Chapter 10
Conflict and Conflict Resolution
Test Bank
1. _________ conflict is a situation in which two or more people in an interdependent
relationship perceive themselves to have different viewpoints or goals that are not
consistent.
a. Interactive
b. Interpersonal
c. Interdependent
d. Incongruent
2. Sally and Stephan are currently disagreeing about how money should be spent and saved in
their family. Stephan thinks Sally spends too little, and Sally thinks Stephan spends too
much. This _________ conflict is resulting in weekly arguments.
a. interactive
b. interdependent
c. interpersonal
d. incongruent
3. In a(n) _________ relationship, both or all parties have a stake in continuing the
relationship.
a. interactive
b. interpersonal
c. interdependent
d. incongruent
4. Although they occasionally argue, Mark and Kayla are invested in their relationship. She
depends on him for support in her challenging college major, and he depends on her to help
him with his parents. They have a(n) __________ relationship.
a. dependent
b. interdependent
c. personal
d. interpersonal
5. Goals that we perceive as different may not be. One way to determine if goals are truly
incompatible is by _______ goals early.
a. announcing
b. forgetting
c. arguing about
d. clarifying
6. Samter & Cupachs’ (1988) study of friendships found that _________ of the participants
acknowledged conflicts in their relationships with each other.
a. 5 percent
b. 10 percent
c. 70 percent
d. Virtually all
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7. John Gottman, the leading researcher on the dynamics of happy relationships, found
_______ correlations between the amount of conflict in a relationship and its overall health.
a. no
b. weak negative
c. strong negative
d. positive
8. In research on relationship development and satisfaction, FBF stands for
a. fighting but friends.
b. free beer forever.
c. frustrated been fighting.
d. first big fight.
9. According to Siegert & Stamp (1994), individuals surviving their first big fights in
relationships report
a. the conflicts are dramatic enough to prevent future relationships.
b. the conflicts lead to a greater sense of mutual commitment to the relationship.
c. subsequent fights occur more frequently.
d. previous fights were less destructive in nature.
10. The perspective that within conflict there is only one winner is most likely to occur in
_______ cultures.
a. collectivistic
b. individualistic
c. low power distance
d. feminine
11. In research on the First Big Fight in relationships, the characteristic that differentiated
survivors and nonsurvivors was
a. number of previous fights.
b. how long they were in conflict.
c. number of previous relationships.
d. perceptions and expectations of conflicts.
12. Survivors of the first big fights studied by Siegert & Stamp (1994) were more likely to
believe that a successful relationship
a. was one without conflict.
b. required extreme sacrifice from one of the parties.
c. required a joint effort in problem solving.
d. involves partners who are resistant to changing ways of doing things.
13. According to Hamilton, conflict myths gain power from their place in our __________
awareness.
a. conscious
b. preconscious
c. unconscious
d. relationship
14. “Compromise? Why should I compromise? I’m right!” The speaker of this statement clearly
believes which myth associated with conflicts in relationships?
a. Healthy relationships have little or no conflict.
b. Conflict is always destructive.
c. In any conflict, there can be only one winner.
d. It is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all.
15. “I can’t believe we are arguing about this! We must not have the good relationship I thought
we did.” Which of the following myths associated with conflicts in relationships is referred
to in the previous statement?
a. Healthy relationships have little or no conflict.
b. Conflict is always destructive.
c. In any conflict, there can be only one winner.
d. It is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all.
16. “I am glad we had this argument. Now that I have heard your side, and you’ve heard mine, I
feel closer to you.” Which of the following myths associated with conflicts in relationships
is debunked by this statement?
a. Healthy relationships have little or no conflict.
b. Conflict is always destructive.
c. In any conflict, there can be only one winner.
d. It is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all.
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17. According to the dual concern model, two factors whose levels characterize different types
of conflict are ______ and
a. interest; responsibility.
b. loudness; concern.
c. assertiveness; cooperativeness.
d. accessibility; motivation.
18. Carmen is highly interested in pursuing her own goals. According to the dual-concern
model, she is
a. high in assertiveness.
b. high in cooperativeness.
c. low in assertiveness.
d. low in cooperativeness.
19. __________ involves the degree to which we want to be in a relationship or support the
goals of the other person.
a. Assertiveness
b. Accommodation
c. Domination
d. Cooperating
20. In the __________ conflict style, there is a high degree of interest in the relationship and a
low degree of concern about one’s own interest.
a. dominating
b. accommodating
c. avoiding
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d. compromising
21. Christine would do anything to maintain her current relationship with Devon, even at the
risk of her own self-interest. She clearly has a(n) ___________ conflict style.
a. assertiveness
b. accommodation
c. domination
d. cooperating
22. When the accommodating style is used too frequently, the accommodator often ends up
feeling
a. powerful.
b. helpful.
c. used.
d. overbearing.
23. Under which of the following conditions is the accommodating conflict style an effective
strategy?
a. In short-term relationships, where decisions are critical
b. In short-term relationships, where decisions are compromises
c. In long-term relationships, where one person’s desire for something is stronger than the
other’s competing desire
d. In long-term relationships, where both people’s desires are equally important to the
requestors
24. In long-term relationships, it is often beneficial to accommodate another’s request if he or
she has accommodated you in the past. This is also known as
a. avoiding.
b. reciprocity.
c. dominating.
d. justifying.
25. Jason has a high degree of interest in his own goals and a low degree of interest in his
relationship with Angela or even Angela herself. Jason’s conflict style is
a. avoiding.
b. accommodating.
c. dominating.
d. justifying.
26. Zach’s conflict style often includes threats and nonverbal behaviors, such as stonewalling.
His style is also known as
a. compromising.
b. dominating.
c. accommodating.
d. justifying.
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27. The only time the dominating conflict style may be helpful is in a _____________by a(n)
a. personal relationship; stonewaller.
b. work environment; subordinate.
c. personal relationship; avoider.
d. work environment; legitimate authority.
28. The _________ style is usually characterized by a low degree of interest in pursuing one’s
own goals, as well as a low degree of interest in maintaining the relationship or the other
person’s goals.
a. avoiding
b. dominating
c. accommodating
d. cooperating
29. Which of the following characteristics best describes the type of person who routinely
avoids conflict?
a. Experiences with conflict have been positive
b. Higher biological tolerance for emotional stress
c. Experiences with conflict have been negative
d. Always recognizes conflict
30. A person who typically uses the avoiding style of conflict has a low degree of interest in
pursuing his or her own goals and a
a. high degree of interest in supporting the relationship.
b. high degree of interest in supporting the other person’s goals.
c. low degree of interest in supporting the relationship, but a high degree of interest in
supporting the other person’s goals.
d. low degree of interest in supporting the relationship and a low degree of interest in
supporting the other person’s goals.
31. One common type of behavior used in the avoiding conflict style is
a. stonewalling.
b. threatening.
c. compromising.
d. downplaying the significance of the issue.
32. Research on the effects of avoiding conflict shows
a. neither long-term positive nor negative effects.
b. only long-term negative effects.
c. mixed positive and negative effects.
d. only long-term positive effects.
33. According to marriage researcher John Gottman, the avoiding style can be useful in
resolving conflict if
a. only the husband uses it.
b. only the wife uses it.
c. both partners use it.
d. avoidance is used to increase blood pressure.
34. Marriage researcher John Gottman suggested the avoidance style of conflict is used by some
individuals
a. as a reaction to a rapidly decreasing blood pressure.
b. to irritate their partners.
c. to calm their partners.
d. as a reaction to a rapidly increasing blood pressure.
35. One of the long-term risks of the avoidance conflict style in a relationship is the inability to
a. develop conflict resolution styles and, therefore, the ability to handle more extreme
conflicts.
b. recognize the conflicts as they occur.
c. ever interact positively with your partner.
d. maintain a long-term relationship.
36. Anna’s boss harshly criticized her work on a new advertising campaign. Rather than engage
in conflict with her boss, Anna replied, “I’m sorry you didn’t like it.” Anna chose to avoid
the conflict thinking that it was probably
a. temporary.
b. unimportant.
c. too risky.
d. too personal.
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37. According to the _____________ style of conflict, there is a moderate degree of interest in
one’s own goals and equal interest in the relationship and goals of the other person.
a. avoiding
b. cooperation
c. compromising
d. accommodating
38. Compared to dominators, compromisers are more likely to value
a. a win.
b. success.
c. conflict.
d. harmony.
39. Casey values her own goals, but also appreciates her relationship and the goals of her
partner. The type of conflict style Casey is most likely to use is
a. accommodating.
b. cooperating.
c. compromising.
d. dominating.
40. The compromising style of conflict is advantageous to those involved in that
a. each party gains some satisfaction.
b. one member of the party gains satisfaction while the other loses.
c. neither party wins.
d. each person gets all of what they want.