Chapter 1 – Conceptualizing Relational Communication
Test Questions
Multiple Choice
1. According to research cited in the text, when people interact with others, the most
common topics involve:
a. the weather, current events, and work.
2. According to the textbook, research on interpersonal communication began
contributing to the study of personal relationships in the:
a. 1920s and 1930s.
3. According to the textbook, the study of interpersonal communication emerged as
one of the primary emphases in the communication discipline because of:
d. the publishing of John Gray’s Men Are from Mars and Women Are from Venus.
4. The first journal dedicated solely to the study of interpersonal relationships is
entitled:
d. Cosmopolitan Relationships.
5. The two fields that have contributed most to the study of personal relationships
are:
a. social psychology and sociology
6. The three most central interpersonal needs that close relationships satisfy are:
a. security, food, and sell-actualization.
7. Close relationships are defined by:
a. sexual activity only.
8. The most basic requirement for defining all types of relationships is that people
share:
d. a unique pattern of communication.
9. As mentioned in the textbook, there are three overriding sets of goals that people
strive for in relationships. If you are interested in obtaining a letter of
recommendation from one of your professors, you have to communicate your
wishes to your professor and explain why and how the letter will help you. In doing
this, you would be attempting to fulfill which of the following sets of goals?
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d. social
10. Using the same example as above, if you spent a large amount of time preparing
an e-mail request to ask for the letter of recommendation, you would be
attempting to fulfill:
a. relational goals.
11. Studies suggest that approximately __________ of the meaning of a given
interaction is interpreted from nonverbal behavior.
a. 10—15%
d. 90—95%
12. According to the textbook:
a. all behavior is communication
13. Isabel stands at the foot of the stairs and yells “dinner’s ready” to her kids who are
upstairs. However, her kids do not hear her because they are both listening to their
I-Pods. This is an example of:
a. unattended behavior
14. Marcia is nervous when an attractive man approaches her and says “hello.” She
ties to hide her anxiety, but the man notices that she is a bit fidgety and figures out
that she is nervous. This is an example of:
a. unattended behavior
15. Late one Friday afternoon, the person you are dating calls and asks, “So, what are
we doing tonight?” Your positive interpretation and evaluation of this question as
an indicator that you have a partner who is always there for you refers to the
__________ level of the message.
a. content
16. Which of the following is the best example of symmetrical message exchange?
a. Brent says “I love you,” and Carrie says “That’s nice.”
17. Your text book defines relational communication as:
a. a subset of interpersonal communication.
18. The distinction between romantic versus nonromantic relationships is based on:
Close Encounters: Communication In Relationships, Fourth Edition
Laura K. Guerrero, Peter A. Anderson, and Walid A. Afifi
Instructor Resource
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d. how committed two people are to the relationship.
19. In your text book, the term gender refers to:
d. a & b
20. Relationships that are characterized by genetic relatedness are also usually
characterized as:
d. non-traditional
21. The term proxemics refers to:
d. physical attributes such as height, weight, and attractiveness.
22. The term kinesics refers to:
d. physical attributes such as height, weight, and attractiveness.
23. The two primary relational messages (or fundamental themes) that characterize a
relationship are:
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c. formality-informality and degree of social composure
d. level of emotional arousal and dominance/submission
24. Your text book takes the position that relational communication:
a. primarily follows a linear pattern.
25. In the 1970s Berscheid and Walster got “fleeced” by the U.S. Senate and
criticized because they were studying:
A. sex
True/False
26. The idea that relational communication is dynamic means that communication
reflects the changing nature of relationships.
27. According to your text, interpersonal communication consists mainly of verbal
messages.
28. According to your text, the formal study of personal relationships is a fairly recent
phenomenon.
29. Dominance is almost always communicated verbally.
30. Relational growth is almost always linear.
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31. The study of personal relationships is only done in communication departments.
32. Interpersonal communication, according to your text contains both content and
relational information.
33. Relationships emerge across ongoing interactions.
34. Two-thirds of Facebook subscribers check their Facebook site every day.
35. The majority of people today meet their future spouse on the Internet or an
Internet dating site.
36. According to your text and Watzlawick et al., one cannot not communicate in
face-to-face settings.
37. Self-presentational goals relate to the image we want others to convey.
True False
Essay
38. How do you define a personal relationship? What role does communication play
in such a definition?
Ans: Varies
39. Sketch a brief history of the study interpersonal relationships research focusing on
3 to four challenges the study of interpersonal relationships faces.
Ans: Varies
40. What is the impact of Facebook on interpersonal relationships? How does it help
or hurt interpersonal relationships?
Ans: Varies
41. What is the difference between the content and relational communication of a
messages? What kinds of messages are likely to contain each kind of
communication?
Ans: Varies
42. Why is it said the relationships contextual messages? Additionally how does
communication differ in a close relationship compared with two acquaintances?
Ans: Varies
43. List and discuss four fundamental themes of relational communication.
Ans: Varies