Deck 1: Conceptualizing Relational Communication

Question 1

According to the textbook, the study of interpersonal communication emerged as one of the primary emphases in the communication discipline because of:

A) the baby boom that followed the end of World War II.
B) the realization that relational development and communication share a symbiotic relationship.
C) the hippie movement in the 1960s.
D) the publishing of John Gray's Men Are from Mars and Women Are from Venus.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

In your text book, the term gender refers to:

A) biological differences between females and males.
B) culturally constructed images of men and women as masculine or feminine.
C) the degree to which individuals are androgynous.
D) a & b

Answer 2

B

Question 3

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?

A) relational
B) self-presentational
C) instrumental
D) social

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Close relationships are defined by:

A) sexual activity only.
B) romantic attachment and sexual activity only.
C) behavioral interdependence, repeated interaction, emotional attachment, and need fulfillment.
D) the presence of any kind of physical contact.

Question 5

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
B) attempted communication
C) miscommunication
D) accidental communication

Question 6

According to the textbook, research on interpersonal communication began contributing to the study of personal relationships in the:

A) 1920s and 1930s.
B) 1940s and l950s.
C) 1960s and 1970s.
D) l980s and 1990s.

Question 7

Studies suggest that approximately __________ of the meaning of a given interaction is interpreted from nonverbal behavior.

A) 10-15%
B) 20-25%
C) 60-65%
D) 90-95%

Question 8

Late one Friday afternoon, the person you are dating calls and asks, "So, what are we doing tonight 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
B) relational
C) report
D) philosophical

Question 9

According to the textbook:

A) all behavior is communication
B) behavior is communication if it is sent with intent
C) behavior is communication if it interpreted by a receiver
D) b and c

Question 10

Your text book defines relational communication as:

A) a subset of interpersonal communication.
B) the expression and interpretation of messages within close relationships.
C) the exchange of nonverbal and verbal messages between two people, regardless of the relationship they share.
D) a & b

Question 11

The distinction between romantic versus nonromantic relationships is based on:

A) whether people define themselves as a couple.
B) whether two people have sex.
C) the degree to which two people are close on an emotional level.
D) how committed two people are to the relationship.

Question 12

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
B) attempted communication
C) miscommunication
D) accidental communication

Question 13

The most basic requirement for defining all types of relationships is that people share:

A) repeated interaction.
B) some level of behavioral interdependence.
C) some level of emotional attachment.
D) a unique pattern of communication.

Question 14

The three most central interpersonal needs that close relationships satisfy are:

A) security, food, and sell-actualization.
B) attractiveness, sense of humor, and a good personality.
C) affection, social inclusion, and behavioral control.
D) attachment, behavioral interdependence, and challenge.

Question 15

The two fields that have contributed most to the study of personal relationships are:

A) social psychology and sociology
B) social psychology and communication
C) communication and family studies
D) family studies and sociology

Question 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."
B) Jessica says "Do you want to go to the movies Veronica says, "No thanks."
C) Keisha touches Jamal five times, whereas Jamal only touches Keisha once.
D) Tom says, "Take out the trash," and Jake says, "Take it out yourself."

Question 17

Relationships that are characterized by genetic relatedness are also usually characterized as:

A) involuntary
B) voluntary
C) traditional
D) non-traditional

Question 18

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.
B) self-presentational goals.
C) instrumental goals.
D) social goals.

Question 19

The first journal dedicated solely to the study of interpersonal relationships is entitled:

A) The Journal of Social and Personal Relationships
B) Interpersonal Communication Monographs.
C) Personal Relationships.
D) Cosmopolitan Relationships.

Question 20

According to research cited in the text, when people interact with others, the most common topics involve:

A) the weather, current events, and work.
B) movies, pets, and activities.
C) relationship problems, sex, family, and romantic partners.
D) all of the above.

Question 21

According to your text, interpersonal communication consists mainly of verbal messages.

Question 22

Dominance is almost always communicated verbally.

Question 23

What is the impact of Facebook on interpersonal relationships oes it help or hurt interpersonal relationships?

Question 24

The term proxemics refers to:

A) the use of touch.
B) body movement, including posture, eye behavior, and facial expression.
C) the use of space, including conversational distances and territory.
D) physical attributes such as height, weight, and attractiveness.

Question 25

The idea that relational communication is dynamic means that communication reflects the changing nature of relationships.

Question 26

Your text book takes the position that relational communication:

A) primarily follows a linear pattern.
B) primarily follows a non-linear pattern.
C) primarily follows a curvilinear pattern.
D) follows both linear and non-linear patterns.

Question 27

The study of personal relationships is only done in communication departments.

Question 28

Self-presentational goals relate to the image we want others to convey.

Question 29

Relationships emerge across ongoing interactions.

Question 30

Relational growth is almost always linear.

Question 31

According to your text and Watzlawick et al., one cannot not communicate in face-to-face settings.

Question 32

The majority of people today meet their future spouse on the Internet or an Internet dating site. False

Question 33

What is the difference between the content and relational communication of a messages kinds of messages are likely to contain each kind of communication?

Question 34

How do you define a personal relationship role does communication play in such a definition?

Question 35

Sketch a brief history of the study interpersonal relationships research focusing on 3 to four challenges the study of interpersonal relationships faces.

Question 36

The two primary relational messages (or fundamental themes) that characterize a relationship are:

A) level of intimacy and dominance/submission
B) task-social orientation and degree of social composure
C) formality-informality and degree of social composure
D) level of emotional arousal and dominance/submission

Question 37

Why is it said the relationships contextual messages tionally how does communication differ in a close relationship compared with two acquaintances?

Question 38

Interpersonal communication, according to your text contains both content and relational information.

Question 39

Two-thirds of Facebook subscribers check their Facebook site every day.

Question 40

According to your text, the formal study of personal relationships is a fairly recent phenomenon.

Question 41

List and discuss four fundamental themes of relational communication.