CHAPTER 8: COMMUNICATING WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. Allison and Cate are close friends but they only see each other twice a year because they are busy with work and their families. Which unique characteristic of friendships does this exemplify?
2. Friends typically treat each other as equals.
3. People can have as many friends as they want or have time for.
4. Friends are relatively free to design relationships that suit their needs.
5. Friends often do not help one another adjust to new challenges.
   

Answer: C
Blooms: Remembering

A-head: Friendships and Family Ties

Objective: 8.1: Describe factors that influence communication in friend and family relationships.

1. Allison and Cate are close friends and are peers because neither one has more authority or higher status than the other. Which unique characteristic of friendships does this exemplify?
2. Friends typically treat each other as equals.
3. People can have as many friends as they want or have time for.
4. Friends are relatively free to design relationships that suit their needs.
5. Friends often do not help one another adjust to new challenges.

Answer: A
Blooms: Remembering

A-head: Friendships and Family Ties

Objective: 8.1: Describe factors that influence communication in friend and family relationships.

1. Which option below is correct?
2. Family and romantic relationships are unlimited in number.
3. People can have as many friends as they want or have time for.
4. Good friends typically do not help one another adjust to new challenges.
5. People with strong friendships are not usually happier than those without them.

Answer: B

Blooms: Remembering

A-head: Friendships and Family Ties

Objective: 8.1: Describe factors that influence communication in friend and family relationships.

1. The textbook cites one social scientist’s definition of what makes a family: people who share affection and resources as a family, and who think of themselves and present themselves as a family, are a family. Of the statements below, which best explains why would she have needed to develop this definition?
2. Everybody’s concept of what makes a family is the same.
3. Friends and family tend to overlap.
4. No two people have the same concept of what makes a family.
5. In today’s world, it’s not always easy to define what makes a family.

Answer: D

Blooms: Understanding

A-head: Friendships and Family Ties

Objective: 8.1: Describe factors that influence communication in friend and family relationships.

1. Rob’s parents divorced when he was three years old. His mother remarried, and after another three years he had a sibling, Simon. They have always been very close. When the family moved to another town and they started at a new school, Alice said to Rob: “Why does your brother look nothing like you?” When Rob explained that they had the same mother but different fathers, Alice asked: “So is he your real brother?” Rob and Simon were hurt and offended. What should Alice have understood?
2. Asking family members whether someone is “real” wrongly implies that other family members are fake or that they don’t belong.
3. It is not difficult to define what a family is.
4. Sometimes, a sibling is also a friend.
5. Membership of a family depends on DNA.

Answer: A

Blooms: Understanding

A-head: Friendships and Family Ties

Objective: 8.1: Describe factors that influence communication in friend and family relationships.

1. Good friends keep people healthy, _______________, and make them feel loved and supported.
2. meet with them very frequently
3. boost their self-esteem
4. are closer than their family members
5. are not as close as their family members

Answer: B

Blooms: Understanding

A-head: Friendships and Family Ties

Objective: 8.1: Describe factors that influence communication in friend and family relationships.

1. We typically consider people friend material if they remind of us of ourselves. This is how we choose friendships based on _______________.
2. having a lot in common
3. complementarity
4. mutual liking
5. proximity
   

Answer: A
Blooms: Remembering

A-head: How People Evaluate Friendship Potential
Objective: 8.2: Explain how people use communication to choose friends.

1. You probably like people who like you and shy away from those who seem to dislike you. This illustrates which of the common reasons to befriend someone?
2. You have a lot in common.
3. You balance each other out.
4. You like and appreciate each other.
5. You admire each other.
   

Answer: C
Blooms: Remembering

A-head: How People Evaluate Friendship Potential
Objective: 8.2: Explain how people use communication to choose friends.

1. Differences can strengthen a relationship when each partner’s characteristics satisfy the other’s needs. This is how we choose friendships based on _______________.
2. similarity
3. complementarity
4. mutual liking
5. rewards
   

Answer: B
Blooms: Remembering

A-head: How People Evaluate Friendship Potential
Objective: 8.2: Explain how people use communication to choose friends.

1. We are often friends with people that can offer us something. This is how we choose friendships based on _______________.
2. similarity
3. complementarity
4. mutual liking
5. rewards

Answer: D
Blooms: Remembering

A-head: How People Evaluate Friendship Potential
Objective: 8.2: Explain how people use communication to choose friends.

1. The model suggesting that we tend to stick with people who can give us rewards that are greater than or equal to the costs we encounter in dealing with them is called __________________.
2. attribution theory
3. social exchange theory
4. communication accommodation theory
5. social information processing theory

Answer: B
Blooms: Remembering

A-head: How People Evaluate Friendship Potential
Objective: 8.2: Explain how people use communication to choose friends.

1. Danielle has become friends with Cassie. Danielle likes that Cassie always encourages her. Cassie also often helps her with her yard work. From what we know, what is the most likely reason they are friends?
2. similarity
3. complementarity
4. mutual liking
5. rewards
   

Answer: D
Blooms: Understanding

A-head: How People Evaluate Friendship Potential
Objective: 8.2: Explain how people use communication to choose friends.

1. Derrick has become friends with Jalen. Derrick is uncomfortable talking to women he doesn’t know, but Jalen is quite comfortable with it. This plays to Derrick’s advantage, since he wants to talk to women, despite his discomfort. From what we know, what is the most likely reason they are friends?
2. similarity
3. complementarity
4. mutual liking
5. self-disclosure
   

Answer: B
Blooms: Understanding

A-head: How People Evaluate Friendship Potential
Objective: 8.2: Explain how people use communication to choose friends.

1. Lindsey and Donna have become friends. Lindsey feels like Donna approves of her and has an affinity toward her, and she feels the same way. Lindsey is a serious person and she likes the way Donna is humorous. It helps her feel less serious for a while. Although Lindsey is serious and Donna is humorous, they are both really into quilting, and they talk about it often. Donna has made over 100 complex quilts and Lindsey is relatively new to it, having made only 10. Lindsey feels like she can learn a lot from Donna. Which part of this description exemplifies that they like and appreciate each other?
2. Lindsey and Donna have become friends.
3. Lindsey feels like Donna approves of her and has an affinity toward her, and she feels the same way.
4. Lindsey is a serious person and she likes the way Donna is humorous. It helps her feel less serious for a while.
5. They are both really into quilting, and they talk about it often.

Answer: B
Blooms: Analyzing

A-head: How People Evaluate Friendship Potential
Objective: 8.2: Explain how people use communication to choose friends.

1. Lindsey and Donna have become friends. Lindsey feels like Donna approves of her and has an affinity toward her, and she feels the same way. Lindsey is a serious person and she likes the way Donna is humorous. It helps her feel less serious for a while. Although Lindsey is serious and Donna is humorous, they are both really into quilting, and they talk about it often. Donna has made over 100 complex quilts and Lindsey is relatively new to it, having made only 10. Lindsey feels like she can learn a lot from Donna. Which part of this description exemplifies rewards?
2. Lindsey and Donna have become friends.
3. Lindsey feels like Donna approves of her and has an affinity toward her, and she feels the same way.
4. Lindsey is a serious person and she likes the way Donna is humorous. It helps her feel less serious for a while.
5. Lindsey feels like she can learn a lot from Donna.
   

Answer: D
Blooms: Analyzing

A-head: How People Evaluate Friendship Potential
Objective: 8.2: Explain how people use communication to choose friends.

1. Gabrielle sometimes finds Simona to be annoying, but she is fond of Simona, and likes that Simona has connections with the people she likes to hang out with. Although there is a cost to the relationship, the benefit of being connected outweighs that cost. This is an example of ______________.
2. attribution theory
3. social exchange theory
4. communication accommodation theory
5. social information processing theory
   

Answer: B
Blooms: Understanding

A-head: How People Evaluate Friendship Potential
Objective: 8.2: Explain how people use communication to choose friends.

1. Some friends know more about you than others. Their relationships with you could be categorized as _____________ friendships.
2. low-disclosure
3. high-disclosure
4. low-obligation
5. high-obligation
   

Answer: B
Blooms: Remembering

A-head: Types of Friendship

Objective: 8.3: Identify communication patterns that make friendships different from one another.

1. There are some friends for whom we would do just about anything—no request is too big. Their relationships with you could be categorized as _____________ friendships.
2. low-disclosure
3. high-disclosure
4. low-obligation
5. high-obligation
   

Answer: D
Blooms: Remembering

A-head: Types of Friendship

Objective: 8.3: Identify communication patterns that make friendships different from one another.

1. Some friends feel closeness by getting together just to talk or hang out. They could be categorized as having _____________ friendships.
2. doing-oriented
3. being-oriented
4. low-disclosure
5. high-disclosure
   

Answer: B
Blooms: Remembering

A-head: Types of Friendship

Objective: 8.3: Identify communication patterns that make friendships different from one another.

1. Friends that feel closeness by performing tasks or attending events together could be categorized as having _____________ friendships.
2. doing-oriented
3. being-oriented
4. low-disclosure
5. high-disclosure
   

Answer: A
Blooms: Remembering

A-head: Types of Friendship

Objective: 8.3: Identify communication patterns that make friendships different from one another.

1. Ricardo and Nilda are friends. Nilda asks Ricardo if he can help her move. Ricardo doesn’t really want to help and comes up with an excuse. Which option below best describes Ricardo’s friendship to Nilda?
2. It is doing-oriented.
3. It is high-disclosure.
4. It is low-obligation.
5. It is high-obligation.
   

Answer: C
Blooms: Understanding

A-head: Types of Friendship

Objective: 8.3: Identify communication patterns that make friendships different from one another.

1. Rachel and Iris are friends. They both enjoy running with each other. The time they have spent running together has made them closer friends than ever. Which option below best describes their friendship?
2. It is doing-oriented.
3. It is being-oriented.
4. It is low-obligation.
5. It is high-obligation.
   

Answer: A
Blooms: Understanding

A-head: Types of Friendship

Objective: 8.3: Identify communication patterns that make friendships different from one another.

1. Arthur and Helmut became friends when Helmut was a German exchange at Arthur’s high school. After high school Helmut moved back to Germany, but they’ve stayed in touch throughout the years. This is an example of a ________________ friendship.
2. high-obligation
3. low-obligation
4. short-term
5. long-term
   

Answer: D
Blooms: Understanding

A-head: Types of Friendship

Objective: 8.3: Identify communication patterns that make friendships different from one another.

1. Christina and Mike have been friends since they attended band camp together in middle school. Although the years have passed, they have remained close. They both know a lot about each other. They tell each other things that they don’t tell anyone else. They like to get together to talk or hang out. This makes them feel closer to one another. They are there for each other whenever help is needed. The one issue with their friendship is that Mike tends to view it as having a potential romantic element, but Christina doesn’t. Which part of the description exemplifies a “being-oriented” friendship?
2. Christina and Mike have been friends since they attended band camp together in middle school.
3. They like to get together to talk or hang out. This makes them feel closer to one another.
4. They are there for each other whenever help is needed.
5. The one issue with their friendship is that Mike tends to view it as having a potential romantic element, but Christina doesn’t.
   

Answer: B
Blooms: Analyzing

A-head: Types of Friendship

Objective: 8.3: Identify communication patterns that make friendships different from one another.

1. Paying close attention to your friend’s nonverbal cues and noting what he or she isn’t saying is a successful communication strategy in friendships. This pattern is “______________.”
2. be a good listener
3. give advice sparingly
4. share feelings respectfully
5. apologize and forgive
   

Answer: A
Blooms: Remembering

A-head: Types of Friendship

Objective: 8.3: Identify communication patterns that make friendships different from one another.

1. Statements such as “You’re the best” and “Thank you” enhance friends’ satisfaction, as do favors. This pattern is “______________.”
2. be a good listener
3. give advice sparingly
4. share feelings respectfully
5. be validating and appreciative
   

Answer: D
Blooms: Remembering

A-head: Types of Friendship

Objective: 8.3: Identify communication patterns that make friendships different from one another.

1. Speaking up when you are upset, but without attacking the other person is a strategy known as “______________.”
2. be a good listener
3. give advice sparingly
4. share feelings respectfully
5. apologize and forgive
   

Answer: C
Blooms: Remembering

A-head: Types of Friendship

Objective: 8.3: Identify communication patterns that make friendships different from one another.

1. We can be good friends by maintaining confidences and standing up for our friends, even when they aren’t around. This strategy is “______________.”
2. be trustworthy
3. give and take equally
4. share feelings respectfully
5. stay true through hard times
   

Answer: A
Blooms: Remembering

A-head: Types of Friendship

Objective: 8.3: Identify communication patterns that make friendships different from one another.

1. People who believe their friends will be there for them when the going gets rough typically experience less everyday stress and more physical and emotional resilience than other people. This strategy is “______________.”
2. be validating and appreciative
3. give and take equally
4. share feelings respectfully
5. stay loyal in hard times
   

Answer: D
Blooms: Remembering

A-head: Types of Friendship

Objective: 8.3: Identify communication patterns that make friendships different from one another.

1. Stewart helps his friend Brad when he needs it. Brad helps Stewart likewise. Classify this communication strategy for being a good friend.
2. Be trustworthy
3. Give and take equally
4. Share feelings respectfully
5. Stay true through hard times
   

Answer: B
Blooms: Understanding

A-head: Types of Friendship

Objective: 8.3: Identify communication patterns that make friendships different from one another

1. Sarah is sure to let her friend Will know that she cares about him. Classify this communication strategy for being a good friend.
2. Be trustworthy
3. Give and take equally
4. Share feelings respectfully
5. Be validating and appreciative
   

Answer: D
Blooms: Understanding

A-head: Types of Friendship

Objective: 8.3: Identify communication patterns that make friendships different from one another.

1. Ernesto is upset because he lost his job. His friend Marge reassures him that she’s there for him. Classify this communication strategy for being a good friend.
2. Be a good listener.
3. Give and take equally
4. Share feelings respectfully
5. Stay loyal through hard times
   

Answer: D
Blooms: Understanding

A-head: Types of Friendship

Objective: 8.3: Identify communication patterns that make friendships different from one another.

1. Jasmine and Cynthia have been friends for over 10 years. Although they have had a few disagreements, they are always open with each other and speak their minds without attacking. Jasmine often thanks Cynthia for being such a good friend. When Jasmine lost her cat, Cynthia helped her look for it and comforted her. Cynthia had a new romantic interest, Caleb, whom Jasmine was interested in as well. Without Jasmine knowing, Cynthia began talking to Caleb. She pointed out Jasmine’s shortcomings to Caleb in a bid to avert his focus from her. When Jasmine found out, she was upset and could not get over it. As a result their friendship suffered. What best describes what went wrong in the friendship?
2. Cynthia was not loyal.
3. Jasmine did not forgive Cynthia.
4. Cynthia was not loyal, Jasmine did not forgive Cynthia, and Cynthia did not apologize.
5. Cynthia was not validating and appreciative and Cynthia was not true through hard times.
   

Answer: C
Blooms: Analyzing

A-head: Types of Friendship

Objective: 8.3: Identify communication patterns that make friendships different from one another.

1. Jasmine and Cynthia have been friends for over 10 years. Although they have had a few disagreements, they are always open with each other and speak their minds without attacking. Jasmine often thanks Cynthia for being such a good friend. When Jasmine lost her cat, Cynthia helped her look for it and comforted her. Cynthia had a new romantic interest, Caleb, whom Jasmine was interested in as well. Without Jasmine knowing, Cynthia began talking to Caleb. She pointed out Jasmine’s shortcomings to Caleb in a bid to avert his focus from her. When Jasmine found out, she was upset and could not get over it. As a result their friendship suffered. What part this description best displays the communication pattern of high-quality friendship defined as “share feelings respectfully.”
2. Jasmine and Cynthia have been friends for over 10 years.
3. Although they have had a few disagreements, they are always open with each other and speak their minds without attacking.
4. Without Jasmine knowing, Cynthia began talking to Caleb. She pointed out Jasmine’s shortcomings to Caleb in a bid to avert his focus from her.
5. When Jasmine found out, she was upset and could not get over it. As a result their friendship suffered.
   

Answer: B
Blooms: Analyzing

A-head: Types of Friendship

Objective: 8.3: Identify communication patterns that make friendships different from one another.

1. In addressing the question: “Do men and women do friendship differently?” the textbook reminds that:
2. There are no similarities.
3. There are no differences.
4. Although there are many similarities, there are some common differences, especially in same-sex friendships.
5. Although there are many similarities, there are some common differences, especially in cross-sex friendships.

Answer: C

Blooms: Remembering

A-head: Gender and Friendship

Objective: 8.4: Analyze the impact of gender-related expectations on communication between friends.

1. Men often say they find it validating when female friends encourage them to be more emotionally expressive than usual. Which fact about gender and friendship does this statement most clearly illustrate?
2. There are advantages to other-sex friendships.
3. Heterosexual men can be just friends with women.
4. Male-male friendships typically involve good-natured competition and a focus on tasks and events.
5. Perhaps the greatest byproduct of friendship is a sense of mutual acceptance and respect.

Answer: A

Blooms: Remembering

A-head: Gender and Friendship

Objective: 8.4: Analyze the impact of gender-related expectations on communication between friends.

1. There seems to be some truth to the idea that straight women and gay men make good friends. It is believed this may be because ________________.
2. prejudice tends to diminish when people have personal contact with individuals they might otherwise stereotype
3. both sides typically say they enjoy getting a different perspective on love and romance without the complications of a hidden sexual agenda
4. men tend to emphasize independence
5. women say they appreciate the opportunity to speak assertively with their guy friends

Answer: B

Blooms: Remembering

A-head: Gender and Friendship

Objective: 8.4: Analyze the impact of gender-related expectations on communication between friends.

1. Andrea and Paul were studying the same subject at the same university. They were close friends and spent a lot of time together. They were both members of the chess club, had similar tastes in music, and often met for coffee. When one of them confessed to a long-kept fantasy that their relationship would one day become a romantic one, the other was surprised, and has been wary ever since. What most likely happened to cool their friendship?
2. Andrea confessed that she had always secretly wished the friendship would become a romantic relationship.
3. Paul tended to emphasize independence and friendly competition more than Andrea.
4. Andrea expected all her friends to be more emotionally supportive and understanding than Paul was.
5. Paul confessed that he had always secretly wished the friendship would become a romantic relationship.

Answer: D

Blooms: Analyzing

A-head: Gender and Friendship

Objective: 8.4: Analyze the impact of gender-related expectations on communication between friends.

1. This type of friendship is one in which people tend to treat each other more as equals and to engage in emotional support and self-disclosure.
2. Short-term friendship.
3. High-obligation friendship.
4. Friendship between females.
5. Friendship between males.
   

Answer: C
Blooms: Remembering

A-head: Gender and Friendship

Objective: 8.4: Analyze the impact of gender-related expectations on communication between friends.

1. Roger is gay and has a lot of close friends who are straight. Roger is less likely than his other gay friends, who do not have so many straight friends, to perceive that society judges him harshly for being gay. This is likely due to the ______________.
2. contact hypothesis
3. friendship hypothesis
4. gender hypothesis
5. stereotype hypothesis
   

Answer: A
Blooms: Remembering

A-head: Gender and FriendshipObjective: 8.4: Analyze the impact of gender-related expectations on communication between friends.

1. Renee was bragging to her friends that she has over 10,000 “friends” in her online networks. The people around Renee know that she isn’t really friends with all of these people. Which difference between mediated and offline friendships does this demonstrate?
2. There is greater diversity online.
3. Online communication can be less anxiety provoking.
4. Online communication transcends time and space.
5. More online communication isn’t always better.

Answer: D
Blooms: Understanding

A-head: Communicating with Friends Online

Objective: 8.5: Compare the way friends communicate in person and online.

1. Rod has been for many years an enthusiastic collector of beer-bottle labels from around the world. There was nobody in his town with whom he could share his hobby, and nobody who was even interested in it. Eventually he stopped mentioning his hobby to people he met, and when new neighbors arrived next door he was reluctant to speak about it. When Rod first went online he was delighted to find that thousands of people across the globe shared his interest. Rod’s worries and reluctance to share disappeared. Now some of his best friends are fellow collectors. Rod doesn’t mind that they live far from him, and he is much more confident talking about his hobby with new online friends. Which two facts about online communication does this scenario illustrate?
2. More online communication isn’t always better, and many people share more in person, at least at first.
3. There is greater diversity online, and online communication can be less anxiety-provoking.
4. Online communication transcends time and space, and many people share more in person, at least at first.
5. More online communication isn’t always better, and there is greater diversity online.

Answer: B

Blooms: Analyzing

A-head: Communicating with Friends Online

Objective: 8.5: Compare the way friends communicate in person and online.

1. According to one report, the average person has _______________.
2. An equal number of online and offline friends
3. Twice as many offline friends as online friends
4. Twice as many online friends as offline friends
5. Slightly more online friends than offline friends

Answer: C

Blooms: Remembering

A-head: Communicating with Friends Online

Objective: 8.5: Compare the way friends communicate in person and online.

1. Paola and Fred have been close friends since their college days. Although it is 15 years since they graduated, and Paola has lived on another continent for 10 of them, they still talk several times each week, and feel closer than ever. Which factor of online communication does their story best illustrate?
2. Online communication transcends time and space.
3. Online communication can be less anxiety provoking.
4. There is greater diversity online.
5. The average person has many more online friends than physical ones.

Answer: A

Blooms: Understanding

A-head: Communicating with Friends Online

Objective: 8.5: Compare the way friends communicate in person and online.

1. If the family communication pattern emphasizes _____________, the teen and his or her parents probably negotiate the curfew by talking openly about it and listening to each other.
2. conversation
3. conformity
4. authority
5. permission
   

Answer: A
Blooms: Remembering

A-head: Parenting Relationships

Objective: 8.6: Distinguish between different patterns of parent-child communication.

1. If the emphasis is on _____________, the teen will be expected to follow Mom and Dad’s rules, beliefs, and values without challenging them.
2. conversation
3. conformity
4. authority
5. permission
   

Answer: B
Blooms: Remembering

A-head: Parenting Relationships

Objective: 8.6: Distinguish between different patterns of parent-child communication.

1. Parents who are firm, clear, and strict, but also encourage children to communicate openly with them are called ______________.
2. authoritarian
3. dictatorial
4. permissive
5. authoritative
   

Answer: D
Blooms: Remembering

A-head: Parenting Relationships

Objective: 8.6: Distinguish between different patterns of parent-child communication.

1. Parents who do not require children to follow many rules are called ______________.
2. authoritarian
3. dictatorial
4. permissive
5. authoritative
   

Answer: C
Blooms: Remembering

A-head: Parenting Relationships

Objective: 8.6: Distinguish between different patterns of parent-child communication.

1. Britt is an excellent negotiator. She has been told that she is great at expressing her emotions confidently and effectively. Based on her behavior, what parental communication pattern did she most likely grow up under?
2. Supportive
3. Conversation
4. Competitive
5. Conformity
   

Answer: B
Blooms: Analyzing

A-head: Parenting Relationships

Objective: 8.6: Distinguish between different patterns of parent-child communication.

1. Pete expects his children to obey him and when questioned he often says, “Because I said so.” What parenting style does Pete exhibit?
2. Authoritarian
3. Authoritative
4. Permissive
5. Dictatorial
   

Answer: A
Blooms: Analyzing

A-head: Parenting Relationships

Objective: 8.6: Distinguish between different patterns of parent-child communication.

1. Marcy is not very emotionally resilient because she believes her parents controlled her behavior for selfish reasons. What parental communication pattern did she most likely grow up under?
2. Supportive
3. Conversation
4. Competitive
5. Conformity
   

Answer: D
Blooms: Analyzing

A-head: Parenting Relationships

Objective: 8.6: Distinguish between different patterns of parent-child communication.

1. Siblings classified as ____________ only communicate with one another on special occasions, such as holidays or weddings, or rarely at all.
2. supportive
3. longing
4. competitive
5. apathetic
   

Answer: D
Blooms: Remembering

A-head: Sibling Relationships

Objective: 8.7: Compare communication patterns in five types of sibling relationships.

1. Siblings in the ___________ category typically admire and respect one other. However, they interact less frequently and with less depth than they would like.
2. supportive
3. longing
4. competitive
5. apathetic
   

Answer: B
Blooms: Remembering

A-head: Sibling Relationships

Objective: 8.7: Compare communication patterns in five types of sibling relationships.

1. Jared and Joseph are siblings from a large family. Jared is 27 and Joseph is 29. They often get together to talk and they are emotionally close. How might you characterize their sibling relationship?
2. Supportive
3. Longing
4. Competitive
5. Apathetic
   

Answer: A
Blooms: Understanding

A-head: Sibling Relationships

Objective: 8.7: Compare communication patterns in five types of sibling relationships.

1. Deborah and Jennifer are sisters. When Jennifer got her master’s degree, Deborah felt the need to get hers too. Likewise, when Deborah began a workout routine, Jennifer felt she had to begin one as well. How might you characterize their sibling relationship?
2. Supportive
3. Longing
4. Competitive
5. Apathetic
   

Answer: C
Blooms: Understanding

A-head: Sibling Relationships

Objective: 8.7: Compare communication patterns in five types of sibling relationships.

1. Jessica is Stephen’s sister. Jessica admires the way Stephen is confident and focused. Stephen respects Jessica’s determination. Despite their admiration and respect for each other, they don’t talk as often as they would like, and their conversations tend to skate over the surface of subjects. Neither of them is completely happy with that. How might you characterize their sibling relationship?
2. Supportive
3. Longing
4. Competitive
5. Apathetic
   

Answer: B
Blooms: Understanding

A-head: Sibling Relationships

Objective: 8.7: Compare communication patterns in five types of sibling relationships.

1. Ashley and Shawn are siblings. They never talk to one another. In fact, they both feel resentment towards each other. How might you characterize their sibling relationship?
2. Supportive
3. Competitive
4. Apathetic
5. Hostile
   

Answer: D
Blooms: Understanding

A-head: Sibling Relationships

Objective: 8.7: Compare communication patterns in five types of sibling relationships.

1. People who are involved in reflection and conversation learn how to manage and express their feelings better than people who don’t. Which strategy for successful family communication is expressed above?
2. Have fun together.
3. Coach conflict management.
4. Negotiate privacy rules.
5. Listen to each other.
   

Answer: D
Blooms: Remembering

A-head: Sibling Relationships

Objective: 8.7: Compare communication patterns in five types of sibling relationships.

1. Compliments such as “you are a very thoughtful person,” and “I know you will do a great job” tend to be self-fulfilling. Which strategy for successful family communication is expressed above?
2. Coach conflict management.
3. Negotiate privacy rules.
4. Listen to each other.
5. Share confirming messages.
   

Answer: D
Blooms: Remembering

A-head: Sibling Relationships

Objective: 8.7: Compare communication patterns in five types of sibling relationships.

1. The Jackson family likes to watch a movie and eat popcorn together as a family night every Friday. Which optimal communication strategy for building strong family is expressed above?
2. Share confirming messages.
3. Have fun together.
4. Negotiate privacy rules.
5. Share family stories.
   

Answer: B
Blooms: Understanding

A-head: Sibling Relationships

Objective: 8.7: Compare communication patterns in five types of sibling relationships.

1. The members of the Gonzalez family encourage each other to work out differences. They feel comfortable doing so because the parents have made a safe environment to discuss issues and arrive at solutions together. Which optimal communication strategy for building strong family is expressed above?
2. Share family stories.
3. Have fun.
4. Negotiate privacy rules.
5. Coach conflict management.
   

Answer: D
Blooms: Understanding

A-head: Sibling Relationships

Objective: 8.7: Compare communication patterns in five types of sibling relationships.

SHORT ANSWER

62. How is the term “family” defined in the chapter?

Answer: People who share affection and resources as a family and who think of themselves and present themselves as a family are a family.

A-head: Friendships and Family Ties

Objective: 8.1: Describe factors that influence communication in friend and family relationships.

63. Name the seven reasons people become friends.

Answer: You have a lot in common; You balance each other out; You like and appreciate each other; You admire each other; You open up to each other; You interact frequently; You find the relationship rewarding.

A-head: How People Evaluate Friendship Potential
Objective: 8.2: Explain how people use communication to choose friends.

64. Name three of the five dimensions that make friendships different from one another.

Answer: Any three from the following: short term vs. long term; low disclosure vs. high disclosure; doing-oriented vs. being-oriented; low obligation vs. high obligation; frequent contact vs. occasional contact.

A-head: Types of Friendship

Objective: 8.3: Identify communication patterns that make friendships different from one another.

65. Name four of the eight strategies that are recommended to strengthen friendships.

Answer: Any four from the following: be a good listener; give advice sparingly; share feelings respectfully; apologize and forgive; be validating and appreciative; stay loyal in hard times; be trustworthy; give and take equally.

A-head: Types of Friendship

Objective: 8.3: Identify communication patterns that make friendships different from one another.

66. Name three of the six communication strategies for building a strong family.

Answer: Any three from the following: share family stories; listen to each other; negotiate privacy rules; coach conflict management; share confirming messages; have fun together.

A-head: Sibling Relationships

Objective: 8.7: Compare communication patterns in five types of sibling relationships.

ESSAY QUESTIONS

67. Explain the social exchange theory.

Main point: Some social scientists argue that all relationships—both impersonal and personal—are based on a semi-economic model called social exchange theory.

Answers must include:
a) This model suggests that we tend to stick with people who can give us rewards that are greater than or equal to the costs we encounter in dealing with them.
b) Rewards may be tangible or intangible.
c) Costs are undesirable outcomes.

Answers may include:
a) We use a cost-reward formula to decide whether dealing with another person is a “good deal” or “not worth the effort.”
b) Rewards may include: favors, prestige, emotional support, and more.

c) Costs may include: obligation, emotional pain, and so on.

A-head: How People Evaluate Friendship Potential
Objective: 8.2: Explain how people use communication to choose friends.

68. How do men and women communicate in same-sex and other-sex friendships?

Main point: Men and women each communicate differently in same-sex and other-sex friendship.

Answers must include:
a) Same-sex friendships between men typically involve good-natured competition and a focus on tasks and events, whereas female friends tend to treat each other more as equals and to engage in emotional support and self-disclosure.
b) Men often say that they find it validating when female friends encourage them to be more emotionally expressive than usual, and women say they appreciate the opportunity to speak more assertively with their guy friends.
c) Friendships between people who are gay and those who are straight can lead to feelings of belonging and acceptance.

Answers may include:
a) Researchers speculate that heterosexual men and women get their wires crossed in part because they communicate differently. Men sometimes mistake emotional support and understanding for romance.
b) Straight women and gay men may make good friends. This is perhaps because gay men and straight women trust each other’s advice about love and romance. Both sides say they enjoy getting an opposite-sex perspective without the complications of a hidden sexual agenda.

A-head: Gender and Friendship

Objective: 8.4: Analyze the impact of gender-related expectations on communication between friends.

69. Describe the main differences between people’s online and offline communication.

Main point: Both the quantity and quality of messages typically distinguish online from offline communication, and this fact has positive and less positive outcomes.

Answers must include:

1. There is greater diversity online.
2. Many people share more in person, at least at first.
3. Online communication can be less anxiety-provoking.
4. Online communication transcends time and space.
5. More online communication isn’t always better.

Answers may include:

1. The average person has many more online friends than physical ones—double the amount, according to one report.
2. There is some evidence that online relationships can become even more personal, as time goes on, than the in-person variety.
3. An explanation of Dunbar’s Number.

A-head: Communicating with Friends Online

Objective: 8.5: Compare the way friends communicate in person and online.

70. Describe the types of parenting styles used between parents and children.

Main point: It’s probably no surprise that we learn how to behave from our parents, but at a more subtle level, we also learn from them how to think about the world around us and how to manage our emotions.

Answers must include:
a) Authoritarian parents are strict and demanding, and they expect unquestioning obedience.

b) Authoritative parents are also firm, clear, and strict, but they encourage children to communicate openly with them.

c) Permissive parents are open to dialogue, and they do not require children to follow many rules.

Answers may include:
a) Authoritarian parents use a “do it because I said so” style.
b) Authoritative parents have high expectations, but they are willing to discuss them and to listen to children’s input and even negotiate the rules when it seems merited.

c) Of these styles, most evidence favors the authoritative style in terms of fostering children’s happiness and their adaptability throughout life.

A-head: Parenting Relationships

Objective: 8.6: Distinguish between different patterns of parent-child communication.

71. Describe how best to approach “conflict management” within the family.

Main point: Understanding how to deal with family conflict is an important communication strategy for building a strong family.

Answers must include:
a) Effective conflict management doesn’t just happen.
b) Families can help by creating safe environments in which members can talk about how they feel and strive for mutually agreeable solutions.
c) Parents who coach their children through this process are usually more effective than those who take a hands-off approach to conflict with their children.

Answers may include:
a) Conflict management is a sophisticated process that often goes against our fight-or-flight instincts.

A-head: Sibling Relationships

Objective: 8.7: Compare communication patterns in five types of sibling relationships.