Chapter 6: Haptics: Engaging Physical Contact and Touch

Test Bank

Multiple Choice

1. In the Harlow Monkey Experiment, researcher Harry Harlow wanted to understand whether the touch-related experience of relationships was most related to ______ functions of touch rather than to ______ functions of touch.

A. formative; cultural

B. instrumental; social

C. interpersonal; impersonal

D. accidental; deliberate

Learning Objective: 6-1: Describe the functions of interpersonal touch across relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: The Harlow Monkey Experiment

Difficulty Level: Easy

2. The findings of the Harlow Monkey Experiment contradicted the conventional wisdom of many scientists of the time who argued that perceptions of affection and love were simply a natural response to receiving ______ from a maternal figure.

A. touch

B. kisses

C. food

D. warmth

Learning Objective: 6-1: Describe the functions of interpersonal touch across relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The Harlow Monkey Experiment

Difficulty Level: Medium

3. Which of the following are examples of the structural approach to categorizing touch?

A. hug, shove, tickle

B. affection, care, and empathy

C. light, medium, intense

D. fluid, intermittent, choppy

Learning Objective: 6-1: Describe the functions of interpersonal touch across relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Types of Touch

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. When Thomas was a young boy, his father spent many hours teaching him how to shake hands like a man. He would grab Thomas’ small hand forcefully, squeeze tight, and move it up and down firmly, focusing on aspects of the ______ approach.

A. ritualistic

B. positive affect

C. functional

D. structural

Learning Objective: 6-1: Describe the functions of interpersonal touch across relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Types of Touch

Difficulty Level: Medium

6. A functional approach to touch doesn’t look at each specific touch behavior but instead looks at the ______ that emerges from that touch.

A. positive affect

B. social outcome

C. magnitude of impact

D. primary intent

Learning Objective: 6-1: Describe the functions of interpersonal touch across relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Functions of Touch

Difficulty Level: Easy

6. After each hockey game, Aaron and his teammates line up as the opposing team skates by shaking hands, engaging in which of the following functions of touch?

A. playful

B. realistic

C. ritualistic

D. control

Learning Objective: 6-1: Describe the functions of interpersonal touch across relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Ritualistic touch

Difficulty Level: Medium

7. Kevin had been in a committed relationship with Shelby for several years and was aware of her fear of flying. When he asked her to travel home with him for Christmas, a trip that required a long plane flight, he realized he was asking a lot. As they sat side by side on their flight, Kevin reached out and gently held Shelby’s hand to communicate his appreciation and to offer comfort through ______ affect touch.

A. primacy

B. preliminary

C. primary

D. positive

Learning Objective: 6-1: Describe the functions of interpersonal touch across relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Positive Affect Touch

Difficulty Level: Medium

8. Which of the following are an example of positive affect touch?

A. nurturance

B. novelty

C. deterrence

D. deference

Learning Objective: 6-1: Describe the functions of interpersonal touch across relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Positive Affect Touch
Difficulty Level: Medium

9. In contrast to positive affect touch that is used to express positive emotions toward another, control touch is used to ______ the emotions of another.

A. imitate

B. influence

C. imagine

D. indulge

Learning Objective: 6-1: Describe the functions of interpersonal touch across relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Control touch

Difficulty Level: Medium

10. Louis became the top salesperson at his car dealership after he had a conversation with an older, more successful salesperson who shared, “When you’re closing in on a sale, always be sure to touch them reassuringly on the shoulder.” When Louis took his advice, he began using this technique of ______ touch.

A. content

B. coercive

C. control

D. calculated

Learning Objective: 6-1: Describe the functions of interpersonal touch across relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Control touch

Difficulty Level: Medium

11. How does control touch differ from playful touch?

A. Control touch is always intentional, while playful touch is generally unintentional.

B. Control touch seeks to influence emotions, while playful touch seeks to inject humor.

C. Control touch is rarely used, while playful touch is commonly used.

D. Control touch usually accompanies verbal communication, while playful touch is almost always exclusively nonverbal.

Learning Objective: 6-1: Describe the functions of interpersonal touch across relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Playful Touch

Difficulty Level: Hard

12. Genevieve always dreads going for her annual mammogram, but this year’s appointment was a breeze thanks to the highly competent ______ touch her technician displayed when positioning her breasts.

A. task-related

B. content-based

C. intentional

D. professional

Learning Objective: 6-1: Describe the functions of interpersonal touch across relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Task-related Touch

Difficulty Level: Medium

13. Unlike ritualistic touch which occurs when people touch one another as part of a routine behavior or social script, hybrid touch occurs when people touch one another ______.

A. as part of shared creative self-expression

B. using multiple forms of touch in one interaction

C. using one form of touch to send multiple messages

D. in the context of an intimate relationship

Learning Objective: 6-1: Describe the functions of interpersonal touch across relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Hybrid Touch

Difficulty Level: Medium

14. How do the touch behaviors of men and women differ?

A. Men are more likely to give and receive touch than most women.

B. Men are more likely avoid the touch of women than women are to avoid the touch of men.

C. Women are more likely to give and receive touch than most men.

D. Both men and women are equally likely to avoid the touch of the opposite sex.

Learning Objective: 6-2: Compare different influences of gender on touch.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Diverse Attitudes Toward Touch

Difficulty Level: Medium

15. Each individual develops an understanding of who may touch them where, based on their own ______ as well as their relationship with the other person.

A. personality

B. moral code

C. sexual identity

D. gender identity

Learning Objective: 6-2: Compare different influences of gender on touch.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Diverse Attitudes Toward Touch

Difficulty Level: Medium

16. What distinguishes the touch behaviors of older people from those of younger people?

A. Older people desire less touch but receive more touch than younger people.

B. Older people maintain their desire for touch but receive less touch than younger people.

C. Older people require more touch and are, therefore, more likely to receive touch than younger people.

D. Older people lose their ability to process touch, along with the diminishment of other senses, therefore the amount of touch they receive is less important than for younger people.

Learning Objective: 6-2: Compare different influences of gender on touch.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Diverse Attitudes Toward Touch

Difficulty Level: Medium

17. Which of the following theories about touch suggests that displaying affectionate behaviors are a way of demonstrating to a potential partner that we would be a good parent?

A. Affection Exchange Theory

B. Attachment Exchange Theory

C. Attachment Theory

D. Affection Theory

Learning Objective: 6-3: Explain how early experiences with touch influence later relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Affection Exchange Theory

Difficulty Level: Easy

18. Scholar Kory Floyd’s research has found that individuals generally respond ______ to affectionate touch in specific and measurable ways.

A. defensively

B. negatively

C. positively

D. primally

Learning Objective: 6-3: Explain how early experiences with touch influence later relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Affection Exchange Theory

Difficulty Level: Easy

19. Attachment Theory suggests that our earliest touch experiences as an infant ______.

A. may foster unrealistic expectations about the quality of touch experiences in our adult relationships

B. may lead to an obsession with touch experiences in our adult relationships

C. play a nominal role in the develop a sense of self-worth and trust in others in our adult relationships

D. help us to develop a sense of self-worth and trust in others in our adult relationships

Learning Objective: 6-3: Explain how early experiences with touch influence later relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Attachment Theory

Difficulty Level: Medium

20. ______ attachments are often characterized by confidence in one’s self and one’s attachment partner.

A. Secure

B. Dismissive

C. Preoccupied

D. Fearful-avoidant

Learning Objective: 6-3: Explain how early experiences with touch influence later relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Attachment Theory

Difficulty Level: Easy

21. Colin’s mom was only 16 years old when he was born. She was overwhelmed by the responsibilities of taking care of a baby and when it was time to breastfeed Colin she often retreated to her bed, leaving him alone and crying in his crib. As an adult, Colin distrusted women because he anxiously anticipated the many ways they would disappoint him largely due to his early experience of ______ attachment.

A. secure

B. dismissive

C. preoccupied

D. fearful-avoidant

Learning Objective: 6-3: Explain how early experiences with touch influence later relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Attachment Theory

Difficulty Level: Medium

22. Individuals with which of the following types of attachment are likely to believe “I’m not okay but you’re okay.”

A. secure

B. dismissive

C. preoccupied

D. fearful-avoidant

Learning Objective: 6-3: Explain how early experiences with touch influence later relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Attachment Theory

Difficulty Level: Medium

23. Individuals with which of the following types of attachment are likely to believe “I’m okay but you’re not okay.”

A. secure

B. dismissive

C. preoccupied

D. fearful-avoidant

Learning Objective: 6-3: Explain how early experiences with touch influence later relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Attachment Theory

Difficulty Level: Medium

24. Individuals with which of the following types of attachment are likely to believe “I’m not okay and you’re not okay.”

A. secure

B. dismissive

C. preoccupied

D. fearful-avoidant

Learning Objective: 6-3: Explain how early experiences with touch influence later relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Attachment Theory

Difficulty Level: Medium

25. When Lindsay was born, both of her parents were suffering from substance use disorder and were unable to offer her the care and attention she required. The situation quickly deteriorated, local social welfare professionals became aware of her situation, and she was placed in a series of foster care homes. As an adult, Lindsay had difficulty forming healthy relationships with men due in large part to her early experience of ______ attachment.

A. secure

B. dismissive

C. preoccupied

D. fearful-avoidant

Learning Objective: 6-3: Explain how early experiences with touch influence later relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Attachment Theory

Difficulty Level: Medium

True/False

1. While touch is a significant social force among people who a familiar with each other, but positive casual touch rarely improves personal evaluations among strangers.

Learning Objective: 6-1: Describe the functions of interpersonal touch across relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Early Influences

Difficulty Level: Medium

2. When infant monkeys in the Harlow Monkey Experiment needed comfort or a sense of security, they typically went to the “mother” that offered a pleasant soft fuzzy “body” to cling to.

Learning Objective: 6-1: Describe the functions of interpersonal touch across relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: The Harlow Monkey Experiment

Difficulty Level: Easy

3. The functional approach focuses on categorizing touch based on specific acts that are physically distinct from one another exist and remain constant regardless of the intent of the toucher and the perceptions of the person who is being touched.

Learning Objective: 6-1: Describe the functions of interpersonal touch across relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Types of Touch

Difficulty Level: East

4. Positive affect touch occurs when people touch one another as part of a routine behavior or social script, usually related to one’s arrival to or departure from where the other person is located.

Learning Objective: 6-1: Describe the functions of interpersonal touch across relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Ritualistic touch

Difficulty Level: Easy

5. When brides and grooms and their families stand in a receiving line to greet guests and shake hands, they are participating in a form of ritualistic touch.

Learning Objective: 6-1: Describe the functions of interpersonal touch across relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Ritualistic Touch

Difficulty Level: Medium

6. Control touch occurs when people express positive emotions for a partner through touch, including but not limited to togetherness or sexual interest.

Learning Objective: 6-1: Describe the functions of interpersonal touch across relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Positive Affect Touch

Difficulty Level: Easy

7. Playful touch can be used as a form of nonverbal sarcasm, to indicate that something we said is not meant to be taken seriously

Learning Objective: 6-1: Describe the functions of interpersonal touch across relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Playful Touch

Difficulty Level: Medium

8. Instrumental touch occurs when someone uses touch necessarily as part of accomplishing their job.

Learning Objective: 6-1: Describe the functions of interpersonal touch across relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Task-Related Touch

Difficulty Level: Easy

9. Hybrid touch combines multiple forms of functional touch into one single interaction.

Learning Objective: 6-1: Describe the functions of interpersonal touch across relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Hybrid Touch

Difficulty Level: Easy

10. Across the United States, people are generally likely to express similar degrees of comfort with touch.

Learning Objective: 6-2: Compare different influences of gender on touch.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Diverse Attitudes Toward Touch

Difficulty Level: Easy

11. Heterosexual men tend to avoid using touch with other men except where their masculinity is affirmed in other ways, such as in situations related to competitive sports.

Learning Objective: 6-2: Compare different influences of gender on touch.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Diverse Attitudes Toward Touch

Difficulty Level: Easy

12. Affection Exchange Theory focuses on affection as a social adaptation related to a fundamental desire for relationships.

Learning Objective: 6-3: Explain how early experiences with touch influence later relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Affection Exchange Theory

Difficulty Level: Comprehension

13. Attachment Theory argues that our earliest experiences with touch as an infant influences our perceptions of self-worth and our expectations of others’ ability to help us.

Learning Objective: 6-3: Explain how early experiences with touch influence later.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Attachment Theory

Difficulty Level: Easy

14. A securely attached individual is likely to believe “I’m okay and you’re not okay.”

Learning Objective: 6-3: Explain how early experiences with touch influence later relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Attachment Theory

Difficulty Level: Easy

15. Preoccupied attachments are characterized by a positive sense of self-worth but a lack of confidence in one’s relational partner.

Learning Objective: 6-3: Explain how early experiences with touch influence later.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Attachment Theory

Difficulty Level: Easy

Essay

1. The structural approach and the functional approach are both used to categorize types of touch. What factors differentiate these two approaches?

Learning Objective: 6-1: Describe the functions of interpersonal touch across relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Types of Touch

2. Identify and describe, using an example, the six functions of touch associated with a relational outcome that can be accomplished by engaging in that touch.

Learning Objective: 6-1: Describe the functions of interpersonal touch across relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Types of Touch

Difficulty Level: Medium

3. Compare differences in the perception of touch between men and women and explain how these differences may result in challenges to cross-gender communication.

Learning Objective: 6-2: Compare different influences of gender on touch.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Diverse Attitudes Toward Touch

Difficulty Level: Hard

4. How does the Affection Exchange Theory explain the human drive for affectionate touch?

Learning Objective: 6-3: Explain how early experiences with touch influence later relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Attachment Theory

Difficulty Level: Medium

5. Identify the differentiating characteristics of adult relationships based on each of the four categories of Attachment Theory.

Learning Objective: 6-3: Explain how early experiences with touch influence later relationships.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Attachment Theory

Difficulty Level: Hard