Chapter 8: Communicating in Intimate Relationships
Which of the following are some of the benefits related to marriage and family relationships? (Select all that apply.)
inheritance visitation stepchildren spousal privilege
Which of the following are stages of relationship development identified by communication scholar Mark Knapp?
initiating integrating experimenting intensifying
In which stage in a relationship do people change from being acquaintances to becoming close friends and start sharing more intimate information, such as fears and future goals?
intensifying
Which type of relationship requires the deepest commitment?
intimate
Which of the following describes the commitment of our energies and other resources to a relationship?
investment
Which of the following are communication issues commonly dealt with in families?
secrets roles rituals stories
Which of the following behaviors are warning signs that conflict in a relationship is not being handled constructively and the relationship may dissolve?
stonewalling criticism that is not constructive contempt defensiveness
Which of the following is not true about criticism?
It is a form of stonewalling.
Which of the following are stages that relationships go through when they end?
circumscribing stagnating avoiding differentiating
An expressed struggle between at least two interdependent parties who perceive incompatible goals, scarce resources, and interference from the other party in achieving their goals is the definition of
conflict
Couples who tend to avoid open discussion of issues about which they disagree are called ______ couples
conflict-avoiding
Which of the following are strategies for improving communication in intimate relationships?
managing dialectical tensions handling conflict constructively emphasizing excitement and positivity having realistic expectations
Being the jokester or peacemaker in a family is considered a family
role
Which of the following are the three key characteristics of families?
role behaviors genetic ties legal obligations
Couples who talk about their disagreements openly and cooperatively and communicate respect for each other's opinions even when they disagree with them are ______ couples.
validating
Which of the following are common expectations of romantic relationships in the United States?
voluntariness exclusivity based on love
Interdependence means
what happens to one person affects everyone else in the relationship.
Which three of the following are examples of counterproductive criticism?
"You don't care about my feelings." "You are so mean to me." "You always have to be right."
Which of the following statements are true about how culture affects romantic relationships?
Culture influences expectations for exclusivity. Many cultures practice polygamy.
______ messages are behaviors that imply a lack of respect or value for others.
Disconfirming
disorientation alternation segmentation balance
Ending the relationship in which the tension exists Going back and forth between the two sides of the tension Dealing with each side of the tension in separate parts of the relationship Finding a middle ground between the two sides of the tension
In which stage of a relationship do you converse to learn more about the other person and decide if you have enough in common to intensify the relationship?
Experimenting
Which of the following explain the significance of familial relationships in our lives?
Family can provide us with unconditional love and support that cannot be found anywhere else. Family introduces us to the concept of relationships and teaches us how to engage in them. Family can provide us with a feeling of belonging and a sense of our own history.
Which of the following are true about communicating in families?
Family rituals have special meaning for the family. Family roles embody the functions people serve in the family. Family stories are part of a family's collective memory.
Which of the following statements are true about the experimenting stage of a relationship?
Individuals decide if they have enough in common to progress the relationship. People converse to learn more about each other.
Which of the following statements are true about the stages of development of romantic relationships?
Intensifying is the stage when the individuals spend a lot of time together. The first stage is initiating, which is when the two individuals meet for the first time. Integrating is the stage when others begin to see the individuals as a couple.
Which of the following statements are true about the differentiating stage in a relationship? Select all that apply.
It is one of the stages relationships go through when they end. Partners begin to view their differences as undesirable or annoying.
Which of the following statements are true about commitment?
It is the desire to stay in a relationship no matter what happens. It is an essential element of intimacy. It is predicated on the assumption that there is a future together.
Which of the following statements is not true about conflict in romantic relationships?
Its presence is a warning sign of an unhealthy relationship.
Most people in individualistic societies like the United States and Canada believe that relationships should be based on
Love
Which is true about dialectical tensions and intimate relationships?
Managing them can improve communication.
Which of the following statements are true about the intensifying stage of a relationship?
Partners start to share more intimate information with one another. Partners move from being acquaintances to being close friends. Partners increase their commitment to the relationship.
Exclusivity, permanence, and based on love are all components of ______ relationships.
Romantic
Which of the following statements are true about romantic relationships?
Same-sex relationships communicate similarly to opposite-sex relationships. Some involve same-sex partners. Some involve opposite-sex partners.
Which of the following statements about the voluntariness of romantic relationships are true?
Some people stay in romantic relationships involuntarily because they see no positive alternatives. Even if people enter a romantic relationship voluntarily, they do not always stay in them voluntarily. The expectation in the United States is that romantic relationships are voluntary.
Which of the following are true about romantic relationships?
The expectation of love in a romantic relationship varies among cultures. Some people enter romantic relationships for financial stability. Individualistic societies tend to believe that romantic relationships should be based on love.
Which of the following statements are true about dialectical tensions?
They are a characteristic of intimate relationships. They are conflicts between two important but opposing needs or desires.
Which of the following best describe conflict-avoiding couples?
They believe that most problems will resolve themselves. They talk about their disagreements covertly. They avoid negative emotion and focus on their similarities.
Which of the following statements is not true about validating couples?
They defuse negative emotion and focus on similarities.
Which of the following statements are true about volatile couples?
They openly talk about their disagreements. Their conflicts are often followed by intense affection. They are competitive in conflicts.
Which of the following is a characteristic of intimate relationships?
They spark dialectical tensions.
Couples who talk about their disagreements openly and cooperatively and communicate respect for each other's opinions even when they disagree with them are ______ couples.
Validating
Couples who talk about their disagreements openly in a way that is competitive rather than cooperative are ______ couples.
Volatile
In the United States, it is expected that relationships are
Voluntary
In a survey of 300 marriage license applicants, the number that believed the likelihood of their marriage would end in divorce was
Zero
People in same-sex relationships are ______ people in different-sex relationships.
as satisfied as
Which is the stage in a relationship when partners begin to view their differences as undesirable or annoying?
differentiating
Which of the following is NOT one of the communication issues families commonly encounter?
education
Less exhilarating activities such as playing cards or going out to dinner don't generate that much excitement because they do not
elevate physical arousal.
Which of the following are strategies for improving communication in intimate relationships?
emphasizing positivity having realistic expectations emphasizing excitement
The family we grew up with is called the
family of origin
Which of the following describes the function a person's behavior serves in his or her family?
family roles
According to the investment model of commitment processes, commitment to a relationship involves which three factors?
feel it is better than alternatives. receive resources from it. feel more satisfied in it.
Which of the following is NOT a strategy for improving communication in intimate relationships?
focusing on the negative
In terms of conflict, what matters the most to relationships is
how the conflict is handled by the pair.
Which of the following are communication behaviors that have particular influence in romantic relationships?
privacy conflict instrumental communication emotional communication
When a relationship encounters problems, it is useful to engage in relational
repair
