Chapter 5 Conflict Styles
EXAM QUESTIONS:
Chapter 5
1. A professor that consistently double books appointments with someone she does not want to
deal with may be engaging in:
a. assertive communication.
b. aggressive behavior.
c. passive-aggressive behavior.
d. appropriate communication.
e. avoidance behavior.
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2. Conflict ________________ are patterned responses or clusters of behavior that people use
in conflict.
a. beliefs
b. styles
c. assumptions
d. values
e. habits
3. You are more likely to dominate than oblige when you score high on which of the following?
a) concern for self
b) concern for other
c) concern for relationship
d) self-centered
e) other-oriented
4. Rahim 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?
a. obliging
b. dominating
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c. avoidance
d. compromise
e. integration
5. Rahim 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?
a. obliging
b. dominating
c. avoidance
d. compromise
e. integration
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?
a. avoidance
b. dominating
c. compromise
d. obliging
e. integrating
7. All of the following are examples of verbal aggression except:
a. character attacks
b. ridicule
c. requests for information
d. profanity
e. criticism
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 “obliging” behavior?
a. Giving up
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b. Disengagement
c. Denial of needs
d. Expression of desire for harmony
e. Avoidance
9. Which of the following is good advice for managing verbal and/or physical abuse:
a. Focus on the content of the conflict, not the character of the persons involved.
b. Change the context in which the relationship is maintained.
c. Put physical distance between you and the other person.
d. Seek professional counsel to help you change the patterns in the relationship.
e. All of the above are good strategies.
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 Rahim in your text?
a. obliging
b. dominating
c. avoidance
d. compromise
e. integration
11. Which of the following is a disadvantage to using domination as a style for managing
conflict?
a. Domination prioritizes the specific goal over the relationship.
b. Parties are generally not equal in power.
c. Domination often reduces the options to an “either-or” status.
d. Domination can fuel more competition and reduce flexibility.
e. All of these are disadvantages to using domination for managing conflicts.
12. Rashid is responsible for taking care of his younger brother one afternoon a week, but he
does not like to come across the “authority figure” with his brother. Instead, he would
prefer to be viewed as fun- loving. When his brother begins to jump on the couch for the
fourth time one afternoon, Rashid tells him (again!) to quit or the little brother won’t be
able to go to his favorite restaurant tomorrow for their uncle’s birthday. Which of the
following best describes the credibility of Rashid’s threat?
Chapter 5 Conflict Styles
a. It is not credible because Rashid appears unwilling to invoke the punishment.
b. It is not credible because Rashid does not control the outcome of the sanction.
c. It is credible because the punishment is not something to be avoided.
d. It is credible because Rashid seems willing to carry out the punishment.
e. It is not credible because it is not a negative sanction.
13. Conflict patterns that tend to mirror one another are called
a. complementary
b. reciprocal
c. reflective
d. symmetrical
e. redundant
1. What is the relationship between domination, threats, and verbal aggression?
2. List, describe, and give an example of the five kinds of analytic remarks you might use
3. Hocker and Wilmot caution the readers about styles. Describe these cautions and discuss
4. Differentiate between complementary and symmetrical patterns of conflict.
5. Identify at least two advantages and two disadvantages of each of the five conflict styles
6. Select one of the five conflict styles and discuss how getting “stuck” in it can have
7. Explain the difference between “aggressive” and “assertive” behavior, using terminology