall is best known for describing four different classifications of approximate interaction distances.

Accepted Answer

Edward T. Hall is indeed best known for his work on proxemics, which includes the description of four different approximate interaction distances.

Question 8

Ranging from 0 inches to 18 inches, the personal/casual zone is the closest designation of interpersonal distances.

Accepted Answer

The personal/casual zone typically ranges from 1.5 to 4 feet, not 0 to 18 inches. The 0 to 18 inches range is considered the intimate zone.

Question 9

Rather than being a perfect sphere, the personal/casual zone is often described as an egg-shaped bubble surrounding each person.

Accepted Answer

This is a commonly accepted description of the personal/casual zone. It is called the "bubble" because it is a semi-permeable boundary around each person that can't be seen but is felt.

Question 10

Because its relatively close proximity requires a degree of trust, people in our social/consultative zone are typically people we feel comfortable with or even people that we know quite well.

Accepted Answer

The social/consultative zone is typically for interactions with acquaintances or people we don't know very well, not those we are most comfortable with.

Question 11

The public zone ranges anywhere above 6 feet and is where we are most comfortable keeping unknown others with no professional obligations

Accepted Answer

The public zone typically starts at about 12 feet from a person and is used for speeches, lectures, and public spaces, not specifically for interactions with unknown others with no professional obligations. Comfort levels in this zone can vary widely based on the context and individual preferences.

Question 12

A proxemic violation is most likely to occur when where we experience a challenge
to our notion of acceptable interpersonal distance.

Accepted Answer

A proxemic violation refers to when someone breaches our expected interpersonal distance. This can make us feel uncomfortable or challenged, and is more likely to occur in situations where our notion of acceptable distance is not respected. Therefore, the statement is true.

Question 13

In Western cultures, such as Europe and North America, residents tend to prefer relatively larger proxemic distances than those observed in other cultures.

Accepted Answer

It is true that Western cultures tend to prefer larger proxemic distances. This can be seen in the way people position themselves in social situations and in the design of public spaces.

Question 14

At home Samantha has her own bedroom, but when she attends college she has to share a tiny dorm room with her new college roommate. Samantha's subsequent difficulty sleeping and concentrating may be attributed to a fight or flight reaction due to her perception of a proxemic violation.

Accepted Answer

Samantha's difficulty sleeping and concentrating may be attributed to a fight or flight reaction, which can occur in response to a perceived violation of personal space, or proxemic violation, when sharing a small dorm room with a roommate.

Question 15

The biological and emotional responses to proxemics violations that one person is experiencing are immediately observable to other people in his or her environment.

Accepted Answer

The biological and emotional responses to proxemics violations are internal and subjective, and while some signs might be observable (e.g., facial expressions, body language), the full extent of these responses is not immediately observable to others.

Question 16

When a proxemic violation occurs, we make judgments about the other person based on the perceived intensity of the threat, our attitude toward the violator, and our own individual and cultural experiences.

Accepted Answer

When someone violates our personal space, we evaluate the situation based on factors such as the degree of perceived threat, our relationship with the individual, and our past experiences or cultural expectations surrounding personal space. These evaluations may influence our reactions and subsequent behavior towards the violator.

Question 17

Our initial perceptions of similarity with another person are almost always proven to be reliable over time.

Accepted Answer

Our initial perceptions of similarity with another person are often based on surface-level characteristics or limited interactions, and may not accurately reflect deeper similarities or differences. As we get to know the person better, our perceptions may change and we may discover unexpected similarities or differences. Therefore, our initial perceptions are not always reliable over time.

Question 18

Our motivation to be in a relationship with a person who is similar to ourselves is secondary to our motivation to be in relationship with a person who is unusual or unique.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that people tend to be more attracted to those who are similar to themselves in terms of values, interests, and personality traits. While some may find uniqueness or diversity attractive, overall similarity tends to be a stronger predictor of relationship satisfaction and longevity.

Question 19

When we desire a relationship with a person who complements us, we are generally seeking traits or behaviors that we perceive they possess and we're lacking in.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. People often seek out romantic partners who possess traits or behaviors that they feel they are lacking in, in order to create a more balanced and complementary relationship.

Question 20

When Jesse first met Hank, he "ticked off all of her boxes." He was smart, fit, and ambitious - and also shared her sense of humor. She quickly moved him from the category of potential friend to potential partner demonstrating impact of matching schemata.

Accepted Answer

Matching schemata is the idea that we are attracted to others who share similar beliefs, values, and goals as us. In this scenario, Jesse was attracted to Hank because he matched her ideal qualities in a partner, indicating the impact of matching schemata.

Quiz 5: Proxemics: Engaging Personal Space and Interpersonal Distance