Exam 8: D: Managing Conflict in Relationships

In individualist cultures, conflict is viewed as negatively affecting relational harmony.

Incompetence can be categorized as a form of provocation leading to conflict.

John Gottman's research has found that women tend to criticize their partners more than men do.

Playing devil's advocate is a challenging conflict management behavior.

It is common for people to use channels that provide limited or delayed interaction (for example, using e-mail rather than the phone) to initiate or engage in conflict with people who intimidate them.

Choosing an inappropriate channel through which to communicate one's message can lead to conflict in a relationship.

Although communicating on the phone or through Facebook may be more convenient, most people consider face-to-face conflict to be more sensitive.

Poorly managed relational conflict can result in poor health.

Conflict is inevitable in relationships and sometimes cannot be resolved.

Communication scholars consider competing styles of conflict to be a form of aggression.

An apologist does not actually have to acknowledge that he or she was wrong in order to apologize.

Uncertain climates sometimes occur because we are simply unfamiliar with the other person and how he or she manages conflict.

Reliance on compromise as a way of managing conflict can lead to lower relationship satisfaction.

The Miller family can't decide where to have dinner, so they have everyone write down their choice on a piece of paper and put it in a bowl. When Dad draws Pagliai's Pizza out of the bowl, their choice has been made through a form of compromise.

Escapist styles of conflict are harmful to a relationship and should be avoided in favor of more direct and effective conflict management strategies.

All conflict results from misunderstanding.

People from high-context and collectivist cultures engage in indirect conflict management behaviors.

Research by John Gottman has found that women tend to stonewall their partners more than men do.

Conflict is a sign of an unhealthy relationship.

Identity management is a form of provocation that occurs when the partners in a relationship grow apart as they discover new parts of themselves.