Chapter 12 – Conceptualizing Relational Communication
Test Questions
Multiple Choice
1. According to the text, _________ refers to an individual’s ability to influence
others to do what the individual wants, as well as an individual’s ability to resist
the influence attempts of others.
a. communication competence
2. According to the text, power is a perception because:
a. an individual has power only if he or she perceives himself or herself to have
power.
3. The principle of least interest means that:
d. people who are good at bluffing often negotiate the best deals.
4. You have just been hired as a consultant for a large company to analyze some
project teams and to report on how power is distributed within them. On your first
day, you immediately notice that one person is late to the meeting and is dressed a
little more casually than the others. In the discussion, this person is the one who
initiates the topics, seems to interrupt, and closes the meeting. Based on which
principle of power would you say that this person is more powerful than the
others?
a. the scarcity principle
12. In the conversation above, Nicole’s line, “Ask a little more nicely next time” is a
a. one-down message.
13. Now consider the first pairing of messages in this conversation. Marissa says
“You’ve been on the phone for an hour—get off!” and Nicole says “Okay.” This
message pairing is an example of:
a. submissive symmetry
14. People who focus mainly on themselves rather than others, engage in excessive
verbal participation, redirect the conversation away from others, and interrupt are
engaging in:
a. androgynous speech
15. According to the authors of the textbook, __________ is a richer source of power
messages than ______________.
a. verbal communication, nonverbal communication
16. Which of the following about communicating power through clothing is true?
a. Formal, fashionable, and expensive clothing communicates power.
21. Research show that men use more powerful forms of speech than women.
a. on gender neutral topics.
22. According to your book parents______________________ their teenage children.
d. are best off being permissive with.
23. Most romantic relationships are characterized by
d. women who see the world in terms of power and hierarchy.
24. Which of the following is a not a power principal discussed in chapter 11?
a. power exists in relationships
25. Research from numerous countries shows that when married men and women
have more equal income, women:
a. are more likely to share in money management decisions.
Close Encounters: Communication In Relationships, Fourth Edition
Laura K. Guerrero, Peter A. Anderson, and Walid A. Afifi
Instructor Resource
True False
26. People usually respond to flaming with negative reciprocity.
27. People from Italy and the U.S. reported higher levels of demand-withdraw than
did people from Brazil.
28. Men are more likely to do demanding and women are most likely to do the
withdrawing.
29. Stonewalling is one of four horsemen of the apocolipes.
30. Hostile behaviors are rarely reciprocated during conflict.
31. In conflict interaction, negative reciprocity appears to be more common than
positive reciprocity.
32. Kitchen sinking is similar to gunnysacking.
33. People from Australia, Brazil, Italy, Pakistan, Taiwan, and the U.S. all report
being less satisfied and more distressed within their relationships if their conflict
is characterized by the demand-withdraw pattern.
34. “I am sorry your feelings are hurt!” is an example of a one-up message.
35 . I statement like, “try to be on time tomorrow” following by “I’m sorry, I’ll do
my best is an example of competitive symmetry.
36. According to your book, in the 21st century, most women are not satisfied with
traditional gender roles.
37. According to your book traditional marriages are based on a form of benevolent
female dominance coupled with clearly specialized roles.
Essay
38. What is flaming and why does it occur? What are some common responses to
flaming? Which responses are likely to be most effective?
Ans: Varies
39. What tactics have been found to be especially likely to divert attention away from
the conflict issue while escalating negativity? What are some better approaches to
conflict management?
Ans: Varies
40. What is the demand-withdrawal sequence and why is detrimental to romantic
relationships? What can be done to reduce the incidence or negative impact of
this relational behavior?
Ans: Varies
41. What are the “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and why is each one of
them relationally detrimental?
Ans: Varies
42. What are one-up and one-down messages? What can a single message tell you?
What can pairs of messages tell you?
Ans: Varies