Chapter 3
1. Your own understanding of who you are as a person comprises your
a. face.
b. image.
c. reference group.
d. self-concept.
2. According to the Johari window, there are aspects of our personalities that others can see in
us but that we are unaware of. These are known as the ________ aspects of our self.
a. open
b. hidden
c. blind
d. unknown
3. According to the textbook, which of the following statements about people with low self-
esteem is NOT true?
a. People with low self-esteem are likely to magnify their failures.
b. People with low self-esteem are more likely to emphasize others’ negative comments.
c. People with low self-esteem are more likely to engage in antisocial behavior.
d. People with low self-esteem are more likely to be depressed.
4. The way you tend to think and act in most situations defines your
a. personality.
b. self-concept.
c. self-image.
d. behavioral consistency.
5. One of the ways we figure out who we are is by seeing who others think we are. The term for
that process is
a. social comparison.
b. reflected appraisal.
c. personality.
d. evaluative assessment.
6. When we evaluate our own merits with respect to certain reference groups, we are engaging
in a process known as
a. self-esteem maintenance.
b. social comparison.
c. the looking-glass self.
d. impression formation.
7. According to the text, your self-concept is influenced by all of the following EXCEPT
a. personality and biology.
b. culture and gender roles.
c. reflected appraisal.
d. impression evaluation.
8. Jason went to a party with several of his friends last weekend. While he was there, he made
several inappropriate comments and did not notice that people were offended by what he was
saying. Afterward, several people at the party commented to Jason’s friends that they were
surprised and upset by his behavior. Which of the following statements is likely true of
Jason?
a. Jason has low self-esteem.
b. Jason is a low self-monitor.
c. Jason has a poor self-concept.
d. Jason does not engage in self-fulfilling prophecies.
9. Judy thinks it’s going to rain today, so she behaves in ways that are consistent with that
prediction (e.g., she wears her raincoat, she carries her umbrella). In fact, it does rain, just as
she predicted. Is this an example of a self-fulfilling prophecy? Pick the correct answer and
explanation.
a. Yes, because she predicted it would rain, and it did.
b. No, because she did not communicate her prediction to others.
c. Yes, because she behaved in ways consistent with her prediction.
d. No, because her behaviors did not cause the prediction to come true.
10. Your subjective evaluation of yourself is known as
a. self-evaluation.
b. self-esteem.
c. self-concept.
d. self-image.
11. Which of the following statements about people with high self-esteem is NOT true?
a. They score higher on standardized tests.
b. They are comfortable initiating relationships.
c. They have higher emotional intelligence.
d. They are more likely to end a relationship that is in trouble.
12. Regarding the benefits of high self-esteem, which of the following statements has been
supported by the research?
a. Those with high self-esteem are less likely to drink, do drugs, or engage in risky sex.
b. Those with high self-esteem do better in school.
c. Those with high self-esteem are more outgoing and willing to communicate.
d. All of these statements have been supported by the research.
13. The research on sex and cultural differences in self-esteem has primarily disputed which of
the following claims?
a. Caucasian men and women do not differ in reported levels of self-esteem.
b. Caucasians report the highest levels of self-esteem of any ethnic group in the U.S.
c. On the whole, Native Americans report lower levels of self-esteem than Caucasians.
d. Differences in self-esteem among various ethnic groups tend to be modest.
14. When we consider how we want to be perceived by other people, we are considering our
a. identity.
b. image.
c. self-monitoring.
d. self-concept.
15. Which face need refers to our need to be respected for our abilities and intelligence?
a. autonomy face
b. competence face
c. character face
d. fellowship face
16. When Sheila asked her friend Tommy to help her move at the end of the semester, she may
have threatened his ________ face needs.
a. autonomy
b. competence
c. character
d. fellowship
17. Schutz identified three fundamental interpersonal needs. Which particular need is the most
similar in meaning to fellowship face?
a. need for control
b. need for inclusion
c. need for affection
d. need for autonomy
18. Martin disclosed something personal to his friend Tony. Afterward, Tony felt as though he
had to disclose something personal in return. Tony’s feelings exemplify which principle?
a. breadth
b. need for autonomy
c. norm of reciprocity
d. identity management
19. Regarding self-disclosure, which of the following statements is true?
a. Depth refers to the range of topics you discuss with others.
b. Most relationships start out with a high degree of self-disclosure.
c. Self-disclosure is highly reciprocal.
d. Men and women do not differ from each other in how disclosive they are.
20. According to social penetration theory, the ________ dimension concerns the number of
topics disclosed, whereas the ________ dimension concerns the level of detail in topics
disclosed.
a. breadth; depth
b. depth; breadth
c. range; penetration
d. penetration; range
21. When Jon and Ernesto met in their English class, they were both hesitant to share much
about their personal lives. As the semester progressed and they became better friends, they
felt comfortable sharing more and more with each other. Which element of self-disclosure is
reflected in their relationship?
a. Self-disclosure varies in breadth and depth.
b. Self-disclosure must be intentional.
c. Self-disclosure follows a process.
d. Self-disclosure varies among relationships.
22. Which of the following statements is NOT true about hyperpersonal communication?
a. Hyperpersonal communication often occurs online.
b. Hyperpersonal communication involves a high level of disclosure.
c. Hyperpersonal communication involves feelings of increased inhibition.
d. Hyperpersonal communication is not the norm in most relationships.
23. Which of the following claims about self-disclosure is true?
a. Europeans and North Americans are discouraged from sharing their feelings.
b. Asians are generally very disclosive.
c. Women disclose more than men.
d. All of these are true.
24. Groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous encourage people to share about problems they are
facing. This type of disclosure is based theoretically on which of the following principles?
a. Self-disclosure enhances relationships and trust.
b. Self-disclosure has a norm of reciprocity.
c. Self-disclosure brings about emotional release.
d. Self-disclosure can help others.
25. Your text discussed several potential risks of self-disclosure. Which of the following was
NOT among them?
a. violating privacy boundaries
b. obligating others
c. rejection
d. damaging personal health
26. Your self-concept is made up of the perceptions you have about who you are as a person.
27. Self-concept is entirely subjective.
28. Research has shown that genes have little or no influence on personality.
29. Low self-monitors are more likely than high self-monitors to appear unsophisticated or
socially awkward.
30. Self-fulfilling prophecies that we make for ourselves often affect the behavior of others.
31. Any time you expect something to happen and then it does happen, that’s a self-fulfilling
prophecy.
32. Scientific studies have confirmed that girls have lower self-esteem than boys.
33. Fellowship face refers to our need to avoid being imposed upon by others.
34. Image management is a complex, collaborative process.
35. Social penetration theory uses the metaphor of an onion to illustrate how self-disclosure
develops over time in a relationship.
36. According to the norm of reciprocity, people expect the level of disclosures in their personal
relationships to be relatively equivalent.
37. In personal relationships, it’s always best to increase the breadth and depth of self-disclosure.
38. As articulated by Schutz, the need for affection refers to the need to have people love and
appreciate us.
39. Most research supports the notion that low self-disclosure is the underlying cause of juvenile
delinquency and anti-social behavior.
Short-Answer Questions
(Answers will vary.)
40. Compare and contrast social comparison and reflected appraisal as influences on the
development of a self-concept.
Bloom’s: Understand
41. Describe how the idea of the “looking–glass self” affects the development of our self-
concept.
Bloom’s: Understand
42. Articulate and describe two separate advantages of being a high self-monitor and two
separate advantages of being a low self-monitor.
Bloom’s: Understand
43. Identify and briefly define each of the three face needs articulated in your text.
Bloom’s: Remember
44. Using concrete examples, articulate and explain three of the risks of self-disclosure identified
in your text.
Bloom’s: Understand
45. Describe what research has shown regarding the effects of culture and gender on self-esteem.
Bloom’s: Understand
Essay Questions
(Answers will vary.)
46. As people age, their self-concepts tend to change. Looking back over the last few years of
your life, think about how you have changed the way you think about yourself. Identify and
describe at least two of those changes. Next, describe the process by which your self-concept
changed. Make sure to include ideas and concepts from the book and/or class in your answer.
Bloom’s: Analyze
47. American poet Alice Walker once wrote, “In search of my mother’s garden, I found my
own.” Explain her statement with explicit reference to social comparison and reflected
appraisal. Then, use examples from your own life to illustrate how Walker’s statement does
or does not apply to your own self-concept.
Bloom’s: Analyze
48. Many parents and educators believe in the importance of children’s self-esteem. In particular,
they believe it’s important to support girls’ self–esteem so that girls don’t lag behind boys in
their academic or social skills. Suppose your community is voting on a new project that
would allocate a great deal of money to a new program to raise the self-esteem of young girls
in your town. Using what you know from empirical research, articulate a reasoned argument
either in support of this idea or against it. Your argument needn’t be based only on the
research, but you should make explicit reference to empirical findings to support your
position.
Bloom’s: Analyze
49. Your textbook talks about the danger of basing personal evaluations on comparisons to
unrealistic reference groups. The book focuses on the specific dangers dealing with issues
regarding weight and body image. Besides weight, name at least three other issues for which
people improperly use reference groups to unfairly compare themselves to others. Now,
imagine that someone you care about is unfairly comparing him or herself to someone in an
unrealistic reference group. How would you help and/or encourage that friend to develop a
more realistic self-concept?
Bloom’s: Analyze
50. Identify and define each of the interpersonal needs identified in Schutz’s model. How is each
of these needs related to self-esteem? Of the three, which is most important in your
relationships? Why?
Bloom’s: Analyze
51. Image management can be particularly difficult for people who represent a marginalized
group or those who have to manage a serious illness. Discuss the difficulty these people
might face in presenting their identity to others. How is the process similar to identity
management for people who don’t face these challenges? How is it different? What
additional considerations in disclosure do these individuals face? How can people who don’t
face these challenges respond in ways that are appropriately supportive of their face needs?
Bloom’s: Analyze