Deck 8: Managing Differences

Question 1

According to Kurt Lewin, ÒA definition of conflict begins with the recognition that participants in social interaction have ________.Ó

A) personalities
B) divergent perspectives
C) goals
D) competing needs

Answer 1

C

Question 2

How well can researchers predict marital outcomes?

A) with greater than 90 percent accuracy in specific samples
B) with greater than 90 percent accuracy using the same procedures across diverse samples
C) with 65 percent accuracy at best
D) not accurately at all

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Each speaking turn in couple discussions needs to be coded not only for ________ but also for ________.

A) verbal content; emotional tone
B) emotional tone; affect
C) verbal content; unconditional probability
D) unconditional probability; conditional probability

Answer 3

A

Question 4

The goal of early studies on distressed relationships was to compare groups of happy and unhappy couples to discover:

A) how they differed in what they disagreed about.
B) why partner perceptions differed.
C) how they differed in managing marital disagreements.
D) all of the above

Question 5

According to GottmanÕs (1979) structural model of marital interaction, which is NOT true of unhappy couples compared to happy couples? Unhappy couples:

A) show less positive behavior.
B) show more reciprocity of negative behaviors.
C) use more cognitive editing.
D) have more predictable behavior patterns.

Question 6

How do happy and unhappy couples compare in their problem-solving communication?

A) There is greater correspondence or linkage between daily events and daily satisfaction ratings for happy couples than for unhappy couples.
B) Happy couples send messages that they intend to be positive, whereas unhappy couples send messages that they intend to be negative.
C) In contrast to happy couples, unhappy couples tend to decode neutral messages negatively.
D) Happy and unhappy couples are equally good at translating their own thoughts and feelings into a behavioral expression (encoding).

Question 7

In laboratory studies of observed marital behavior, unconditional probabilities capture the ________ of particular interaction events, while conditional probabilities capture the ________ of interaction events.

A) pattern; sequence
B) affect; overt behaviors
C) affect; rates
D) percentage; patterns

Question 8

Relationship researchers recognize that disagreements between partners in intimate relationships are inevitable. Consequently, researchers assume that ________ is more consequential to their relationship than ________.

A) whether couples disagree; what they disagree about
B) what couples disagree about; whether they disagree
C) what couples disagree about; how they disagree
D) how couples disagree; what they disagree about

Question 9

Conflict occurs when:

A) one person pursues his or her goals in such a way that it interferes with the other personÕs goals.
B) one person pursues his or her needs in such a way that it interferes with the other personÕs needs.
C) one person pursues his or her goals in such a way that it interferes with the other personÕs needs.
D) one person pursues his or her needs in such a way that it interferes with the other personÕs goals.

Question 10

Jonathan and Gurmit have been married 10 years. What are they most likely to disagree about?

A) sex and money
B) money and communication
C) children and sex
D) children and communication

Question 11

Observations of couples talking about their marital disagreements have revealed that most disagreements in established relationships involve:

A) sex, relatives (in-laws), and money.
B) money, work, and communication.
C) children, chores, and communication.
D) children, communication, and sex.

Question 12

According to your text, which of the following topics is the source of the greatest number of disagreements reported by husbands and wives?

A) chores
B) communication
C) money
D) sex

Question 13

According to the textbook, couples can use a variety of strategies for conflict resolution. Strategies such as blaming oneÕs partner for the problem and delivering ultimatums are considered ________ strategies; looking for points of and working toward agreement are considered ________ strategies.

A) constructive; destructive
B) destructive; constructive
C) demand/withdraw; cognitive editing
D) cognitive editing; table talk

Question 14

When Sandy says something mean during an argument, Ali is upset but tries to respond to her concerns with warmth. What is this called?

A) positive reciprocity
B) negative reinforcement
C) cognitive editing
D) positive reinforcement

Question 15

Nonso and Manj have been married 5 years. They are more likely to disagree about ________ than about ________.

A) sex; money
B) money; communication
C) chores; intimacy
D) communication; chores

Question 16

In a videotaped discussion, a husband says, ÒI feel really uncomfortable whenever we discuss our sexual relationship.Ó His wife responds, ÒI know this is difficult for you. What if we wrote down our thoughts first and then read them out loud to each other?Ó How would you code the wifeÕs statement?

A) self-disclosure
B) disagreement
C) positive solution
D) criticism

Question 17

In a videotaped discussion, a husband says, ÒI feel really uncomfortable whenever we discuss our sexual relationship.Ó How would you code the husbandÕs statement?

A) self-disclosure
B) disagreement
C) positive solution
D) criticism

Question 18

Alex is designing a study to examine how couplesÕ behavior during conflict discussions predicts changes in relationship satisfaction. He is planning to measure the observed negative behavior skills that couples employ. Based on previous research, which additional observed variable would be most important for Alex to measure to obtain a more complete understanding of the effects of conflict behavior on relationship satisfaction?

A) amount of cognitive editing
B) degree of relationship commitment
C) displays of positive emotion
D) level of partner neuroticism

Question 19

Nessim and Mariah participated in a study of couple communication. Nessim had 100 speaking turns and 33 of them were coded as criticism. His ________ for criticism was 33/100, or .33.

A) conditional probability
B) unconditional probability
C) statistical probability
D) behavioral probability

Question 20

Cognitive editing occurs when a partner hears something ________ but responds in a ________ way.

A) positive; neutral or negative
B) positive; negative
C) negative; positive
D) negative; neutral or positive

Question 21

Jim came home from work in a foul mood and his wife, Tracey, did not have supper waiting for him as usual. Jim became extremely angry, slapped and punched Tracey, and then grabbed her by the hair and threw her to the ground. The next day, Jim brought Tracey flowers, apologized profusely for his behavior, and promised he would never hit her again. What stage of the cycle of violence does this reflect?

A) tension-building
B) contrition
C) adoration
D) remorse

Question 22

The textbook describes studies on the association between the positive and negative content (skills) and emotions displayed by newlyweds and the rate of change in marital satisfaction. What is the most important conclusion from these studies?

A) Negative content is detrimental to a marriage only when partners are also low in positive emotional expressions such as humor, affection, and interest.
B) Negative content is detrimental to marriage, particularly when it is accompanied by positive affect.
C) What people say (content) is irrelevant for marital satisfaction; the key is the affect that people display in their interactions.
D) Negative content is detrimental to marriage because couples with poor conflict resolution skills also display fewer positive emotional expressions such as humor, affection, and interest.

Question 23

Considering the research on intimate terrorism, which statement is true?

A) Most women never escape battering relationships.
B) If children are exposed to violence, they are much more likely to avoid abusive relationships as adults.
C) Women subjected to emotional abuse are less likely to initiate a separation or divorce than women subjected to physical abuse.
D) Almost 40 percent of women leave battering relationships within 2 years.

Question 24

In intimate terrorism, the three phases of the cycle of violence are:

A) acute battering, plateau, and tension-building.
B) tension-building, acute battering, and contrition.
C) baseline, intense violence, and adoration.
D) emotional degradation, physical degradation, and remorse.

Question 25

The textbook describes a study where researchers collected blood samples from newlywed participants while they discussed an important problem in their marriage. The blood samples were then analyzed for the presence of stress hormones. What is the most important conclusion from this study?

A) Although important, stress hormones were not as predictive of relationship status and quality 10 years later as were the negative behaviors partners displayed during these discussions.
B) Stress hormones were far more predictive of relationship status and quality 10 years later compared to the negative behaviors partners displayed during these discussions.
C) Observable features of conflict (e.g., negative statements, criticism) revealed all of the clues needed for predicting the status and quality of the relationship 10 years later.
D) Because they are largely within our conscious awareness, biological responses to conflict (i.e., changes in hormone levels) are particularly useful in predicting the status and quality of the relationship 10 years later.

Question 26

The Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS) is a commonly used measure of psychological aggression, physical assault, and sexual coercion in intimate relationships. What is NOT a potential criticism of the CTS? The CTS:

A) does not provide much information about what provoked a particular aggressive act.
B) does not ask about self-defense, so it would be possible to misinterpret violent resistance as intimate terrorism.
C) measures too many different acts of violence and blurs the distinction between situational couple violence and intimate terrorism.
D) is subject to all of the above criticisms.

Question 27

Approximately what percentage of aggressive relationships is characterized by bilateral aggression?

A) 20 percent
B) 40 percent
C) 50 percent
D) 75 percent

Question 28

Research on couple conflict from an attachment perspective has shown that:

A) there is little evidence that early family relationships shape the manner in which intimate partners manage conflict.
B) there are large differences between how individuals high in attachment anxiety manage conflict in intimate relationships compared to individuals high in attachment avoidance.
C) secure individuals tend to be more adept at managing conflict in intimate relationships than insecure individuals.
D) there are no observable differences among insecure individuals in how they manage conflict in intimate relationships.

Question 29

According to the chapter on conflict and aggression, ________ is motivated by ________, whereas ________ is motivated by ________.

A) situational couple violence; frustration and anger; intimate terrorism; a desire to control an intimate partner
B) intimate terrorism; personality disorders; situational couple violence; an inability to manage the partnerÕs emotions
C) situational couple violence; revenge; intimate terrorism; hostility
D) intimate terrorism; anger; situational couple violence; low self-esteem

Question 30

Dr. Adams believes that how partners manage conflict is determined in part by their experiences in their families of origin when they were children. With what theory is this consistent?

A) attachment theory
B) social learning theory
C) attachment exchange theory
D) social ecological theory

Question 31

Studies of the demand/withdraw pattern show that:

A) when discussing the husbandÕs topic, wives demand and husbands withdraw.
B) when discussing the wifeÕs topic, wives demand and husbands withdraw.
C) a wife demandÐhusband withdraw pattern is more common than a wife withdrawÐhusband demand pattern but only among couples in distressed relationships.
D) all of the above are true.

Question 32

Which of the following is true of the demand/withdraw interaction pattern?

A) It tends to be self-perpetuating.
B) It often arises when one partner prefers closeness in the relationship while the other prefers autonomy.
C) It reflects a macroanalytic approach to thinking about a coupleÕs interactions.
D) All of the above are true.

Question 33

Which of the following is true of the research on situational couple violence? Situational couple violence:

A) is more often committed by men than by women.
B) can consist of emotional abuse, threats, and financial control.
C) occurs among distressed couples.
D) is best understood as a consequence of a deteriorating relationship.

Question 34

Delia loves to travel and loves exploring and being surprised about what is around the next corner. She doesnÕt like to plan ahead too much, because you never know where youÕll be at the end of the day. Her partner, Sal, likes to plan ahead and learn where all the sights are and to book the best hotels based on their budget. This difference is the cause of much arguing, and for their upcoming trip Delia is trying to convince Sal to book a Òlast minuteÓ surprise trip on a website where they wouldnÕt even know their destination until the trip was booked. In contrast, Sal has developed a day-by-day plan for a trip to Italy. What best describes the situation in which Delia and Sal have found themselves? Delia and Sal:

A) have polarized around the issue of planning.
B) are engaging in negative reciprocity.
C) probably have low levels of epinephrine as a result of their conflict.
D) are positively reinforcing each otherÕs position in the conflict.

Question 35

Avery continually yells at Sue in a heated conflict and is not able to calm down. Sue, feeling cold and indifferent, does not respond and eventually leaves the room. This type of communication is called:

A) the reactivity hypothesis.
B) the negative reciprocity cycle.
C) the demand/withdraw pattern.
D) stress spillover.

Question 36

A common interaction pattern in couples is called the demand/withdraw pattern. Which of the following is true about the research discussed in the text on demand/withdrawal in couples?

A) Women tend to demand and men tend to withdraw when discussing a problem the woman has brought up, but men and women equally demand and withdraw when discussing a problem that the man has brought up.
B) Men tend to demand and women tend to withdraw during conflict because men hold greater power in the relationship.
C) The demand/withdraw cycle tends to end fairly quickly, and even distressed couples are able to exit from this type of interaction.
D) The demand/withdraw pattern reflects a pattern of negative reciprocity whereby partners react to attacks from each other with increased hostility and blame.

Question 37

Early research on physical violence between intimates was marked by some confusion. Different groups of researchers described quite different patterns and prevalence of violent behavior. One important reason for the differences of opinion was that:

A) there was a pressing need for funding for shelters for battered women.
B) aggression was largely Òbehind closed doors,Ó and it was difficult to study well.
C) family sociologists were still developing good measures of physical abuse.
D) different groups of scholars were relying on different sources of data.

Question 38

Which of the following statements about the relationship between mismanaged conflict and relationship satisfaction is accurate?

A) Mismanaged conflict inevitably leads to lower relationship satisfaction.
B) Relationship satisfaction only decreases among couples who do not constructively manage conflict.
C) Poor problem-solving skills consistently predict lower levels of relationship satisfaction only when combined with high levels of positive affect.
D) Negative skills have a negative effect on relationship satisfaction only when combined with low levels of positive affect.

Question 39

Aggression that is reactive and used to control a specific dispute is called ________, whereas aggression that is proactive and used to control the partner is called ________.

A) situational couple violence; violent resistance
B) violence resistance; situational couple violence
C) bilateral aggression; unilateral aggression
D) situational couple violence; intimate terrorism

Question 40

Harry came home from work in a foul mood and his wife, Delilah, did not have supper waiting for him as usual. Harry became extremely angry, slapped and punched Delilah, and then grabbed her by the hair and threw her to the ground. What stage of the cycle of violence does this reflect?

A) acute battering
B) intense violence
C) physical degradation
D) tension-building

Question 41

8.Describe gender differences in the demand/withdraw pattern.

Question 42

The basic principles of ________ relationship communication also apply to ________.

A) distressed; situational couple violence
B) distressed; intimate terrorism
C) nonviolent; situational couple violence
D) nonviolent; intimate terrorism

Question 43

5.Describe how the interactions of unhappy couples (in comparison to happy couples) can be characterized according to GottmanÕs structural model of marital interaction.

Question 44

A limitation of the sociocultural perspective in explaining the causes of aggression in intimate relationships is that:

A) it cannot account for why only some relationships are marked by aggression, when most people are exposed to the same societal and cultural institutions.
B) it cannot explain why individuals exposed to aggression in childhood do not necessarily become aggressive in adulthood.
C) it can explain intimate terrorism but not situational couple violence.
D) by focusing on the societal and cultural causes of aggressive behavior, these perspectives inadvertently excuse individuals for their aggressive actions.

Question 45

10.Describe the phases of the cycle of violence.

Question 46

Regarding research on conflict and aggression in intimate relationships, which statement is true?

A) Mismanaged conflict causes relationship distress.
B) Aggression by one or both parents causes children to be aggressive in their later intimate relationships.
C) Many of the processes that underlie mismanaged conflict communication also underlie situational couple violence.
D) The frequency of conflict can predict the severity of physical aggression in a relationship.

Question 47

Many partners do not view the aggression in their relationship as a significant problem. What is a potential explanation for this finding?

A) Couples are engaging in cognitive editing.
B) This only occurs in relatively new relationships, when partners still idealize each other.
C) The aggression is common, and the partners have become habituated to it.
D) Couples perceive the aggression as a result of some other problem, such as poor communication.

Question 48

1.According to Kurt Lewin, conflict arises when one person pursues his or her goals in such a way that it interferes with the other personÕs goals. According to the textbook authors, what are the two key implications of this definition for analysis of conflict in intimate relationships?

Question 49

2.Imagine you are a researcher studying marital conflict. Married couples are videotaped in your lab while they discuss and try to resolve an important marital disagreement. You then code each speaking turn by both partners based on a coding system you have developed. Name four codes (or categories) to which you might assign the observed behaviors, and provide an example of each.

Question 50

3.Simon and his partner, Javed, are on their way home from a party. Javed is upset with Simon because he thinks Simon was flirting with another man at the party. Eventually, Simon notices that Javed is not talking and asks, ÒYouÕre awfully quiet, is there something wrong?Ó Javed answers, ÒYes, you are such a two-timing jerkÑI saw you flirting with Andy in the kitchen!Ó Name and provide two examples of constructive conflict resolution strategies that Simon could use in response to JavedÕs accusation.

Question 51

4.Simon and his partner, Javed, are on their way home from a party. Javed is upset with Simon because he thinks Simon was flirting with another man at the party. Eventually, Simon notices that Javed is not talking and asks, ÒYouÕre awfully quiet, is there something wrong?Ó Javed answers, ÒYes, you are such a two-timing jerkÑI saw you flirting with Andy in the kitchen!Ó Name and provide two examples of destructive conflict resolution strategies that Simon could use in response to JavedÕs accusation.

Question 52

7.One creative approach to studying how partners make sense of the behaviors they send and receive during a disagreement is the talk table. Imagine you are a researcher using this method and Codruta and Sonia are a couple participating in your study. What instructions would you give to Codruta and Sonia about how to structure their problem-solving discussion?

Question 53

Unilateral aggression is to ________ as bilateral aggression is to ________.

A) less severe injury; more severe injury
B) more severe injury; less severe injury
C) men; women
D) both partners; one partner

Question 54

What best represents what we know about the intergenerational transmission of aggression?

A) ParentsÕ harsh discipline practices, not unskilled parenting, predict the childÕs use of aggression in intimate relationships in early adulthood.
B) Many individuals exposed to aggression as children do not become aggressive in adulthood.
C) Attachments to other people in adulthood decrease the likelihood of aggression in intimate relationships among those exposed to violence in their family of origin.
D) Though often discussed as fact, there is little evidence to support the idea that experiences in the family of origin predict the childÕs aggression later in life.

Question 55

From an intraindividual perspective, the causes of aggression in intimate relationships:

A) can be found in the moment-by-moment details of dyadic exchanges.
B) must be understood in terms of how our society is organized along gender lines.
C) stem from how partners in relationships differ in ways that might lead them to make different contributions to the aggression that occurs between them.
D) are rooted in early family environments; children who are exposed to aggression when growing up will inevitably be aggressive later in life.

Question 56

From a sociocultural perspective, the causes of aggression in intimate relationships:

A) can be found in the moment-by-moment details of dyadic exchanges.
B) must be understood in terms of how our society is organized along gender lines.
C) must be understood with reference to social and cultural institutions.
D) stem from how partners in relationships differ in ways that might lead them to make different contributions to the aggression that occurs between them.

Question 57

Samira and Adele have been married 3 years. They generally get along fine, but when conflicts arise they are not able to resolve them well and resort to using negative conflict management strategies. Their most recent disagreement was particularly heated and ended with Samira slapping Adele and Adele grabbing and shoving Samira out of her way as she left the room. What best characterizes the dynamics of Samira and AdeleÕs latest disagreement?

A) unilateral aggression
B) bilateral aggression
C) violent resistance
D) acute battering

Question 58

From an interpersonal perspective, the causes of aggression in intimate relationships:

A) can be found in the moment-by-moment details of dyadic exchanges.
B) must be understood in terms of how our society is organized along gender lines.
C) are unrelated to the broader social and cultural context.
D) stem from how partners in relationships differ in ways that might lead them to make different contributions to the aggression that occurs between them.

Question 59

6.Sam and Oshrey have been married 9 years and are generally unhappy in their relationship. Izzie and Bowin have been married 8 years and are generally happy in their relationship. Both couples participate in a diary study, where every evening they record the events that have taken place in their relationship and rate their relationship satisfaction. Based on the reactivity hypothesis discussed in the text, what differences would you expect to see between Sam and OshreyÕs and Izzie and BowinÕs diaries?

Question 60

9.Distinguish between situational couple violence and intimate terrorism.

Question 61

14.How do interpersonal and intraindividual perspectives differ in explaining situational couple violence?

Question 62

13.Mia and Dianne have been living together for 2 years and are both occasionally aggressive in their relationship. How might you expect their communication to differ from nonviolent couples?

Question 63

11.Describe the two ways that distinguish couples in the domain of situational couple violence in the text.

Question 64

15.Explain the distinction between analyzing why someone is aggressive and excusing the individual for the aggressive action.

Question 65

12.Rivian and Mick have been in a generally unhappy relationship for 17 years. Their first violent interaction occurred when they were still dating: an argument got out of hand, Rivian slapped Mick, and he pinned her hands at her sides before she kicked him and ran out of the room. Since then, there have been occasional violent episodes but nothing that would result in injury. Rivian and Mick recently decided to attend marital therapy. Why might they have not listed the violence as one of the problems they see in their relationship?