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Chapter 12
Multiple-Choice Items
1. In the general U.S. population, ____ of the people oppose or strongly oppose same-sex
marriages.
A. 21%
B. 11%
C. 41%
D. 51%
E. 31%
2. In their class study, Cuber & Harroff (1965) identified five distinct marital types. All of the
following are the five distinct marital types except:
A. vital marriage
B. total marriage
C. passive-congenial marriage
D. constructive marriage
E. conflict-habituated marriage
3. Mr. and Mrs. Miller is a couple who is highly autonomous. Mr. and Mrs. Miller give each
other plenty of room and they share less emotionally than the other marital types. The Millers
A. mixed
B. traditionals
C. independents
D. separates
E. interdependents
4. After the first few married years, most couples experience a dip in marital satisfaction:
A. when they have children
B. when a spouse gets lazy in the relationship
C. when their occupation takes most of the time
D. when they stop communicating
E. regardless of whether or not they have children
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5. Concerning the typical life cycle of families with children, the second stage is usually:
A. establishing a family
B. enlarging a family
C. developing a family
D. encouraging independence
E. adapting to children
6. According to a study of men in high pressure technology jobs, Cooper found three ways that
these men approach fathering. All of the following are three ways described by Cooper
except:
A. independents
B. superdads
C. traditionals
D. transitionals
E. c and d
7. ____ states that people apply economic principles to evaluate their relationships.
A. social exchange theory
B. social penetration theory
C. selective perception theory
D. equity theory
E. relationship repair theory
8. As a rule, women assume most of the _______, which involves remembering, planning, and
scheduling family life.
A. second shift
B. marital stability
C. family stability
D. psychological responsibility
E. physical responsibility
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9. All of the follo
A. criticism
B. contempt
C. defensiveness
D. stonewalling
E. mindfulness
10. All of the following are examples of families except:
A. a heterosexual man and woman who have been married for 12 years and have 2
kids
B. two gay men who have cohabitated for 20 years and have one adopted son
C. A single woman who adopted a daughter from China and works outside the home
D. A 27 year old single mom whose mother just moved in with her
E. A single male who works inside the home
11. Concerning the typical life cycle of families with children, the fifth stage is usually:
A. establishing a family
B. enlarging a family
C. developing a family
D. launching children
E. adapting to children
12. For children, this is a very important phase in personal development. They are learning to be
less dependent on their families, which is essential to becoming a healthy adult.
A. establishing a family
B. enlarging a family
C. encouraging independence
D. launching children
E. adapting to children
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13. During this stage, children decrease the amount of couple time and change the focus of a
A. establishing a family
B. enlarging a family
C. encouraging independence
D. launching children
E. adapting to children
14. During this stage, a couple settles into marriage or a cohabiting relationship and works out
expectations, interaction patterns, and daily routines for their shared life.
A. establishing a family
B. enlarging a family
C. encouraging independence
D. launching children
E. adapting to children
15. During this stage, for couples who are married, spouses get used to the
A. establishing a family
B. enlarging a family
C. encouraging independence
D. launching children
E. adapting to children
16. In this relationship, the couple is very close emotionally and wants to be together physically
as much as possible. For these couples, the relationship is their primary source of satisfaction
and joy.
A. vital marriage
B. total marriage
C. passive-congenial marriage
D. constructive marriage
E. conflict-habituated marriage
17. This relationship is similar to the vital marriage except that partners are not so continuously
together. Each has separate interests and sources of satisfaction, yet they look forward to
being with each other and schedule their lives to maximize time together.
A. vital marriage
B. total marriage
C. passive-congenial marriage
D. constructive marriage
E. conflict-habituated marriage
18. In these relationships, partners are polite, and they interact, but they typically deal with
superficial matters. This has been the norm for the partners since they married. For partners,
activities and interests outside the relationship are primary sources of pleasure and
satisfaction.
A. vital marriage
B. total marriage
C. passive-congenial marriage
D. constructive marriage
E. conflict-habituated marriage
19. but they are bored with each other and
the relationship. Although the relationship was vital and a source of much satisfaction earlier,
it now is lifeless and characterized by apathy.
A. vital marriage
B. total marriage
C. passive-congenial marriage
D. constructive marriage
E. conflict-habituated marriage
20. In these relationships, partners are incompatible. They remain tied to each other for reasons
ranging from inertia to practical considerations (for example, children or finances). The
primary dynamic between partners is conflict.
A. vital marriage
B. total marriage
C. passive-congenial marriage
D. constructive marriage
E. conflict-habituated marriage
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True-False Items
1. More than 50% of people over the age of 24 are married.
2. Marriage is also occurring later than it once did today, half of Americans in the 25– to
29-year-old age range are unmarried.
3. Beginning in the late 1700s or early 1800s, most people in the United States picked mates
based on love and companionship.
4. More than 30% of men in dual-worker families make more money than their female
partners.
5. In African American families headed by single women, daughters frequently exhibit
lower self-reliance and self-esteem than their Caucasian counterparts.
6. European mothers were more likely than African American mothers to characterize
7. Couple satisfaction seems especially affected by equity in housework and childcare.
8. A majority of lesbian couples create more egalitarian relationships than do either
heterosexuals or gay men.
9. Marriage counselors say that trying to change people you love seldom works.
10. Massachusetts became the first state in the United States to allow same-sex couples to
marry.
11. One-third of adults in the U.S. have never married, and the number of unmarried people
in the U.S. has doubled in the past 25 years.
12. Nearly 40% of births in America are to unmarried parents.
13. Over 4 million children live with at least one stepparent.
14. In 2000, 22% of children lived only with their mothers, whereas 4% of children lived
only with their fathers.
15. Historian Stephanie Coontz (2005a, 2005b), who studies the history of marriage, thinks
the mushrooming variety of family forms makes it possible for more people to have
fulfilling family lives.
16. Compared to previous eras, today there is less bias against same-sex couples, especially
among college students.
17. In the general U.S. population, 51% of people oppose or strongly oppose same-sex
marriage, and only 30% approve or strongly approve. Among college students, however,
52% approve or strongly approve of same-sex marriage, and only 26% oppose or strongly
oppose it.
18. Many churches now perform union ceremonies for gay and lesbian couples, and leading
national newspapers, such as The New York Times, include gay and lesbian unions in the
announcements section of the paper. In addition, an increasing number of municipalities
grant licenses that legally recognize same-sex unions.
19. Americans increasingly .
Identification Items
1. social exchange theory
2. equity
3. second shift
4. psychological responsibility
5. vital marriage
6. total marriage
7. passive-congenial marriage
8. devitalized marriage
9. conflict-habituated marriage
10. words
11. thoughts
12. emotions
Essay Items
1. Discuss each of the four guidelines for effective communication in families. Give an example
of each guideline.
2. Clifford Notarius identified three key elements that influence satisfaction with long-term
relationships. Fully describe each of these elements.
3. According to your book, there are seven stages that is the typical life cycle of families with
children. Fully describe each of these seven stages.
4. According to your book, what makes a good marriage?
5. According to your book, what are the three ways that men approach fathering and give
examples?
6. How does parenting vary among the races?
7. Describe the various marital types discussed in your book.
8. What is the difference between social exchange theory and equity theory?
Rejoinders
Multiple-Choice Items
True-False Items
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Identification Items
Essay Items