Chapter 3 Interests and Goals
EXAM QUESTIONS:
Chapter 3
TRUE-FALSE
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. 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?
a. process
b. topic
c. identity
d. relational
e. facework
Chapter 3 Interests and Goals
2. The statement “Well, you don’t have to be so nasty about it” most likely reflects what type of
goal?
a. relational
b. prospective
c. retrospective
d. identity
e. transactive
3. 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?
a. Topic
b. Relationship
c. Identity
d. Process
e. All of the above
4. Which of the following are considered to be the “drivers” of disputes?
a. Topic; relationship
b. Relationship; identity
c. Identity; process
d. Process; topic
e. Topic; relationship
5. Relationship goals refer to those that answer the question
a. “What do we want?”
b. “Who are we to each other?”
c. “Who am I in this interaction?”
d. “What communication process will be used?”
e. “How do others define our relationship?”
Chapter 3 Interests and Goals
Hocker: Interpersonal Conflict, 9e TB-3 | 5
4. Describe and provide an example of the relationship between identity goals and face-
saving.
5. In what contexts might you damage your own face? What do you gain and/or lose by
that communication choice?
6. What are some ways you can help the other person “save face?” What impact might
these strategies have on the conflict?
7. Why do parties in conflict sometimes get stuck on the “topic” goals? Discuss the
challenges you perceive in trying to identify your identity and relational goals during a
conflict? (These two questions are suggesting that identifying relational and identity
goals make sense when we read about them. How does it play out in real life?) Finally,
what would make it easier?