Test Bank + Answers | Interpersonal Communication And – Ch3

Chapter 3: Interpersonal Communication and Perception

Multiple Choice Questions

1) What process is involved when we focus our attention on specific elements of our environment and ignore others?

A) interpersonal perception

B) selective attention

C) perception

D) selective recall

Learning Objective: 3.1 Define perception, and explain the three stages of interpersonal perception.

Topic: Understanding Interpersonal Perception

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

2) Mary goes to the gym to exercise after work because she says her husband, John, comes home late every night. John stays at work late because he says Mary works out every night anyway. Which principle of organizing and imposing structure is involved?

A) patterning

B) punctuating

C) superimposing

D) closure

Learning Objective: 3.1 Define perception, and explain the three stages of interpersonal perception.

Topic: Understanding Interpersonal Perception

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

3) Meghan anxiously awaits as her statistics professor hands back results on the last exam. As the professor approaches, Meghan notices that the he has a smile on his face. She immediately thinks to herself "I must have aced this test!" On which stage of the interpersonal perception process did Meghan end this interaction?

A) organization

B) interpretation

C) selection

D) attribution

Learning Objective: 3.1 Define perception, and explain the three stages of interpersonal perception.

Topic: Understanding Interpersonal Perception

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

4) When we perceive elements of our environment simply because our senses are operating, we are engaged in __________ perception.

A) interpersonal

B) active

C) selective

D) passive

Learning Objective: 3.1 Define perception, and explain the three stages of interpersonal perception.

Topic: Understanding Interpersonal Perception

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

5) Maria is studying in the library before an exam. All of a sudden, the smell of cologne causes her to look up from her textbook. Which process of perception is most likely responsible for Maria's response to the smell?

A) interpersonal perception

B) active perception

C) selective perception

D) passive perception

Learning Objective: 3.1 Define perception, and explain the three stages of interpersonal perception.

Topic: Understanding Interpersonal Communication

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

6) As a nurse, Marcus must quickly interpret a large amount of information in order to treat patients. To help in this process, Marcus creates categories and applies a familiar structure to each new piece of information he receives. Marcus is organizing information by __________.

A) seeking closure

B) superimposing

C) direct perception checking

D) becoming other-oriented

Learning Objective: 3.1 Define perception, and explain the three stages of interpersonal perception.

Topic: Understanding Interpersonal Perception

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

7) After the first day of classes Hadya has already decided that her economics professor is strict (“He said he doesn’t tolerate cell phones”), her art professor is flaky (“She came in late because she couldn’t find the room”), and her communications professor is fun (“He sat on the desk and started to learn all of our names”). What process has Hadya used in forming her perceptions?

A) selective perception

B) thin slicing

C) superimposing

D) punctuation

Learning Objective: 3.1 Define perception, and explain the three stages of interpersonal perception.

Topic: Understanding Interpersonal Perception

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

8) Our tendency to put ourselves in situations that reinforce our attitudes, beliefs, values, or behaviors is known as __________.

A) intuitive reinforcement

B) situational control

C) memory enforcement

D) selective exposure

Learning Objective: 3.1 Define perception, and explain three stages of interpersonal perception.

Topic: Understanding Interpersonal Perception

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

9) What is the proper ordering of the stages we use to make sense of the various stimuli around us?

A) selecting, interpreting, organizing

B) organizing, selecting, interpreting

C) organizing, interpreting, selecting

D) selecting, organizing, interpreting

Learning Objective: 3.1 Define perception, and explain the three stages of interpersonal perception.

Topic: Understanding Interpersonal Perception

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

10) Rex likes Karl because he thinks Karl is fun, smart, and energetic. When someone points out that Karl is a cheapskate, Rex refuses to believe it. Perhaps Rex’s perception is clouded by the __________ effect.

A) horn

B) consistency

C) pattern

D) halo

Learning Objective: 3.2 List and describe the strategies we use to form impressions of others.

Topic: Forming Impressions of Others

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

11) When Fatima first met Katie at work, Katie seemed impatient, stressed out, and irritable. Although Katie has since adjusted and become more even-tempered, Fatima still tries to avoid her. Fatima continues to see Katie in a negative light most likely due to the __________.

A) halo effect

B) primacy effect

C) horn effect

D) recency effect

Learning Objective: 3.2 List and describe the strategies we use to form impressions of others.

Topic: Forming Impressions of Others

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

12) The __________ indicates that people make guesses about the personalities and behaviors of others using their own ideas, expectations, and often unconscious biases.

A) impression formation theory

B) implicit personality theory

C) causal attribution theory

D) correspondence inference theory

Learning Objective: 3.2 List and describe the strategies we use to form impressions of others.

Topic: Forming Impressions of Others

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

13) Uncertainty reduction can be used to reduce partner, relational, and __________ uncertainty.

A) self

B) future

C) emotional

D) impression

Learning Objective: 3.2 List and describe the strategies we use to form impressions of others.

Topic: Forming Impressions of Others

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

14) After watching a few minutes of a new sit-com, Will determined that the comedians on the show were not particularly funny and that watching was a waste of his time. By classifying the comedians as unfunny, Will demonstrates the use of __________.

A) self-uncertainty

B) a construct

C) punctuation

D) relational uncertainty

Learning Objective: 3.2 List and describe the strategies we use to form impressions of others.

Topic: Forming Impressions of Others

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

15) Paola went on a blind date that was set up by Jodi. After the date, Jodi called Paola to ask how it went. Paola explained that, although the date was friendly, she was not interested in seeing him again since she didn't think the relationship would last long. Paola's reasoning can best be explained by __________.

A) the horn effect

B) causal attribution theory

C) predicted outcome value theory

D) partner uncertainty

Learning Objective: 3.2 List and describe the strategies we use to form impressions of others.

Topic: Understanding Personal Perception

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

16) Which is a true statement about negative feedback?

A) It is always bad.

B) Most people tend to respond well to it.

C) People are likely to forget it quickly.

D) Some people will always take it as a personal attack, no matter how carefully it is worded.

Learning Objective: 3.2 List and describe the strategies we use to form impressions of others.

Topic: Forming Impressions of Others

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

17) A recency effect occurs when we pay attention to the __________ pieces of information we receive about a person or situation.

A) last

B) most exciting

C) first

D) largest

Learning Objective: 3.2 List and describe the strategies we use to form impressions of others.

Topic: Forming Impressions of Others

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

18) Alyce assumes that her classmate, Ginny, does not wash her hair and skin regularly because she always looks oily. Alyce thinks it is gross that Ginny is so unclean, and further, assumes that she is unintelligent and unfriendly. What can be used to explain Alyce's perception of Ginny?

A) horn effect

B) recency effect

C) primacy effect

D) halo effect

Learning Objective: 3.2 List and describe the strategies we use to form impressions of others.

Topic: Forming Impressions of Others

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

19) Reece watches a news report about a young man arrested for stealing bread and peanut butter from a local grocery store. Reece assumes that the young man had no other choice but to steal the food for survival. Using causal attribution theory, which cause does Reece attribute the man's behavior to?

A) a stimulus

B) the man's standpoint

C) the man's circumstance

D) the man's mental state

Learning Objective: 3.3 List and describe the strategies we use to interpret the behavior of others.

Topic: Interpreting the Behavior of Others

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

20) The theory that helps explain why Nabil’s perception of Shawna’s behavior differs dramatically from Benjamin’s perception of that same behavior is known as __________ theory.

A) implicit personality

B) impression formation

C) standpoint

D) attribution

Learning Objective: 3.3 List and describe the strategies we use to interpret the behavior of others.

Topic: Interpreting the Behavior of Others

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

21) Fritz Heider says all people are “naive psychologists” because we __________.

A) are easily deceived by others

B) assume that all of our interpersonal relationships are likely to succeed

C) believe that people are inherently good

D) seek to understand the motives behind others' actions using common sense

Learning Objective: 3.3 List and describe the strategies we use to interpret the behavior of others.

Topic: Interpreting the Behaviors of Others

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

22) After Daniela's professor said something that was upsetting, Daniela left the classroom with tears in her eyes. Her behavior can best be attributed to __________.

A) circumstance

B) a response to a stimulus

C) herself

D) her standpoint

Learning Objective: 3.3 List and describe the strategies we use to interpret the behavior of others.

Topic: Interpreting the Behavior of Others

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

23) On the first day of class, you notice that the woman sitting next to you is constantly on her phone, and seems uninterested in participating during class. You decide that she is taking this class merely as a requirement. Your assumptions are an example of __________.

A) intercultural communication

B) standpoint theory

C) stereotyping

D) attribution theory

Learning Objective: 3.3 List and describe the strategies we use to interpret the behavior of others.

Topic: Interpreting the Behavior of Others

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

24) Which cultural element includes schools, governments, and religious organizations?

A) material culture

B) aesthetics

C) language

D) social institutions

Learning Objective: 3.3 List and describe the strategies we use to interpret the behavior of others.

Topic: Interpreting the Behaviors of Others

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

25) A learned system of knowledge, behaviors, attitudes, beliefs, values, and norms that are shared by a group of people is known as __________.

A) culture

B) background

C) identity

D) aesthetic

Learning Objective: 3.3 List and describe the strategies we use to interpret the behavior of others.

Topic: Interpreting the Behavior of Others

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

26) Sarah has been a faithful member of your study group all semester. But tonight, she not only didn’t show up, but she couldn’t be reached on her cell phone. You remembered that her father has been seriously ill and inferred that Sarah probably had to rush home to tend to him. Which process of perceptual organization and interpretation did you use in arriving at this conclusion?

A) impression formation

B) implicit personality theory

C) attribution theory

D) use of personal constructs

Learning Objective: 3.3 List and describe the strategies we use to interpret the behavior of others.

Topic: Interpreting the Behavior of Others

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

27) While sitting at a coffee shop, you overhear somebody say, "I don't understand why some people from Latin America kiss me on the cheek when they greet me. We don't do that here in Ohio." Which theory can help explain this statement?

A) standpoint theory

B) intercultural communication theory

C) impression formation theory

D) attribution theory

Learning Objective: 3.3 List and describe the strategies we use to interpret the behavior of others.

Topic: Interpreting the Behavior of Others

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

28) When we categorize individuals and attribute a set of qualities to them because of their membership in that category, what perceptual process are we using?

A) selective perception

B) patterning

C) standardizing

D) stereotyping

Learning Objective: 3.4 Identify the eight factors that distort the accuracy of interpersonal perception.

Topic: Identifying Barriers to Accurate Interpersonal Perception

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

29) A common barrier to interpersonal perception is that we often focus too much on ____________ information.

A) positive

B) direct

C) negative

D) uncertain

Learning Objective: 3.4 Identify the eight factors that distort the accuracy of interpersonal perception.

Topic: Identifying Barriers to Accurate Interpersonal Perception

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

30) When Lori got an A on her music history paper, she concluded that she was indeed smart. However, when she failed her biology test the next week, she blamed the professor’s “confusing” questions for her poor result. Which barrier is hindering the accuracy of Lori's perceptions?

A) fundamental attribution error

B) implicit personality theory

C) self-serving bias

D) stereotype

Learning Objective: 3.4 Identify the eight factors that distort the accuracy of interpersonal perception.

Topic: Identifying Barriers to Accurate Interpersonal Perception

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

31) Mohinder noticed that Bill came to class late one day. When he met Bill later at a party, he turned to a friend and remarked, “Yeah, Bill’s the guy I told you about who comes to class late all the time.” The perceptual barrier Mohinder is exhibiting is __________.

A) ignoring information

B) overgeneralizing

C) stereotyping

D) blaming Bill, assuming he has control of the situation

Learning Objective: 3.4 Identify the eight factors that distort the accuracy of interpersonal perception.

Topic: Identifying Barriers to Accurate Interpersonal Perception

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

32) Rob met Flannery in an online chat group for race car enthusiasts. Based on briefly looking over Flannery's online profile, Rob decided that he is a typical show off, know-it-all race car owner. This tendency to stereotype someone based on the few cues online interactions provide is known as __________.

A) social identity model of deindividuation effects (SIDE)

B) attribution theory

C) impression formation theory

D) implicit personality theory

Learning objective: 3.4 Identify the eight factors that distort the accuracy of interpersonal perception.

Topic: Identifying Barriers to Accurate Interpersonal Perception

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

33) Which behavior is exhibited by a driver who furiously honks his horn at others without considering that their driving errors may be caused by external factors beyond control?

A) social identify model of deindividuation effects (SIDE)

B) fundamental attribution theory

C) stereotyping

D) causal attribution theory

Learning Objective: 3.4 Identify the eight factors that distort the accuracy of interpersonal perception.

Topic: Identifying Barriers to Accurate Interpersonal Perception

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

34) When we stereotype others, we do so to fulfill our needs for power, authority, and __________.

A) primacy

B) affection

C) structure

D) attribution

Learning Objective: 3.4 Identify the eight factors that distort the accuracy of interpersonal perception.

Topic: Identify Barriers to Accurate Interpersonal Perception

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

35) Rebecca is nervous and fidgets during her job interview with Calder. She is hired anyway, but Calder is surprised when he sees her at work on her first day and she is calm and collected. Calder may be guilty of the perceptual mistake of __________.

A) ignoring information

B) oversimplifying

C) stereotyping

D) imposing consistency

Learning Objective: 3.4 Identify the eight factors that distort the accuracy of interpersonal perception.

Topic: Identifying Barriers to Accurate Interpersonal Perception

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

36) Which behavior is an example of direct perception checking?

A) looking for cues in a person’s voice to confirm your perception

B) listening more attentively to someone

C) asking someone if your understanding is accurate

D) ignoring unimportant details about a person’s appearance or behavior

Learning Objective: 3.5 Identify and apply five suggestions for improving interpersonal perception.

Topic: Improving Interpersonal Perception Skills

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

37) When he first looked at Aimee's LinkedIn page, Cecil was put off by Aimee's use of a low-quality profile photo and the fact that some content had spelling errors. After meeting with her, Cecil realized that Aimee's LinkedIn page did not accurately portray her professionalism; she was a strong and highly-qualified candidate. Which strategy did Cecil use in order to keep his perception in line?

A) reducing uncertainty

B) applying the self-serving bias

C) considering the self-fulfilling prophecy

D) linking details with the big picture

Learning Objective: 3.5 Identify and apply five suggestions for improving interpersonal perception.

Topic: Improving Interpersonal Perception Skills

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

38) The two ways to check the accuracy of your perceptions are __________.

A) objectively and subjectively

B) actively and passively

C) directly and indirectly

D) through selection and punctuation

Learning Objective: 3.5 Identify and apply five suggestions for improving interpersonal perception.

Topic: Improving Interpersonal Perception Skills

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

39) While dining out, Selma observes what she believes to be her husband flirting with their server. After they leave, Selma decides to ask her husband what he was doing. He claims that he was only smiling and being kind. In this case, which strategy did Selma use to gain clarity on the situation?

A) punctuation

B) indirect perception checking

C) direct perception checking

D) attribution

Learning Objective: 3.5 Identify and apply five suggestions for improving interpersonal perception.

Topic: Improving Interpersonal Perception Skills

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

40) You see your friend Hernando sitting quietly, leaning forward with his head in his hands. Wondering what is wrong, you continue to observe him from a distance. After seeing him yawn and rub his eyes, you determine that Hernando must be tired. Through which process of perception checking did you reach this conclusion?

A) indirect

B) objective

C) subjective

D) direct

Learning Objective: 3.5 Identify and apply five suggestions for improving interpersonal perception.

Topic: Improving Interpersonal Perception Skills

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

Essay Questions

1) Define perception and interpersonal perception, and give an example between active perception and passive perception.

Learning Objective: 3.1 Define perception, and explain the three stages of interpersonal perception.

Topic: Understanding Interpersonal Communication

Difficulty Level: Easy

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

2) List and describe the three stages of the interpersonal perception process.

Learning Objective: 3.1 Define perception, and explain the three stages of interpersonal perception.

Topic: Understanding Interpersonal Perception

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

3) Dr. Smith finds that one of his colleagues, Dr. Tompkins, is difficult to deal with professionally. However, once you get Dr. Tompkins away from the office, he can be one of the nicest and most caring people you would want to know. Dr. Smith decides that while Dr. Tompkins can be difficult to work with, he is still an admirable man. Which process of perceptual organization and interpretation (impression formation, implicit personality theory, attribution theory, or use of personal constructs) did Dr. Smith most likely employ in arriving at this conclusion? Justify your response.

Learning Objective: 3.1 Define perception, and explain the three stages of interpersonal perception.

Topic: Understanding Interpersonal Perception

Difficulty Level: Difficult

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

4) Discuss the difference(s) between the halo effect and the horn effect.

Learning Objective: 3.2 List and describe the strategies we use to form impressions of others.

Topic: Forming Impressions of Others

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

5) Explain how the impression formation theory, implicit personality theory, the use of mental constructs, and attribution theories are related.

Learning Objective: 3.2 List and describe the strategies we use to form impressions of others.

Topic: Forming Impressions of Others

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

6) Paula and Gary are divorcing after eight years of marriage. Paula cites Gary’s infidelity as the primary cause of the divorce, but Gary says his affair was simply a symptom of a marriage that had been empty for years, ever since Paula’s career became more demanding and her time at home scarce. Use causal attribution theory to explain their differing attributions for the demise of their marriage.

Learning Objective: 3.3 List and describe the strategies we use to interpret the behavior of others.

Topic: Interpreting the Behavior of Others

Difficulty Level: Difficult

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

7) What is standpoint theory, and how does it explain why people with differing cultural backgrounds have different perceptions of others’ behaviors? Provide an example.

Learning Objective: 3.3 List and describe the strategies we use to interpret the behaviors of others.

Topic: Interpreting the Behaviors of Others

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

8) Briefly explain how stereotypes can help us.

Learning Objective: 3.4 Identify the eight factors that distort the accuracy of interpersonal perception.

Topic: Identifying Barriers to Accurate Interpersonal Perception

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

9) Explain what the fundamental attribution error is, and give an example of how it might affect a relationship.

Learning Objective: 3.4 Identify the eight factors that distort the accuracy of interpersonal perception.

Topic: Identifying Barriers to Accurate Interpersonal Perception

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Skill Level: Apply What You Know

10) Explain the difference between direct perception checking and indirect perception checking. Think about your own relationships, and provide a detailed example of each type which you have experienced or observed.

Learning Objective: 3.5 Identify and apply five suggestions for improving interpersonal perception.

Topic: Improving Interpersonal Perception Skills

Difficulty Level: Difficult

Skill Level: Apply What You Know