Deck 6: Qualities of a Successful Marriage

Question 1

According to the text,marriages are more successful if they are based on expectations that are:

A)idealistic
B)realistic
C)based on research
D)culturally acceptable

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Which of the following have researchers found to be one of the processes that can predict divorce?

A)misinterpretation of a person's behavior
B)anger
C)defensiveness
D)depression

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Which of the following was mentioned in the text as a caution regarding need fulfillment?

A)Successful marriage means partners can satisfy all of each other's needs.
B)It is helpful if need fulfillment is mutual.
C)Realistically,needs of only one of the partners have to be met in order to have a successful marriage.
D)Need fulfillment is a relatively unimportant measure of successful marriage.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

According to John Gottman,couples who are happy in their marriage are ______ to use negative affect reciprocity.

A)very likely
B)somewhat likely
C)unlikely
D)very unlikely

Question 5

Based on findings from a national study of over 21,000 couples,family life researcher David Olson advises that a happy marriage requires:

A)accepting a decrease in romance
B)paying positive attention to the relationship
C)agreeing rather than having conflict
D)being nice no matter what

Question 6

Marriage researcher John Gottman concluded that in an unhappy marriage,if one partner says something negative,the other partner tends to:

A)reciprocate negatively.
B)reciprocate positively.
C)offer no immediate response.
D)interrupt.

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT one of the four measures for successful marriage discussed in the text?

A)unconditional love
B)approximation of ideals
C)durability
D)fulfillment of needs

Question 8

The four processes that can predict divorce,called the "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" by John Gottman,include all but:

A)selfishness
B)criticism.
C)defensiveness.
D)stonewalling.

Question 9

John and Mary have a happy marriage.John came in from work today in a grumpy mood.According to John Gottman,how will Mary perceive his behavior?

A)He's always grumpy.He can't think about anybody but himself!
B)He's so selfish.I'm tired,too.
C)I better bring him a soda and a snack or he'll get worse!
D)He must have had a hard day at work.

Question 10

The text points out that many couples consider sex and feelings of intimacy to be:

A)inseparably linked together
B)separate but equally important
C)separate with intimacy being more important
D)the same thing

Question 11

The term "marital satisfaction" refers to:

A)the way researchers measure a successful marriage
B)sexual fulfillment in a marriage
C)a marriage that is working reasonably well
D)how happy both people are in a marriage

Question 12

Researchers have found that women consider sexual ______ to be most important.

A)satisfaction
B)communication
C)contact
D)intimacy

Question 13

The text uses the term intimacy to refer to:

A)sexual contact
B)closeness
C)commitment
D)interaction

Question 14

The text points out that a marriage that is ______ is not necessarily successful.

A)durable
B)ideal
C)satisfying
D)happy

Question 15

A successful marriage is defined as one that:

A)lasts forever
B)doesn't require counseling
C)fulfills both partners' reasonable expectations
D)meets the definition of the researchers

Question 16

Studies have found that married people get older,their desire for physical closeness and affection:

A)decreases
B)increases
C)continues to be a strong need
D)changes to a desire for companionship

Question 17

Which of the following terms refers to the extent to which couples are content and fulfilled in their relationships?

A)marital success
B)marital satisfaction
C)commitment
D)nonconditional reinforcement

Question 18

Which of the following have NOT been established by researchers as true regarding the relationship between sex and a happy marriage?

A)Happy marriages always result in sexual satisfaction.
B)For many individuals 60 and older,sexual expression remains an important part of their marriage relationship.
C)Healthy sexuality contributes to marital satisfaction.
D)If partners disagree over the frequency of sex,it can significantly reduce relationship satisfaction.

Question 19

Research shows that ______ couples typically have sex more frequently.

A)young
B)older
C)cohabiting
D)remarried

Question 20

Expecting one's needs to be met in a successful marriage is:

A)too idealistic to work well
B)possible only with counseling
C)possible to some degree
D)setting oneself up for disappointment

Question 21

Which of the following is NOT correlated with higher divorce rates?

A)high stress levels
B)nervousness and moodiness
C)non-contingent reinforcement
D)depression

Question 22

The text discusses the ways in which responsibility in a successful marriage involves:

A)providing for one's family financially
B)being accountable for one's own behavior
C)having a good relationship with in-laws
D)determining who will choose birth control

Question 23

What is the relationship between spirituality and marital adjustment,according to researchers?

A)There is no relationship.
B)There is a positive relationship.
C)There is a negative relationship.
D)There is an inconsistent relationship.

Question 24

The text points out that if communication is to be productive,it should:

A)involve some criticism.
B)involve complete honesty,even if hurtful.
C)be polite,even if that means being slightly dishonest.
D)be polite and tactful.

Question 25

To deal successfully with problems,the most important thing that couples need is:

A)outside help
B)agreement on basic issues
C)compatibility
D)tolerance for frustration

Question 26

Researchers have concluded that happy couples are those who

A)meet each other's needs for acceptance and appreciation.
B)criticize each other to stimulate improvement.
C)are careful about giving compliments to avoid flattery.
D)both contribute equally to the finances.

Question 27

The text points out that which of the following is NOT a part of effective communication?

A)being critical
B)being polite
C)being tactful
D)exchanging feelings

Question 28

Typically,researchers find that most couples start out their marriage by engaging frequently in intercourse,and the frequency:

A)increases over time until the couple settles into their own individual patterns.
B)decreases over time until the couple settles into their own individual patterns.
C)usually stays at that level for the first two years of marriage.
D)usually stays at that level for the first five years of marriage.

Question 29

Which of the following terms refers to unconditional positive regard?

A)noncontingent reinforcement
B)affective sensitivity
C)selfism
D)empathy

Question 30

Constraint commitment refers to:

A)forces that compel individuals to maintain relationships regardless of their personal dedication to them.
B)the desire of an individual to maintain or improve the quality of the relationship for the joint benefit of the couple.
C)the desire of an individual to maintain or improve the quality of the relationship for the benefit of one individual.
D)maintaining autonomy.

Question 31

In dealing with crises and stress,successful couples:

A)try not to think about what is happening.
B)turn to each other for assistance and strength.
C)believe that stress and problems are a sign of failure.
D)seldom feel that anything good comes from adversity.

Question 32

Which of the following does the text state would be most beneficial to a happy marriage?

A)affective sensitivity
B)selfism
C)constraint commitment
D)critical empathy

Question 33

Researchers agree that _________ can be productive or destructive in relationships.

A)Communication
B)Intimacy
C)Depression
D)Criticism

Question 34

According to your text,marital success is usually more attainable if the commitment is:

A)stronger in the partner who has the greater interest in having the marriage succeed.
B)mutual.
C)defined formally.
D)loosely structured.

Question 35

Which of the following is true in relation to the expression of affection and successful marriage?

A)The greater the degree of expression of affection,the more successful the marriage.
B)The greater the degree of physical expression of affection,the more successful the marriage.
C)The greater the degree of verbal expression of affection,the more successful the marriage.
D)The husband and wife need to agree on the expression of affection.

Question 36

Research indicates that the strongest predictor of relationship persistence is:

A)satisfaction.
B)investment.
C)commitment.
D)frequency of sexual intercourse.

Question 37

The text points out that in successful marriages,spouses have mastered the art of:

A)losing themselves in their relationships.
B)losing themselves in their relationships without losing their sense of self.
C)never losing themselves in their relationships.
D)maintaining their individual identities with little effort to achieve oneness as a couple.

Question 38

Marital rituals are:

A)special times spent with the entire family.
B)special times that just one parent spends with the children.
C)positive social interactions that are scheduled moments that are mutually decided on and repeated.
D)social interactions that the couple arrange with other couples.

Question 39

According to research presented in the text,although both men and women place a high value on sexual functioning,women place the highest value on

A)sexual intimacy.
B)sexual satisfaction.
C)sexual commitment.
D)physical contact.

Question 40

Researchers point out that the ideal frequency of sexual intercourse for marital satisfaction is:

A)one to two times per month.
B)one to two times per week.
C)daily.
D)variable,depending on the couple's sexuality.

Question 41

A good marriage may be expected to fulfill every need.

Question 42

Family-of-origin factors play a(n)_____ role in predicting marital satisfaction for:

A)equal; males and females.
B)greater; males than for females.
C)greater; females than for males.
D)unimportant; both males and females

Question 43

Research indicates that in the most successful relationships,partners don't hesitate to say whatever is on their minds.

Question 44

The text points out that persons who are _______ will not take responsibility for conflicts that might arise in a marriage because they believe they are right.

A)empathic
B)depressed
C)perfectionistic
D)immature

Question 45

Research has found that most of the differences between couples who stay married,but differed in marital happiness:

A)developed after 13 years of marriage.
B)developed after 2 years of marriage.
C)developed within the first 6 months of marriage.
D)existed at the outset of marriage.

Question 46

Marital satisfaction can be present if only one of the partners is content with the relationship.

Question 47

According to the text,the most difficult partners to deal with in a marital context usually are

A)perfectionists.
B)masochists.
C)those with low frustration levels.
D)irresponsible partners.

Question 48

If communication is to be productive,politeness,tact,and consideration are required.

Question 49

If partners disagree over the frequency of sexual encounters,it doesn't seem to hurt relationship satisfaction as long as one of the partners is satisfied.

Question 50

Which of the following is NOT one of the five steps in the development of empathy?

A)repeating
B)perception
C)experiencing
D)labeling

Question 51

What does research reveal regarding the division of housework in families?

A)The husband does more than the wife if she works outside of the home.
B)The husband spends as much time doing housework as the wife when there are children in the family.
C)There is little evidence of egalitarianism in marriage.
D)The husband's contribution changes after the couple has been married a while.

Question 52

Negative affect reciprocity is a consistent characteristic of distressed couples.

Question 53

Which of the following is characteristic of selfism?

A)It lessens each partner's responsibility for the success of the relationship.
B)It increases the likelihood that the other partner's needs will be fulfilled.
C)It increases marital stability.
D)It results in greater happiness through narcissistic love.

Question 54

Kagan and Schneider term the ability to vicariously share the experiences of another person:

A)emulation.
B)affective sensitivity.
C)affectation.
D)autonomy.

Question 55

Which of the following is LEAST important for parents to do to help their children have happy marriages later?

A)have a happy marriage themselves
B)be involved in their children's lives
C)create a happy home environment
D)provide a good standard of living

Question 56

Research has shown that _______ have the most impact on happiness in marriage.

A)social relationships (of each person)
B)parental approval and interaction
C)parent-child relationships in the family of origin
D)the couple's premarital interactions

Question 57

______ is NOT necessarily a sign that a marriage is headed for trouble.

A)A decline in overt affection
B)A decline in sexual activity
C)Believing that one's spouse isn't responsive
D)Mixed feelings about the relationship

Question 58

Relative to the division of household and child care responsibilities,marital dissatisfaction is greatest when:

A)the wife is responsible for housework and the husband for breadwinning.
B)both the husband and wife are responsible for child care and housekeeping.
C)the partners feel there is a fairly equal distribution of labor,and gender-role performance matches expectations.
D)one partner perceives unfairness in the performance of these chores.

Question 59

A personal value system that emphasizes self-gratification and narcissism as the way to find happiness is termed:

A)autonomy.
B)perfectionism.
C)misogyny.
D)selfism.

Question 60

Saying critical,hurtful things,even though they are honest,may worsen a relationship.

Question 61

Of all the family-of-origin issues,the parent-child relationship is one of the most important.

Question 62

In a national study of over 21,000 married couples,researcher David Olson found that happy and unhappy couples differ in five key areas.Name them.

Question 63

Affective sensitivity is the vicarious sharing of the experiences of another person.

Question 64

Discuss to whom and to what commitment is directed in marriage.

Question 65

Selfism in marriage lessens each partner's responsibility for the success of the relationship.

Question 66

Research indicates a lack of correlation between spirituality and marital satisfaction.

Question 67

Marital problems usually arise when partners choose to have some separateness and do some things with their own friends.

Question 68

What are some characteristics of those who are able to meet their partner's needs for admiration and respect?

Question 69

What happens in the first two years of marriage is important in predicting marital satisfaction over the long run.

Question 70

Successful couples usually experience much less stress in marriage than unsuccessful ones.

Question 71

Commitment,rather than satisfaction or investment,is the strongest predictor of relationship persistence.

Question 72

Discuss the four criteria of a successful marriage.

Question 73

Explain the analogy of porcupines used to exemplify one of the 12 characteristics of successful marriages.

Question 74

What are the elements of effective communication?

Question 75

Constraint commitment refers to the desire of an individual to maintain the quality of the relationship.

Question 76

Discuss negative affect reciprocity as it relates to unhappy couples.

Question 77

Researchers find that most of the differences between couples who stay,but differed in marital happiness,developed within the first 2 years of the marriage.

Question 78

Discuss the gender differences in attitudes toward intimacy.

Question 79

A component of commitment is referred to as intention to persist.

Question 80

Discuss the four needs under "fulfillment of needs," as important criteria for marital success.