Conflict Midterm

4. A newlywed couple was having trouble resolving their disputes. The husband felt like he was trying to solve the problems, but his wife did not take him seriously during the discussions because she would do something else while they were talking--laundry, redecorating, etc. They decided that they would have a "meeting" to discuss issues when they arose. The meeting would be a time where they would shut out all distractions and discuss the situation until a solution arose. What is the paramount goal in this situation?

All the above

Terry and Pat have been in a committed romantic relationship for the last five years. Both an increased intensity and frequency of conflict have characterized their relationship. Recently, both of them have become less invested in the relationship and have sought out others to fulfill some of their needs for affection, inclusion, and control. Basically, they don't rely on each other for much and have come to expect less and less from each other. Terry and Pat's choices reflect which of the five features that contribute to destructive conflict.

Avoidance spirals

8. Wilmot and Hocker discuss several benefits of improving your conflict management skills. Which of the following is one of those benefits?

C & D. (People around you will benefit from your improved skills. You can improve your relationships).

5. A spiral that moves only in one direction - upward and onward - is an example of a(n) ______________ spiral.

Escalatory

9. If you are upset with your roommate, and you show it by playing your stereo loud enough to be annoying, the authors of your text would say you are demonstrating which of the following dimensions of conflict?

Expressed struggle

1. Which of the following statements BEST describe an aggressive family?

Have an audience present when you engage someone

Which of the following is NOT an essential feature of Wilmot and Hocker's definition of interpersonal conflict?

Independence

According to the text, when it comes to managing conflict, most people:

Need to learn conflict skills

6. Which of the following is a potential benefit of conflict for interpersonal relationships?

Partners increase understanding of each other.

4. Suki and Laura are best friends. Laura feels betrayed because Suki is so caught up in her new relationship with her boyfriend that she doesn't appear to have time for Laura. In this instance, the conflict is fueled by

Perceived scarce resources

3. The goals one has for the outcome of a conflict prior to actively engaging in it are called ____________ goals.

Prospective

5. Which of the following are considered to be the "drivers" of disputes?

Relationship; Identity

2. Steve and Bonnie disagree on how to spend the money they receive from their tax refund. Steve wants to take the family on a trip to Seattle and Bonnie wants to save if for a rainy day. What type of goal does this conflict interaction represent?

Topic

6. Relationship goals refer to those that answer the question

Who are we to each other?

5. Metaphors that expand the potential in conflict are useful because they portray

a collaborative approach to conflict

2. Which of the following statements is NOT a commonly-held negative view of conflict?

a good conflict is a nice conflict

10. Most expressed struggles are activated by

a triggering event

8. Since gender studies have found that women tend to compromise more than men in conflict situations, the book suggests that women try to utilize which communication behavior most often?

a wide range of communication behaviors

3. You are more likely to compete than accommodate when you score high on which of the following?

a) concern for self***

6. Which emotion has been termed the "moral" emotion?

a. Anger***

18. Empowerment is most likely when

a. Communication behaviors are ineffective combined with excessive expressions of interpersonal power.***

7. Which of the following statement is NOT one of the basic principles of relational interests and goals?

a. Identity issues do not typically affect relationship messages.

12. Imagine you are looking for a new job. You know that your friend, Alicia, knows the Vice-president of a company where you would like to work. Your text would describe Alicia's influence on you as

a. Interpersonal linkages. ***

8. __________ are more likely than __________ to cover up sadness.

a. Men/women***

2. Self-protective emotions are associated with:

a. The right hemisphere of the brain***

10. Transactive goals develop

a. during conflict episodes rather than before and after. ***

16. The fundamental concept in conflict is

a. power. ***

10. Nicole and Ryan disagree over where they should spend their holidays. Lately, each time Nicole tries to discuss the issue with Ryan, Ryan responds with a joke or changes the subject. Ryan is using which style of conflict, identified by Kilmann and Thomas in your text?

avoidance

9. According to Wilmot and Hocker, which type of family is characterized by walking away from conflicts, never raising your voices, not telling anyone if there is a struggle, and keeping strong feelings to yourself?

avoidant family

8. Tyler is a young, naturally gifted athlete. Unfortunately, his work ethic does not match his talent. When he completed a competition in 6th place rather than his expected first or second place, he spent a great deal of time and energy telling people how the judges were unfair and were biased toward other athletes. Tyler is using which of the following face-saving strategies?

b. Claiming unjust intimidation***

8. Dave is extremely frustrated with his co-workers; conflict is occurring everywhere, and he doesn't feel like he is valued in his job. He starts thinking to himself he should look for a new job. When one of his co-workers asks him about an upcoming work event, Dave says, "I don't really have time to work on this. It's not like I'll be here anyway," Dave is using which "accommodation tactic?"

b. Disengagement***

9. Too little sadness can result in:

b. Distorted emotional expression***

11. Jake is always careful to arrive on time for work. He knows that his boss will dock his pay for any missed hours. Jake's boss what kind of power over him?

b. Resource control***

7. __________ are more likely than __________ to cover up anger.

b. Women/men***

1. Emotions are:

b. neither "good" or "bad;" they just "are" ***

14. Which of the following is NOT one of the ways you might deny using power in a conflict?

c. Deny that the other person communicated anything. ***

17. Which of the following is the most accurate statement about power currencies?

c. Developing a repertoire of currencies can help lead to the sharing and balance of power. ***

13. While preparing to teach an online course, Julie regularly seeks out the assistance of Tony, the technology support person at her university. Julie understands that Tony has vast knowledge regarding the software and course management system she needs to use. Your book would describe the "power currency" Tony has in this scenario as:

c. Expertise***

10. When we feel extremely intense emotions during conflict, we are usually experiencing a threat to which of the following elements of the TRIP acronym?

c. Identity***

9. Which of the following is an inaccurate summary of the nature of overlapping TRIP goals?

c. In a serious dispute, content-only solutions are typically the most satisfying. ***

5. Lori traditionally hosts Thanksgiving at her house for 10-15 of her relatives. Rarely do any of the guests help out with dinner, clean up dishes, or even say "Thank you." This has been going on for so long that she resents hosting the dinner at all. So...this year she assigned each person to bring a food or do a particular task. A few guests opted out, but the remainder came to dinner, and everyone (including Lori) had a good time. According to your text, Lori's anger served one of many important functions:

c. Setting boundaries***

20. When Ken's parents died, his sister was named as the executor of their estate. She gave all of the "good" furniture to her children and left only an old green dresser for Ken and his kids. He was furious with her actions, especially in this time of grief. Even though Ken could be considered to have lower power, he decided to maintain his relationship with his sister and encouraged his kids not to bring up the issues with their cousins. Ken's decision is an example of which of the following moves that Lerner suggests that people in low-power positions adopt:

c. Stay emotionally connected to significant others even when things get intense. ***

3. Prosocial emotions are associated with:

c. The left hemisphere of the brain

7. All of the following are examples of verbal aggression except:

c. requests for information***

5. Kilmann and Thomas identified 5 conflict styles that individuals use in a variety of conflict situations. The number 5 in the above grid corresponds with which of the following styles?

collaboration

6. In a conflict situation, if you try to use your authority to make a decision in your favor, you are using which conflict style?

competition

10. According to the text, all of the following are neutral metaphors about conflict except:

conflict is a mess

4. According to Wilmot and Hocker, the most common metaphor used to describe conflict is

conflict is a war

3. The following statement by Justin about a conflict with his sister Shannon is an example of which of the conflict metaphors below? "The next time she says something about my lifestyle I'm likely to blow longer and louder than a Mt. St. Helen's eruption."

conflict is an act of nature

15. Latisha appreciates the fact that she as been trained in the art of public address because she finds that in many situation she can employ her ____________ as a power currency.

d. Communication skills***

19. Which of the following statements is NOT consistent with Wilmot and Hocker's description of competitive power?

d. Competitive power is appropriate when protecting children. ***

4. Which of the following is NOT a misperception about emotions:

d. Emotions can be managed***

4. Kilmann and Thomas identified 5 conflict styles that individuals use in a variety of conflict situations. The number 3 in the above grid corresponds with which of the following styles?

d. compromise***

9. Which of the following is good advice for managing verbal and/or physical abuse:

e. All of the above are good strategies. ***

1. A professor that consistently double books appointments with someone she does not want to deal with may be engaging in:

e. avoidance behavior. ***

2. Conflict ________________ are patterned responses or clusters of behavior that people use in conflict. Conflict ______________ are individual moves that people make to carry out their general approach.

e. styles; tactics***

6. Which of the communication cultures below is generally characterized by norms that favor competition, low or non-expressiveness, and communication used for concrete purposes?

native american culture

7. Which of the following terms reflects the notion that individuals learn male and female communication behaviors through observation of and communication with same-sex groups?

social learning theory

7. According to your text, __________ criticize more than __________.

women/men