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Chapter 6: Gendered Nonverbal Communication
Multiple Choice
1.
According to research presented in the Gendered Lives text, which of the following
is true about smiling?
A.
Women generally smile more than men.
B.
Smiling is an example of haptics.
C.
African-American women are socialized to smile more than Caucasian women.
D.
Men generally smile more than women.
E.
Research has shown that men and women smile about the same amounts.
2.
During conversation, Alyssa holds steady eye contact with her friend to indicate she
is listening. Alyssa’s eye contact is an example of
A.
haptics.
B.
proxemics.
C.
kinesics.
D.
artifacts.
E.
power.
3.
Which of the following statements is true about body image?
A.
In general, men and boys are more satisfied with the way they look than are
women and girls.
B.
An increasing number of men feel pressure to embody social prescriptions for ideal
masculinity.
C.
Men are increasingly seeking to meet body ideals by exercising and taking
fitness supplements.
D.
Binge eating seems to be increasing among men.
E.
All of the above.
4.
People from which demographic group are most likely to strive to achieve
unrealistic body ideals?
A.
African-American women
B.
Caucasian women
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C.
African-American men
D.
Caucasian men
E.
A and B
5.
The CEO at the company you work for has a spacious corner office all to herself
while the rest of the employees share offices or work in cubicles. What form of
nonverbal communication is indicating a power differential here?
A.
Kinesics
B.
Haptics
C.
Proxemics
D.
Territoriality
E.
Environmental factors
6.
Which of the following has been advanced as an explanation for gender- and sex-
related differences in ability to decode and interpret others’ nonverbal
communication?
A.
Men and women have biological sex-related differences in brain functioning
that influence their ability to understand nonverbal communication.
B.
As part of their socialization to be sensitive to and build relationships, females
learn to decode nonverbal communication.
C.
According to standpoint theory, women must learn to interpret others in order
to survive as subordinate members of society.
D.
All of the above.
E.
None of the above. There are no gender– and sex-related differences in ability
to decode and interpret others’ nonverbal communication.
7.
Three-year-old Kate falls and scrapes her knees on the playground. Her mother runs
to her, scoops her up into her arms, and cuddles Kate until she stops crying. What
aspect of nonverbal communication is being used here?
A.
Kinesics
B.
Artifacts
C.
The responsiveness dimension of relationship level of meaning
D.
The liking dimension of relationship level of meaning
E.
Haptics
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8.
Which of the following is NOT one of the ways nonverbal communication can
function?
A.
To regulate interaction
B.
To establish liking
C.
To supplement verbal communication
D.
To establish power
E.
To give a detailed description of an event
9.
Which of the following is true about men’s clothing?
A.
It is generally not as colorful or bright as women’s.
B.
Pockets are used for decorative touches, but not utilitarian purposes.
C.
They tend to fit close to the body.
D.
Shoes are meant to flatter the legs at the expense of comfort.
E.
All of the above.
10.
Which of the following statements about haptics are accurate?
A.
Men are more likely to initiate friendly touch than women are.
B.
Parents tend to touch daughters more often and more gently than they do sons.
C.
Touch is a type of nonverbal that does not differ much at all across cultures.
D.
Women tend to be more likely to use physical force than men.
E.
Haptics is a type of nonverbal communication that includes how much space a
person uses.
11.
Topic or question should come from class business. See pages 8 to 10 of this
manual for details on this activity.
True/False
12.
Women are more likely to speak with a greater volume than men and with less
inflection.
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13.
Body image disorders only affect women.
14.
Stace frowns at another boy and turns his back in disgust. Stace’s nonverbal
communication is demonstrating the liking dimension of relationship-level meaning.
15.
Carrie and Jennifer are talking in the hallway between classes. Carrie is making eye
contact with Jennifer, nodding intently while Jennifer speaks, and occasionally asks questions
to clarify what Jennifer is saying. Carrie is using nonverbal communication to regulate
interaction.
16.
Nonverbal communication can help underline the importance of a verbal message.
17.
Paralanguage includes spoken words.
18.
Women are generally better at reading all facial expressions than men are.
19.
Children’s toys are becoming increasingly gender neutral; many toy stores and toy
catalogs no longer separate “toys for girls” and “toys for boys.”
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20.
Men tend to take up more physical space than women do.
21.
Artifacts can be a tool to challenge traditional notions of masculinity and femininity.
22.
Topic or question should by authored by a student. See pages 8 to 10 of this manual for
details on this activity.
23.
Paralanguage
24.
Artifact
25.
Territoriality
26.
Kinesics
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27.
Haptics
28.
Proxemics
29.
Responsiveness
20. Power
31.
What is the relationship level of meaning and how is it conveyed nonverbally? In your
answer, be sure to define the three dimensions of relationship-level meaning and give
examples of each.
ANS: The relationship level of meaning is the nonliteral meaning of communication
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32.
Your textbook states, “members of both sexes often feel pressured to meet current
cultural ideals of physical appearance.” Discuss what this means. As part of your answer, be
sure to identify and explain the form of nonverbal communication directly relevant to the
statement. Be able to discuss gender and race-ethnic variations (if any) in relationship to
physical appearance.
ANS: The framework for this answer may be found on pages 110 to 115. You may also wish to
33.
Your book states that toys are powerfully gendered artifacts for children, socializing them
into masculine and feminine behaviors from an early age. Describe why toys are so powerful
and important and how they influence a child’s gender socialization.
ANS: Children tend to be given specific toys based on their gender. Boys are given toys that
34.
Explain which nonverbal behaviors may be employed to exert power and control
and examine the link to gender.
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ANS: Power dynamics speak to issues of dominance and subordination. Control references
who is in charge—for example, who chooses the topic of conversation, who interrupts, and who