Question 1

__________ theory claims that people evaluate their relationships in a more-or-less rational manner to ensure that they maximize their relational rewards and minimize their relational costs.
A) Social Penetration
B) Social Exchange
C) Onion
D) Symbolic Interaction
E) Frame Analysis

Accepted Answer

The theory being described is the social exchange theory, which posits that people evaluate their relationships in a rational and calculative way, weighing the rewards and costs associated with the interaction. They seek to maximize rewards and minimize costs, which can include both tangible and intangible factors. This theory has been widely applied in various contexts, including romantic relationships, friendships, and workplace interactions.

Question 2

___________ occurs when you intentionally reveal information about yourself.
A) Self-disclosure
B) Self-realization
C) Self-examination
D) Social exchange
E) Looking glass self

Accepted Answer

Self-disclosure is the deliberate act of revealing personal information about oneself to another person.

Question 3

The fact that we use communication to engage, manage, and disengage from relationships suggests that relationships _________.
A) are static
B) slowly progress toward less personal over time
C) develop
D) are shaped by relational dialectics
E) require effective listening

Accepted Answer

The use of communication to engage, manage, and disengage from relationships implies that relationships are not static, but rather develop and change over time.

Question 4

Which group of people best describes an example of attachments?
A) Best Friend, Boss, Teacher
B) Mom, Dad, Aunt, Grandma
C) Mom, Acquaintance, Sister
D) Best Friend, Dad, Boss
E) Coach, Cab Driver, Dentist

Accepted Answer

The group of people described in option B (Mom, Dad, Aunt, Grandma) are family members who are likely to have strong emotional and psychological attachments to each other, making them a good example of attachments. The other options do not necessarily describe relationships that are strong enough to constitute attachments.

Question 5

Affiliations tend to be the product of a satisfaction-seeking or defensive alliance. This means they __________.
A) tend to aggregate
B) tend to be more instrumental or functional in how we go about our lives
C) are interrupted with ease
D) can easily become attachments
E) can be easily misunderstood

Accepted Answer

Affiliations are often formed to serve a specific purpose or to satisfy a need, making them functional or instrumental in nature. This suggests that they tend to be more goal-oriented than emotional, and are therefore less likely to become attachments. The other options are not necessarily true of affiliations in general and are either too general (A) or too specific (C and D) to accurately describe affiliations as a category. E, while potentially applicable in some cases, is not a defining characteristic of affiliations.

Question 6

One thing that relationships give us is _________, the knowledge that there are people who share our values and interests.
A) social relation
B) opportunity to provide nurturance
C) social penetration
D) people to help us fill leisure time
E) social integration

Accepted Answer

Social integration refers to the feeling of being a part of a larger social community or network. Relationships provide us with this feeling by connecting us with people who share our values and interests, and thus help us to feel more integrated and connected to society as a whole.

Question 7

Another provision of relationships, ____________, is embodied in the phrase, "People who need people are the luckiest people in the world."
A) social relation
B) opportunity to provide nurturance
C) social penetration
D) social integration
E) looking glass self

Accepted Answer

The phrase "People who need people are the luckiest people in the world" suggests that having a strong social network and being able to provide nurturance and support to others is an important and positive aspect of relationships. This is reflective of the provision of opportunity to provide nurturance.

Question 8

When we are unsure about how the other person in an interaction will act, we experience __________ uncertainty.
A) behavioral
B) acclimation
C) relational
D) social
E) philosophical

Accepted Answer

Behavioral uncertainty arises when we are unsure about how the other person in an interaction will act, reflecting our lack of predictability in their actions or responses.

Question 9

The assumption that relational progress is often systematic and predictable is central to __________ theory.
A) Social Penetration
B) Uncertainty Reduction
C) Social Exchange
D) Symbolic Interaction
E) Frame

Accepted Answer

Social Penetration Theory posits that relational development is systematic and predictable as individuals gradually disclose more personal information.

Question 10

Your girlfriend frequently complains that even though you have a great time when alone, you really need to go out more with friends. This is an example of the tension that sometimes occurs in a relationship best described as the ______ dialectic.
A) Removal-Uncertainty
B) Inclusion-Seclusion
C) Openness-Closedness
D) Connection-Autonomy
E) Inside-Outside

Accepted Answer

The tension described is best categorized as the Inclusion-Seclusion dialectic, which refers to the balance between a couple's desire for spending time together (seclusion) and their need to engage in social activities with others (inclusion).

Question 11

Your boyfriend frequently complains that although he loves your frankness, maybe sometime you might want to keep your thoughts about his mother to yourself. This is an example of the tension that sometimes occurs in a relationship best described as the ______ dialectic.
A) Removal-Uncertainty
B) Inclusion-Seclusion
C) Openness-Closedness
D) Connection-Autonomy
E) Inside-Outside

Accepted Answer

The tension between wanting to be open and honest with one's partner and wanting to maintain some level of privacy or closedness is known as the openness-closedness dialectic. In this scenario, the boyfriend is expressing a desire for the girlfriend to be more closed or private about her thoughts towards his mother, which is a manifestation of this dialectic.

Question 12

After the Latent Conflict and Emergence stages, the ________ stage will most likely next occur.
A) Escalation
B) Diffusion
C) Uncertainty
D) Hurting
E) Fighting

Accepted Answer

The Escalation stage is the most likely to occur after the Latent Conflict and Emergence stages, as tensions increase and parties become more entrenched in their positions. This is the stage where the conflict begins to become more visible and intense, as each side begins to take action to try to achieve their goals.

Question 13

You want to get to know the new student in your bio class, so you make sure you sit next to her and strike up a conversation, asking some simple, get-to-know-you questions. You are engaging in ________information seeking.
A) active
B) passive
C) interactive
D) incentive
E) conversational

Accepted Answer

Interactive information seeking involves actively seeking out information from another person through conversation or other forms of direct communication. In this scenario, actively engaging in conversation with the new student represents interactive information seeking.

Question 14

Sometimes you may not want to learn more about someone you have to deal with, but because you HAVE to deal with that person you work to reduce relational uncertainty. You are motivated by __________ to do so.
A) incentives
B) deviance
C) fear
D) hope of reward
E) the prospect of future interaction

Accepted Answer

The prospect of future interaction is the best choice as it suggests that the person has to deal with the other person in the future and wants to reduce uncertainty to ensure a smoother relationship. Incentives, deviance, fear, and hope of reward do not necessarily apply to the situation of reducing relational uncertainty in a required interaction.

Question 15

The four stages of relational development predicted by Social Penetration Theory are_________.
A) orientation, exploratory affective exchange, affective exchange, and stable exchange
B) stable exchange, reciprocity exchange, uncertainty reduction, and passive exchange
C) active exchange, stable exchange, incentive exchange, and social exchange
D) exploratory affective exchange, social exchange, orientation exchange, and behavioral exchange
E) uncertainty reduction, deepening, expansion, exit

Accepted Answer

The four stages of relational development predicted by Social Penetration Theory are orientation (where superficial information is exchanged), exploratory affective exchange (where deeper information is shared), affective exchange (where personal feelings and thoughts are exchanged), and stable exchange (where a strong relationship has formed and communication is open and frequent). Option B, C, and D are not correct as they either list incorrect stages or include irrelevant options. Option E is referring to the stages of relationship dissolution, not development.

Question 16

Affective Conflict occurs when people acknowledge ______________.
A) incompatible preferences for a course of action
B) differences in their deeply held feelings about the worth of importance of significant aspects of their lives
C) incompatibility in their perceptions about something of importance
D) an incompatibility of emotions and feelings
E) that they like each other but disagree

Accepted Answer

The answer of Affective Conflict occurs when people acknowledge ______________.
A)...

Question 17

You want to buy Teflon-coated pans for your new kitchen, convinced of their convenience, but your partner insists that the coating is bad for your health, having recently read a study in a respected science magazine. To your surprise, this disagreement grows into a full-on argument. You are experiencing ___________ conflict.
A) affective
B) value
C) goal
D) cognitive
E) functional

Accepted Answer

The answer of You want to buy Teflon-coated pans for...

Question 18

Which of the following is an important stage of interpersonal conflict?
A) Snarling
B) Triangulation
C) Uncertainty
D) Escalation
E) Maturation

Accepted Answer

Escalation refers to the stage where the conflict intensity increases and the parties involved become more emotionally invested in their positions, making resolution more difficult. Snarling and triangulation are not recognized stages of interpersonal conflict, and uncertainty and maturation may be factors but not necessarily stages.

Question 19

__________ is an important provision of relationships.
A) Reliable alliance
B) Affiliation
C) Allowance
D) Habituation
E) Time sharing

Accepted Answer

Reliable alliance is an important provision of relationships as it ensures trust and dependability, which are crucial for building and maintaining strong relationships.

Question 20

Social Exchange Theory and the Investment Model of Commitment share a few ideas, among them the apparent similarity between Social Exchange Theory's CL_ALTand the Investment Model's _____________. A) satisfaction level B) physical attractiveness C) interpersonal reliance D) quality of alternatives E) Investment size

Accepted Answer

Both Social Exchange Theory's CL_ALT and Investment Model's quality of alternatives refer to the perceived value of alternative options outside of the current relationship. Social Exchange Theory's CL_ALT considers the perceived value of the best alternative to the current relationship (B1) compared to the perceived value of the current relationship (CL) and the perceived value of the best alternative to being alone (ALT). The Investment Model's quality of alternatives similarly considers the perceived value of alternative relationship options compared to the current relationship, which influences individuals' commitment to their current relationship. Therefore, the best choice is D, quality of alternatives.

Quiz 6: Relational and Conflict Communication

__________ theory claims that people evaluate their relationships in a more-or-less rational manner to ensure that they maximize their relational rewards and minimize their relational costs.

___________ occurs when you intentionally reveal information about yourself.

The fact that we use communication to engage, manage, and disengage from relationships suggests that relationships _________.

Which group of people best describes an example of attachments?

Affiliations tend to be the product of a satisfaction-seeking or defensive alliance. This means they __________.

One thing that relationships give us is _________, the knowledge that there are people who share our values and interests.

Another provision of relationships, ____________, is embodied in the phrase, "People who need people are the luckiest people in the world."

When we are unsure about how the other person in an interaction will act, we experience __________ uncertainty.

The assumption that relational progress is often systematic and predictable is central to __________ theory.

Your girlfriend frequently complains that even though you have a great time when alone, you really need to go out more with friends. This is an example of the tension that sometimes occurs in a relationship best described as the ______ dialectic.

Your boyfriend frequently complains that although he loves your frankness, maybe sometime you might want to keep your thoughts about his mother to yourself. This is an example of the tension that sometimes occurs in a relationship best described as the ______ dialectic.

After the Latent Conflict and Emergence stages, the ________ stage will most likely next occur.

You want to get to know the new student in your bio class, so you make sure you sit next to her and strike up a conversation, asking some simple, get-to-know-you questions. You are engaging in ________information seeking.

Sometimes you may not want to learn more about someone you have to deal with, but because you HAVE to deal with that person you work to reduce relational uncertainty. You are motivated by __________ to do so.

The four stages of relational development predicted by Social Penetration Theory are_________.

Affective Conflict occurs when people acknowledge ______________.

Which of the following is an important stage of interpersonal conflict?

__________ is an important provision of relationships.

Social Exchange Theory and the Investment Model of Commitment share a few ideas, among them the apparent similarity between Social Exchange Theory's CLALT and the Investment Model's _____________.

Social Exchange Theory and the Investment Model of Commitment share a few ideas, among them the apparent similarity between Social Exchange Theory's CL_ALTand the Investment Model's _____________.