Deck 8: Conflict Management Skills

Question 1

The "back story" to a conflict includes the degree to which a person is able to influence his or her partner.This is known as

A)interpersonal power.
B)conflict control.
C)relational persuasion.
D)patterned coercion.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Frustration awareness occurs in which of the following stages of a conflict?

A)middle
B)end
C)aftermath
D)beginning

Answer 2

D

Question 3

What kind of conflict do inflexibility and a win-lose perspective characterize?

A)expressive conflict
B)social conflict
C)active conflict
D)destructive conflict

Answer 3

D

Question 4

A perceived cause of conflict is a(n)

A)collaboration.
B) avoidance.
C)conflict trigger.
D)accommodation.

Question 5

Gunny-sacking is

A)holding a grudge.
B)dredging up old problems and issues from the past.
C)an effective conflict strategy.
D)a way of managing a lot of information.

Question 6

Camille and Larry have been arguing a lot lately about the best way to deal with their children when they misbehave.In dealing with this issue, they started discussing how the two of them interact when they disagree on something and are taking steps to tone down the high emotional level of their discussions.Which of the following types of conflict does their experience represent?

A)instrumental conflict
B)active conflict
C)constructive conflict
D)expressive conflict

Question 7

Which myth about conflict has someone accepted if he or she believes that if only we listen harder and paraphrase, conflicts can be solved?

A)Conflict can always be avoided.
B)Conflict always occurs because of misunderstandings.
C)Conflict can always be resolved.
D)Conflict is always bad.

Question 8

Alistair's friend Ivana is going to go to a baseball game tonight and she has asked him to go along.He wants to go, but also wants to stay home and relax after a difficult week at work.He feels torn in two directions and wants to do the game AND wants to stay home.This is an example of which of the following?

A)dialectical tension
B)gunny-sacking
C)flaming
D)disinhibition effect

Question 9

Where does competition fit on the scales of concern for self and concern for others?

A)high concern for self, high concern for others
B)high concern for self, low concern for others
C)low concern for self, high concern for others
D)low concern for self, low concern for others

Question 10

Avoidance represents which of the following approaches to conflict?

A)win-win
B)win-lose
C)lose-lose
D)lose-win

Question 11

Which of the following conflict management styles reflects a high concern for others and a low concern for self?

A)competition
B)collaboration
C)accommodation
D)avoidance

Question 12

Heather and William are planning their son's first birthday party and are inviting both of their extended families to celebrate.Just as they dreaded, Heather's aunt Sonja declines her invitation because she dislikes some of William's relatives and refuses to be in the same room with them.Heather calls and tries to reason with Sonja, who remains steadfast; in fact, her suggestion is that they throw separate parties for each side of the family.Heather and William are left sad and tired that this rift continues to arise each time they try to arrange a family function.Heather and William seem to be facing which of the following myths about conflict?

A)Conflict can always be avoided.
B)Conflict always occurs because of misunderstandings.
C)Conflict can always be resolved.
D)Conflict is always a sign of a poor interpersonal relationship.

Question 13

What stage of the conflict process is involved when Tobias, realizing he keeps putting the toothbrush holder back out on the bathroom counter after Rachel keeps putting it away in the bathroom cabinet, finally says to Rachel, "Darn it all! Will you stop putting the toothbrush holder in the cabinet?"

A)prior conditions
B)frustration awareness
C)active conflict
D)aftermath

Question 14

In what stage of the conflict process does self-talk about differences and growing dissatisfaction about the problem start to occur?

A)prior conditions
B)frustration awareness
C)active conflict
D)resolution

Question 15

According to the "struggle spectrum," which of the following is closest to the "fight" end of the scale?

A)disagreement
B)campaign
C)litigation
D)dispute

Question 16

Karah, a teenager, rolls her eyes and walks away when her mother orders her to clean her room.Karah and her mother are using one of the least satisfying approaches to conflict management:

A)demand-withdrawal pattern.
B)destructive-aggressive pattern.
C)confrontation-avoidance pattern.
D)passive-aggressive pattern.

Question 17

Darius wants to sit in his easy chair and listen to his music, loudly.LaShawn, his roommate, needs some quiet time to study for a major exam the next day.If Darius listens to his music, LaShawn won't be able to study.What kind of conflict does this situation reflect?

A)simple conflict
B)pseudoconflict
C)ego conflict
D)complex conflict

Question 18

Rob is extremely angry with Beth about something he heard she said about him to a mutual friend.When he approaches Beth, Rob is surprised when she starts talking about all the bad things Rob has done to her in the past.Beth is engaging in

A)gunny-sacking.
B)self-talk.
C)reflective memory.
D)information management.

Question 19

The fact that people do have incompatible goals and experience scarce resources contradicts this myth about conflict:

A)Conflict can always be avoided.
B)Conflict always occurs because of misunderstandings.
C)Conflict can always be resolved.
D)Conflict is always a sign of a poor interpersonal relationship.

Question 20

Yakov sees Sven in the quad and says, "Hey, Sven.Where were you? I thought we were going to meet at McDonald's for lunch." Sven responds, "Hey, man.I was there.Where were you?" Yakov says, "I was there at noon, like we agreed, and waited 30 minutes for you to show up." Sven says, "I was there at noon and didn't see you.Hey, wait a minute.Which McDonald's did you go to? I was at the one on campus." Yakov says, "Well that explains it.I was at the one on the main highway." What kind of conflict does this situation reflect?

A)simple conflict
B)pseudoconflict
C)ego conflict
D)complex conflict

Question 21

We should do everything we can to eliminate conflict from our relationships.

Question 22

Stuart wanted Jen to change the date of their family holiday dinner.When she didn't comply, he said, "If you don't change the date, I won't attend the event!" This tactic is defined in the text as

A)bullying.
B)upper-hand persuasion.
C)compliance gaining.
D)coercion.

Question 23

Being empathic in a conflict can help you manage a conflict more effectively, and the strategies of writing down what you want to say and using "I" messages can help.

Question 24

We experience physical changes when we are emotionally charged, including our adrenaline flowing faster, our strength increasing, our livers demanding more oxygen, our blood supply to our brains decreasing, and more blood being diverted to our extremities.Such changes fuel our

A)fight-flight responses.
B)cognitive thinking.
C)interpersonal power.
D)dialectical tension.

Question 25

Gunny-sacking is helpful because it allows us to resolve old issues.

Question 26

The prime experiences in life that shape how we learn to express and manage conflict occur in the families in which we grew up.

Question 27

The goal of managing conflict is as much about managing relationship issues as it is about solving problems.

Question 28

Claire is a mentor in an after-school program and works well with her group.When she recently told several boys they needed to buckle down and complete their schoolwork, they readily obliged.This demonstrates what source of power?

A) referent power
B)expert power
C)reward power
D)legitimate power

Question 29

When using effective listening, sometimes the best thing to do after describing the conflict- producing events is simply to wait for a response.

Question 30

Interdependent means that people do not need to rely on another-what one person does or says has little effect on the other.

Question 31

Alexandra demands that Robert begin to talk to her in a different way than is natural for him.He does not want to cause more friction between the two of them, so he changes the subject and asks her if she has finished her paper that is due Monday in their anthropology class.In this case, Robert has engages in which of the following?

A)gunny-sacking
B)accommodation
C)compromise
D)the demand-withdrawal pattern of conflict management

Question 32

Kurdek found that regardless of whether couples are heterosexual, gay, or lesbian, several topics or issues serve as conflict triggers.

Question 33

While communicating online with a fellow student in his psychology class, Brent finds that a conflict begins between the two of them.After a few minutes, Brent has had about all he can take, tensions begin to increase and to run high, and he loses his inhibitions.The conflict between the two escalates.This is an example of which of the following?

A)"I" language
B)disinhibition effect
C)avoidance
D)accommodation

Question 34

Evidence suggests that husbands are more likely to avoid confrontation as a way of managing conflict with their wives.

Question 35

Before you bring your frustration to the attention of others, a conflict has already become an active, expressed struggle.

Question 36

"But" messages often have the effect of diminishing the positive sentiment one expresses with "I" language.

Question 37

The compromise style is called "a lose/win-lose/win" approach to conflict.

Question 38

An avoidance conflict management style reflects low concern for the self but high concern for the other person.

Question 39

Power exists in all relationships and derives from the ability to meet a person's needs.

Question 40

People with a competition conflict management style have a lose-lose philosophy.

Question 41

Explain how you might use the conflict management skills of managing emotions, information, goals, and problems in the following situation: You and your roommate agreed on a schedule and responsibilities for chores.At first, all went well.Then gradually, week after week, one excuse after another, your roommate began to fail to follow through.At first it was no big deal-a dish here, a sock there.But now your roommate has left dishes in the sink for three days and hasn't taken out the trash in a week; the bathroom is a mess, especially the shower.And the last straw is the large mustard stain that recently appeared in the middle of the living room carpet.You are furious.You've let it slide long enough and decide to let her know how you feel.

Question 42

Interpersonal conflict includes four elements.What are they?

Question 43

Describe three strategies to minimize misunderstandings and avoid pseudoconflict.

Question 44

Using specific examples, explain how each of the five conflict management styles: (1)avoidance, (2)accommodation, (3)competition, (4)compromise, and (5)collaboration, are related to the dimensions of concern for self and concern for others.

Question 45

Doug and Carla have been friends for about a year and generally get along well.Over time, however, Doug starts to become annoyed with Carla's habit of being late so often.A while after he realizes how much it really bothers him, Doug tells Carla that he was really frustrated when Carla showed up late to go to a movie they agreed to see together, and they missed it.Doug sees the lateness as a lack of respect for him and his time.Carla is defensive at first and argues with Doug that she is a busy person with a lot of stress and responsibility in her life and that Doug just needs to "chill out." As the conversation progresses, Carla agrees to call Doug in advance from now on if she's going to be late and to try to avoid making appointments with Doug when she is not likely to show up or be on time.The next few times they get together, Carla is on time.In fact, Doug and Carla make a joke about it.Using the details of the story, identify the stages of the conflict process that Carla and Doug went through.

Question 46

Identify and briefly describe the five stages of the conflict process.

Question 47

Lyndi and Phil have been married for ten years, and still find themselves having a fairly heated argument about something at least once a week.They're worried that this means that their relationship is not as solid as it should be.They think that if they were truly committed to one another, they wouldn't have arguments and that they would figure out how to avoid arguing.It also worries them that even when they try to work things out when they're arguing, sometimes they just can't come to an agreement.Basically, they think that a good marriage doesn't have conflict; that conflict is negative and should be avoided at all costs.Explain to Lyndi and Phil which myths about conflict they seem to share and why they are myths.

Question 48

Identify several strategies for seeking compliance in an interpersonal relationship.Choose three and describe three situations in which these would be effective.

Question 49

Name, describe, and give an example of each of the three types of interpersonal conflict.

Question 50

Name and define the five sources of power identified by French and Raven.