TEST BANK for Intimate Relationships 3rd Edition. by Thomas Bradbury, Benjamin Karney

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CHAPTER 1: Love and Why It Matters 1. Why Intimate Relationships Are Important a. Intimate relationships affect subjective well-being i. Relationship status ii. Relationship quality iii. Associations with happiness 1. Physical health 2. Sexual intimacy 3. Financial well-being a. Relationship transitions iv. Subjective happiness 1. Selection effects 2. Protection effects b. Intimate relationships influence the well-being of children i. Role of relationship status, relationship quality, and relationship transitions ii. Longitudinal effects and genetic influence c. Intimate relationships contribute to larger communities i. Social control theory d. Intimate relationships are universal i. Pairbonds ii. Cross-cultural research on Western and Eastern cultures (individualistic vs. collectivistic societies) 1. Role of globalization a. Arranged marriages b. Westernized values in intimate relationships e. Intimate relationships determine the survival of our species i. Natural selection and fitness ii. Oxytocin 2. What Makes a Relationship Intimate? a. Interdependence i. Mutual influence 1. Between two individuals 2. Bidirectional ii. Extends over time iii. Necessary for intimacy (you cannot have intimacy without) but not sufficient b. Social Relationships that are Personal Relationships i. Impersonal versus personal relationships c. Personal Relationships that are Close Relationships i. Closeness d. Close Relationships that are Intimate Relationships i. Sexual passion between partners that could be expressed and shared 3. Love and the Essential Mystery of Intimate Relationships a. Seven attributes of love b. Components of love c. Types of love


MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. You are taking part in a study on relationships and pain. You are asked to place your hand in freezing-cold water for as long as you can. It becomes quite painful after a few minutes. Given what you know about the neurochemistry of close relationships, under what condition do you think you would subjectively experience the least pain? a. when there is a stranger in the room with his or her hand on your shoulder b. when your romantic partner is in the room with you with his or her hand on your shoulder c. when you are alone in the room d. when you are alone in the room but know your partner is in the room next door ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important MSC: Applied 2. Married versus unmarried couples differ in terms of their well-being. Although it could be that being married provides benefits that lead to increases in well-being, it is also possible that this is a “selection effect.” A selection effect occurs when a. groups of people differ not because of something special about their group but because they have chosen the group. b. researchers do not randomly select the groups of people they are comparing, which results in group differences. c. couples selected mates based on compatible personalities and “love” versus arranged marriages. d. couples in one group are more satisfied because they are part of a select group of high-functioning couples. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Intimate Relationships Affect Our Happiness and Well-Being TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships affect subjective well-being MSC: Factual 3. Under what circumstances would something have a “protection effect”? a. Something about a specific experience (e.g., being married) confers advantages or benefits. b. Random changes in genes from one generation to the next result in increased fitness. c. Love leads to a strong desire to protect the object of affection. d. The family circumstances of children influence the way children will manage their own intimate relationships as adults. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Intimate Relationships Are Universal | Intimate Relationships Affect Our Happiness and Well-Being | Intimate Relationships Influence the Well-Being of Children TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships affect subjective well-being: Relationship status | Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships affect subjective well-being: Relationship quality | Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships affect subjective well-being: Associations with happiness | Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships affect subjective well-being: Subjective happiness MSC: Factual 4. According to your textbook, relationship quality a. is influenced by a wide range of factors. b. is a central focus in research on intimate relationships. c. determines why some relationships last and some do not. d. All of the answer options are correct. ANS: D

DIF: Easy


REF: Intimate Relationships Affect Our Happiness and Well-Being TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships affect subjective well-being: Relationship quality MSC: Factual 5. Hari, Adam, and Neela went snowboarding and neglected to apply sunscreen. Now they all have blisters on their faces. Hari lives with his romantic partner and they have a good relationship, Adam is in a difficult relationship, and Neela has just broken up with her romantic partner. Given what you know about health and relationships, what can we say about their recovery? a. Neela will recover the quickest because she does not have to worry about taking care of another person. b. Both Hari and Adam will recover more quickly than Neela because they are in relationships. c. Hari will recover the quickest because Adam’s relationship is difficult and Neela just broke off a relationship. d. All of them are likely to recover equally as fast. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Intimate Relationships Affect Our Happiness and Well-Being TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships affect subjective well-being: Relationship quality | Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships affect subjective well-being: Associations with happiness MSC: Applied 6. In close relationships, who is having the most sex? a. single men and women c. single men b. married men and women d. dating couples ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Intimate Relationships Affect Our Happiness and Well-Being TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships affect subjective well-being: Associations with happiness MSC: Factual 7. Regarding the research on links between relationship status and mental and physical health, what can we conclude? a. There is no link between being married and feeling greater general well-being. b. People who are single and people who live with a relationship partner have similar levels of personal well-being. c. Even if the relationship is of poor quality, married people have greater well-being than single people. d. People who live with a relationship partner are slightly happier than people who live alone. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Intimate Relationships Affect Our Happiness and Well-Being TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships affect subjective well-being: Associations with happiness MSC: Factual 8. Tremayne and Jose have both been married to their partners for 30 years. Tremayne has continued to feel satisfied in his relationship with his wife; Jose, on the other hand, has found he has become less satisfied in his relationship over time. Both men suffer from congestive heart failure and are participating in a study of relationships and health. Based on material presented in the textbook, who would you expect to live longer? a. Jose, because congestive heart failure patients are more likely to die when in less satisfying intimate relationships. b. Tremayne, because congestive heart failure patients are less likely to die when in more satisfying intimate relationships. c. Tremayne, because relationship quality is associated with less activation of threat-related brain regions.


d. Neither Tremayne nor Jose, because relationship quality is unrelated to patients’ mortality rates. ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships affect subjective well being: Associations with happiness: Physical health MSC: Applied 9. In a study of couples where one spouse had congestive heart failure, researchers evaluated relationship quality and whether it was related to mortality rates (death) in a 4-year period. What did the researchers find? a. Patients were less likely to die when in more satisfying intimate relationships. b. Relationship quality was unrelated to patients’ mortality rates. c. Humans are biologically programmed to desire intimate relationships. d. The partner without heart failure became increasingly unhappy in the relationship following the other partner’s diagnosis. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships affect subjective well being: Associations with happiness: Physical health MSC: Factual 10. In a study of couples where one spouse had congestive heart failure, researchers found that patients in happier relationships were less likely to die in the 4 years following the study. What does this study illustrate? a. Relationship quality can have important consequences for personal outcomes. b. Relationship quality declines as diseases, such as congestive heart failure, progress. c. Having an important intimate relationship improves survival rates. d. The physical proximity of an intimate partner reduces a person’s assessment of danger and physical threat. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships affect subjective well being: Associations with happiness: Physical health MSC: Conceptual 11. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study showed that threat-related brain structures are deactivated when women hold their husbands’ hands, and, in another study, relationship communication predicted how long people may survive after a diagnosis of congestive heart failure. Why were the two different studies contrasted in the text? a. to show how men and women differ in relationships, with women focusing more on emotion in social relationships and men focusing more on the social hierarchy and stress b. to show two different research methods—one focusing on biological measures and the other focusing on observational methods c. to show two different research designs—one focusing on cross-sectional data collection and one focusing on longitudinal methods d. to show two different kinds of reasons for studying relationships—one focusing on something special about relationships themselves (intrinsic reasons) and one focusing on the effects that relationships have on other important experiences (extrinsic reasons) ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships affect subjective well being: Associations with happiness: Physical health MSC: Conceptual 12. In an MRI study, women were told they would either have a 20 percent chance of electric shock after being shown a red X on a video monitor or no chance of electric shock after being shown a blue O while holding hands with an intimate partner, a stranger, or no one. What did the authors of the study find? a. Women were less likely to report feeling fear of the shock when holding hands with their


partners compared to holding hands with a stranger or with no one. b. Women were less likely to show activation of threat-related brain structures when holding hands with their partners or with a stranger as compared to not holding hands. c. Women were less likely to show activation of threat-related brain structures when holding hands with their partners compared to holding hands with a stranger or with no one. d. Women were less likely to show activation of threat-related brain structures when holding hands with their partners compared to holding hands with a stranger or with no one, but relationship quality was unrelated to the degree of activation. ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships affect subjective well being: Associations with happiness: Physical health MSC: Factual 13. Diana, who is 4 years old, has been biting and scratching her playmates in preschool. What might you suspect as a possible cause of this behavior? a. Her parents may be experiencing a lot of conflict in their marital relationship. b. Her parents’ relationship is probably not related to her behavior. c. Her parents probably also had such behavior problems when they were children. d. Diana’s parents probably are not getting enough sleep, and thus they are not giving her enough attention at home. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Intimate Relationships Influence the Well-Being of Children TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships influence the well-being of children MSC: Applied 14. In a study of 4,800 U.S. households (Rank & Hirschl, 1999), children with unmarried parents were more likely to experience severe poverty compared to black children or children with heads of household who completed less than 12 years of school. What can we conclude from this study? a. Being unmarried causes financial distress. b. A majority of children in the United States live in poverty. c. Being black and having less educated parents will protect children from poverty. d. Race and education are less important in determining children’s well-being than is the relationship status of the parents. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Intimate Relationships Influence the Well-Being of Children TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships influence the well-being of children MSC: Conceptual 15. Parents’ relationships are associated with their children’s behavior. Which of the following is NOT a difference between children of happy versus unhappy marriages? a. Children of parents with troubled marriages tend to complete fewer years of education. b. Children of parents experiencing high levels of marital conflict tend to display more aggression toward peers. c. Children of parents experiencing high levels of marital conflict tend to enter puberty later. d. Children of parents with troubled marriages tend to have more marital problems. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Intimate Relationships Influence the Well-Being of Children TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships influence the well-being of children MSC: Factual


16. In a study of identical twins, where one twin was divorced and the other was not, the children of the divorced twin experienced more emotional difficulties compared to their cousins from the intact family of the other twin. Given the results of this study, we can conclude that the effects of divorce on children are a. largely attributable to genetic risk. b. not exclusively attributable to genetic risk. c. largely attributable to the age of the child. d. largely offset by the presence of close relationships with the intact twin’s family. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Intimate Relationships Influence the Well-Being of Children TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships influence the well-being of children MSC: Conceptual 17. Parents’ relationship conflicts are associated with which of the following in children? a. development of a secure attachment with the mother b. development of emotional insecurity c. increased sleep d. decreased signs of aggression toward peers ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Intimate Relationships Influence the Well-Being of Children TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships influence the well-being of children MSC: Factual 18. According to the textbook, family disruptions cost the United Kingdom approximately $58 billion per year in housing, social services, crime, and lost tax revenue. This is an example of a. how relationships can be considered universal. b. social conformity. c. social control theory. d. how relationships contribute to the larger community. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Intimate Relationships Contribute to Larger Communities TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships contribute to larger communities MSC: Applied 19. Evidence for the idea that relationships act as a form of social control was found in a study of cocaine use among men. In this study the only group of men that showed an increase in cocaine use was men who were __________ at baseline and were __________ two years later. a. single; engaged c. married; divorced b. engaged; married d. divorced; married ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Intimate Relationships Contribute to Larger Communities TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships contribute to larger communities: Social control theory | Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships affect subjective well-being: Relationship quality MSC: Factual 20. In one study of how love is experienced and perceived in the United States and China, researchers compared the lyrics of popular love songs from each country. In another study of how love is experienced and perceived in the United States and China, researchers interviewed young adults about their views on love. What can be concluded from these two studies? a. There are sufficient differences in how love is viewed to support the notion that love is not a universal emotion.


b. In the United States, love is viewed as a more passionate experience but one that has the potential to lead to great sorrow in comparison to how it is viewed in China. c. In China, love is viewed as perhaps a more enduring emotion but one that is associated with unrequited feelings (unfulfilled love) in comparison to how it is viewed in the United States. d. In China, collective societal goals and obligations take precedence over individual goals, and thus love is viewed as irrelevant. ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Intimate Relationships Are Universal TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships are universal: Cross-cultural research on Western and Eastern cultures MSC: Factual 21. Results from cross-cultural studies of American and Chinese young adults show that a. young Americans are more likely to believe their love is destined by fate, whereas young Chinese are more likely to view love as a personal test they must pass. b. young Chinese are more likely to believe their love is destined by fate, whereas young Americans are more likely to view love as a personal test they must pass. c. young Americans are more likely to view love as intensely positive, whereas young Chinese are more likely to view love as negatively tinged. d. young Chinese are more likely to view love as intensely positive, whereas young Americans are more likely to view love as negatively tinged. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Intimate Relationships Are Universal TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships are universal: Cross-cultural research on Western and Eastern cultures MSC: Factual 22. Huang, an 18-year-old Chinese student, and Jim, a 19-year-old American student, participate in a cross-cultural study about love. Huang’s description of love is more likely to mention ________ than is Jim’s description of love. a. disappointment c. intense longing b. personal happiness d. continuing beyond death ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Intimate Relationships Are Universal TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships are universal: Cross-cultural research on Western and Eastern cultures MSC: Applied 23. Based on research comparing China and the United States, the experience of romantic love is ________, and the expression of romantic love is ________. a. the same; also the same c. different; the same b. the same; different d. different; also different ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Intimate Relationships Are Universal TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships are universal: Cross-cultural research on Western and Eastern cultures MSC: Factual 24. What conclusions can we draw from interviews conducted with more than 10,000 Chinese couples on understanding associations between types of marriages and relationship satisfaction? a. Couples in arranged marriages were more maritally satisfied than couples in “love” marriages. b. Couples in “love” marriages were more maritally satisfied than couples in arranged marriages. c. There were no differences in marital satisfaction between couples in “love” marriages and couples in arranged marriages. d. Marriages arranged by friends were more satisfying than marriages arranged by family members.


ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Intimate Relationships Are Universal TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships are universal: Cross-cultural research on Western and Eastern cultures: Role of globalization: Arranged marriages MSC: Factual 25. Xiao Xu and Ming Ho are a young Chinese couple who married after falling in love while studying at university. They are friends with another young couple, On Ki and Seung Won, whose marriage was arranged by their parents. Based on research presented in the text, what would you predict about these couples’ marital satisfaction? a. Xiao Xu and Ming Ho will be more maritally satisfied than On Ki and Seung Won. b. On Ki and Seung Won will be more maritally satisfied than Xiao Xu and Ming Ho. c. There will be no differences in marital satisfaction between the two couples. d. We cannot make predictions about the marital satisfaction of these couples because the research about marital satisfaction in arranged versus love marriages is inconclusive. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Intimate Relationships Are Universal TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships are universal: Cross-cultural research on Western and Eastern cultures: Role of globalization: Arranged marriages MSC: Applied 26. The nature of marriage and family has changed over the past few hundred years. Which of the following is NOT one of those changes? a. Cohabiting relationships are increasing. b. The number of children born to unmarried parents is increasing. c. Couples are becoming less likely to value and desire marriage. d. The number of couples living together (cohabiting) that marry within 3 years has declined. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Intimate Relationships Are Universal TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships are universal: Cross-cultural research on Western and Eastern cultures: Role of globalization: Westernized values in intimate relationships MSC: Factual 27. Intimate relationships are implicated in the mechanisms of evolution because the ways in which individuals attract and select each other as mates appear to have direct or indirect consequences on a. happiness. c. natural selection. b. pairbonds. d. fitness. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Intimate Relationships Determine the Survival of Our Species TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships determine the survival of our species MSC: Applied 28. You participate in a study where researchers scan your brain using MRI technology while you look at a picture of your intimate partner. Researchers should see increased activity in areas of your brain associated with a. positive emotions. c. critical social judgments. b. sympathy. d. emotion dysregulation. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Intimate Relationships Determine the Survival of Our Species TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships determine the survival of our species MSC: Applied


29. You participate in a study where researchers scan your brain using MRI technology while you look at a picture of your intimate partner. Researchers should see decreased activity in areas of your brain associated with a. positive emotions. c. critical social judgments. b. sympathy. d. emotion regulation. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Intimate Relationships Determine the Survival of Our Species TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships determine the survival of our species MSC: Applied 30. MRI research investigating brain activation when individuals gaze at their intimate partners supports the distinction between _____ and _____ relationships. a. interdependent; personal b. personal; impersonal c. personal; close d. close; intimate ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Intimate Relationships Determine the Survival of Our Species TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships determine the survival of our species MSC: Conceptual 31. What is the importance of the neuropeptide oxytocin in human bonding? a. Oxytocin is released during intimate physical contact and results in feelings of calmness, sociability, and trust. b. Oxytocin enhances sexual desire and thus increases inclusive fitness. c. A lack of oxytocin results in depression and anxiety, which impede the formation of close relationships. d. Oxytocin is responsible for the development of monogamous relationships in humans. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Intimate Relationships Determine the Survival of Our Species TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships determine the survival of our species: Oxytocin MSC: Conceptual 32. What is the significance of the findings linking oxytocin and human bonding? a. Romantic love, like sexual desire, is at least in part biologically based. b. Injections of oxytocin may decrease chances of infidelity. c. Romantic love is a socially constructed concept. d. The release of oxytocin is unrelated to human bonding. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Intimate Relationships Determine the Survival of Our Species TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships determine the survival of our species: Oxytocin MSC: Factual 33. Pei-Pei just met Samuel, and, when they are together, she feels a surge of excitement and sexual desire. What is the likely biological cause of these feelings? a. Pei-Pei took a drug, such as cocaine, that has activated certain brain regions that produce feelings of arousal. b. Pei-Pei is experiencing a decrease in oxytocin, a neuropeptide linked to bonding. c. Pei-Pei is experiencing a release of hormones from the pituitary and hypothalamus. d. Pei-Pei is experiencing physiological and psychological interdependence with Samuel.


ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Intimate Relationships Determine the Survival of Our Species TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships determine the survival of our species: Oxytocin MSC: Applied 34. Which of the following is NOT a defining element of an intimate relationship? a. mutual influence between partners b. considering the partner unique c. positive feelings toward the partner d. the potential for erotic contact ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: What Makes a Relationship Intimate? TOP: What Makes a Relationship Intimate? MSC: Factual 35. Your friend Yayoi recently started dating someone new. Which of the following is NOT one of the features you would look for if you were trying to determine whether she and her new partner have formed an intimate relationship? a. sexual passion b. positive feelings toward each other c. considering each other irreplaceable d. interdependence ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: What Makes a Relationship Intimate? TOP: What Makes a Relationship Intimate? MSC: Applied 36. According to the textbook, the defining feature of a relationship is: a. accepting your partner’s specific faults. b. awareness of the other. c. closeness. d. interdependence. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Interdependence Is the Cornerstone of Relationships TOP: What Makes a Relationship Intimate?: Interdependence

MSC: Factual

37. Which of the following is NOT a key aspect of interdependence in relationships? a. Interdependence is bidirectional. b. Interdependence involves continuity over time. c. Interdependence must include intimacy. d. Interdependence exists between two partners. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Interdependence Is the Cornerstone of Relationships TOP: What Makes a Relationship Intimate?: Interdependence

MSC: Factual

38. On his way home from work each day, Abdul buys his favorite bread from Nisa’s bakery. As defined by your textbook, which element of interdependence is likely missing from Abdul and Nisa’s relationship? a. bidirectionality b. continuity over time c. intimacy d. All of the answer options are likely present in Abdul and Nisa’s relationship. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Interdependence Is the Cornerstone of Relationships TOP: What Makes a Relationship Intimate?: Interdependence

MSC: Applied


39. Mutual influence is to ________ as sexual passion is to ________. a. interdependence; intimate relationships b. intimate relationships; interdependence c. interdependence; closeness d. closeness; interdependence ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Interdependence Is the Cornerstone of Relationships | Only Some Close Relationships Are Intimate Relationships TOP: What Makes a Relationship Intimate?: Interdependence | What Makes a Relationship Intimate?: Close relationships that are intimate relationships: Sexual passion between partners that could be expressed and shared MSC: Conceptual 40. Dale and Jonathon met a year ago in an introductory chemistry class. Being psychology majors, they were both nervous about taking chemistry as an elective. They ended up sharing notes and studying together, and they did well in the course. Since then, Dale and Jonathon have kept in touch and occasionally go out together on the weekend. Which of the following best characterizes Dale and Jonathon’s relationship? a. an impersonal relationship c. an intimate relationship b. a personal relationship d. a close relationship ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Interdependence Is the Cornerstone of Relationships | Only Some Social Relationships Are Personal Relationships | Only Some Personal Relationships Are Close Relationships TOP: What Makes a Relationship Intimate?: Interdependence | What Makes a Relationship Intimate?: Personal relationships that are close relationships: Closeness MSC: Applied 41. Impersonal relationships tend to be ________, whereas personal relationships tend to be ________. a. informal and emotionally connected; formal and task-oriented b. formal and task-oriented; informal and emotionally connected c. formal and task-oriented; relatively happy d. relatively happy; informal and emotionally connected ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Only Some Social Relationships Are Personal Relationships TOP: What Makes a Relationship Intimate?: Social relationships that are personal relationships: Interpersonal versus personal relationships MSC: Conceptual 42. The relationship between a lawyer and her client would be considered a(n) ________ relationship, and the relationship between an aunt and niece would be considered a(n) ________ relationship. a. impersonal; personal c. emotional; task-oriented b. personal; impersonal d. close; emotional ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Only Some Social Relationships Are Personal Relationships TOP: What Makes a Relationship Intimate?: Social relationships that are personal relationships: Interpersonal versus personal relationships MSC: Conceptual 43. Sandra regularly stops at a particular coffee shop on her way to work. Although she prefers it when Yasir makes her latté, she does not mind when Jamila makes it. How would you characterize Sandra’s relationship with Yasir? a. close relationship c. personal relationship b. intimate relationship d. impersonal relationship


ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Only Some Social Relationships Are Personal Relationships TOP: What Makes a Relationship Intimate?: Social relationships that are personal relationships: Interpersonal versus personal relationships MSC: Applied 44. Bradlei buys organic steak from his favorite butcher shop every Saturday. He prefers it when Veronica slices the steak for him, but he does not mind when Ruth slices it. How would you characterize Bradlei’s relationship with Veronica? a. personal relationship c. close relationship b. impersonal relationship d. distant relationship ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: Only Some Social Relationships Are Personal Relationships TOP: What Makes a Relationship Intimate?: Social relationships that are personal relationships: Interpersonal versus personal relationships MSC: Applied 45. All of the following are key features of a close relationship EXCEPT: a. the partners have a strong influence over one another. b. the partners are happy in the relationship. c. the partners are emotionally engaged in the relationship. d. the partners treat each other as unique individuals. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Only Some Personal Relationships Are Close Relationships TOP: What Makes a Relationship Intimate?: Personal relationships that are close relationships: Closeness MSC: Factual 46. According to your textbook, which of the following distinguishes an intimate relationship from a close relationship? a. the potential for sexual intimacy c. enduring interdependence b. the frequency of interaction d. positive feelings toward the partner ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Only Some Close Relationships Are Intimate Relationships TOP: What Makes a Relationship Intimate?: Close relationships that are intimate relationships: Sexual passion between partners that could be expressed and shared MSC: Factual 47. Casey has gone on several dates with John, and she cannot stop thinking about him. She believes that he is the best person she has ever met. Which two attributes of love is Casey likely to be experiencing? a. caring and preoccupation b. joy and desire c. idealization and preoccupation d. idealization and proximity ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Love and the Essential Mystery of Intimate Relationships TOP: Love and the Essential Mystery of Intimate Relationships: Seven attributes of love MSC: Applied 48. Before he was in a relationship with Mark, David used to love going to concerts. Now that their relationship has become more serious, David spends less time and money going to concerts and more time with Mark. Which attribute of love best explains David’s change in behavior? a. preoccupation b. idealization


c. proximity d. prioritizing ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Love and the Essential Mystery of Intimate Relationships TOP: Love and the Essential Mystery of Intimate Relationships: Seven attributes of love MSC: Applied 49. Ulrich writes to his friend Anna in a text message, “Shall we plan for another summer fling?” What type of love does this exemplify? a. companionate love c. fatuous love b. romantic love d. consummate love ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Love and the Essential Mystery of Intimate Relationships TOP: Love and the Essential Mystery of Intimate Relationships: Components of love | Love and the Essential Mystery of Intimate Relationships: Types of love MSC: Applied 50. Many couples aspire to have _____ love; however, few are able to sustain it. a. romantic b. companionate c. fatuous d. consummate ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Love and the Essential Mystery of Intimate Relationships TOP: Love and the Essential Mystery of Intimate Relationships: Components of love | Love and the Essential Mystery of Intimate Relationships: Types of love MSC: Factual 51. Considering the concept of love, which of the following statements is true? a. Passion develops after commitment, and it decreases over time. b. Passion develops at the same time as commitment, and it decreases over time c. Commitment develops first and most rapidly over time. d. Intimacy develops first and most rapidly over time. ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Love and the Essential Mystery of Intimate Relationships TOP: Love and the Essential Mystery of Intimate Relationships: Components of love | Love and the Essential Mystery of Intimate Relationships: Types of love MSC: Factual ESSAY 1. On a long flight to a conference, you get into a debate with your seatmate about whether it is better to be in an intimate relationship or not. What would you argue and why? ANS:


Relationship status is related to well-being; people in intimate relationships generally fare better than people who are not. However, relationships vary greatly in quality, and poor relationships negatively affect well-being; single, divorced, and noncohabiting people are less happy than those who live with a partner, although the differences are small. Although being in an intimate relationship seems superior to being single, single individuals may create social networks that contribute to satisfaction and compensate for the lack of an intimate partnership. There also may be some advantages to being single; single people do not have to face the end of a relationship (i.e., transition) or deal with some of the more distressing aspects of intimate relationships, such as infidelity and partner violence. Although the research suggests that being in an intimate relationship leads to better physical and mental health, it should be noted that these links might reflect selection effects, and thus we cannot draw causal conclusions. However, there is some reason to speculate that better-functioning relationships do indeed lead to improved personal functioning; couples therapy that leads to improvements in relationship quality also leads to reduction in depression. DIF: Difficult REF: Intimate Relationships Affect Our Happiness and Well-Being TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships affect subjective well-being: Associations with happiness MSC: Conceptual 2. According to your textbook authors, by examining relationship quality, researchers can hope to answer the critical question: Why do relationships sometimes thrive and sometimes falter? Define what is meant by relationship quality, and briefly discuss why it is important to try to answer this question. ANS: Relationship quality can be defined as how satisfied people are with their relationships—how good or bad they perceive their relationships to be. Because variability in relationships has profound consequences for our health and well-being, relationship scientists strive to understand how relationship quality varies for different people, for different relationships, and at different times in the same relationship. Gaining control over variability in intimate relationships might allow relationship scientists to empower more people to have better relationships and healthier lives. DIF: Medium REF: Intimate Relationships Affect Our Happiness and Well-Being TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships affect subjective well-being: Subjective happiness MSC: Factual 3. Discuss and contrast how intimate relationships influence biological, psychological, and social well-being. ANS: Generally speaking, the reasons human relationships are important fall into two broad categories: (1) The capacity for relationships and pairbonds appears to be universal, be biologically determined, and function to ensure the survival of the species; and (2) The presence and quality of intimate relationships affect other factors, such as the personal, physical, and psychological well-being of other family members, especially children. The first broad category of reasons describes the normative processes in relationship functioning, and the second broad category describes the individual aspects of relationship functioning (i.e., how individual differences in relationship quality affect other outcomes). DIF: Easy REF: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships affect subjective well-being | Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships influence the well-being of children | Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships determine the survival of our species MSC: Conceptual


4. Adam has been in trouble with the law since he was a young adolescent. He started with petty crimes, such as vandalism and theft, and eventually he engaged in more serious criminal activity until his most recent conviction for robbery. While on parole, Adam met Janeane, and the two are now married. Although they both have steady part-time work, Adam and Janeane often argue about finances and are generally dissatisfied with their relationship. Based on material discussed in the text, explain the influence Adam’s relationship with Janeane is likely to have on his offending behavior. ANS: Intimate relationships play a key role in the process by which offenders desist from crime (or decrease the number or severity of crimes they commit). Research has shown that men who have engaged in criminal activity but who marry, have good marriages, stay married, and have stable jobs are more likely to decrease their levels of criminal activity. However, further analyses show that it is the quality of the marriage rather than its mere presence that most influences criminal offenses. According to social control theory, the fact that Adam is married and has steady work suggests he would desist from crime. This conclusion is tempered, however, by the fact that his and Janeane’s marriage appears to be generally dissatisfying and that they often argue about finances. Consequently, we can not conclude that Adam will desist from criminal activity nor that he will continue engaging in criminal activity. DIF: Difficult REF: Intimate Relationships Contribute to Larger Communities TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships contribute to larger communities: Social control theory MSC: Applied 5. You are asked to appear on a radio talk show to discuss arranged marriages. Given the research discussed in the text, what would you say about the nature of arranged marriages, how rates of arranged marriages are changing, and what the consequences are of those changes? What differences would you expect to find between arranged marriages and “love” marriages and why? ANS: Arranged marriages are more common in non-Western cultures, but the rates are declining with the globalization of Western values. It is also possible that the declining rate of arranged marriages means that non-arranged marriages result in more satisfying marriages. For example, Chinese couples who chose their partners were more satisfied compared to those whose marriages were arranged. This result could mean that the spouses married for love, which leads to more satisfying marriages, or that couples do not have to work as hard to maintain a relationship when the choice of mate was their own rather than their parents’ or friends’ choice. DIF: Medium REF: Intimate Relationships Are Universal TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships are universal: Cross-cultural research on Western and Eastern cultures: Role of globalization: Arranged marriages MSC: Conceptual 6. The nature of marriage in Western culture has been changing over the past few hundred years. Briefly describe some of the changes, as well as the consequences—positive and negative—for the individual, the family, and society. ANS:


In the last few hundred years, marriage has become less of an institution or contractual bond and more of an intimate, personal relationship. Strict social norms have changed; the responsibilities of marriage were once institutionalized by religious and legal codes, but these institutions have weakened. There has also been an increase in the pressure for marriage to fulfill more needs (e.g., companionship, sexual fulfillment, romance, economic security, stable child-rearing environment). Increased mobility of the family and increased involvement of women in outside work have resulted in reduced monitoring of children and a decline in the involvement of extended family. Generally, the shift in the definition of marriage and family has placed a large strain on the family unit and on the romantic partners. There is great opportunity for fulfillment but also great opportunity for disappointment and stress if the marriage is functioning poorly. DIF: Medium REF: Intimate Relationships Are Universal TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships are universal: Cross-cultural research on Western and Eastern cultures: Role of globalization: Westernized values in intimate relationships MSC: Factual 7. Discuss how the capacity for human love and intimacy is both a biological and a social-cultural phenomenon. ANS: One could argue that the capacity for human love and intimacy is both a biological and a sociocultural phenomenon. There is evidence to support the universal, innate, and biological basis of love. For example: (1) the role of oxytocin in pairbonds; (2) evidence that the presence of an intimate partner reduces activity in fear-related brain structures; and (3) the universality of concepts of love. However, evidence also exists to suggest that the experience of intimate relationships and the way in which human love and intimacy are manifested differs across cultures, societies, and even time. For example: (1) conceptions of love differ across cultures (e.g., song lyrics in China and the United States and Chinese and North American students’ descriptions of love are qualitatively different); (2) people initiate relationships in different ways in different cultures; and (3) family composition varies across cultures. DIF: Easy REF: Intimate Relationships Are Universal | Intimate Relationships Determine the Survival of Our Species TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships are universal: Cross-cultural research on Western and Eastern cultures: Role of globalization: Westernized values in intimate relationships MSC: Conceptual 8. Contrast how love is experienced and perceived in individualistic societies, such as in the United States, and in collectivist societies, such as China. ANS: Young Americans are more likely to view love as intensely positive and equated with personal happiness, whereas young Chinese are more likely to view love as tinged with unrequited feelings, infatuation, and sorrow. Further differences are reflected in song lyrics. Although songs in the two places express a similar intensity of desire and longing, song lyrics in China refer to love as more enduring or more deeply embedded in nature and are more likely to include thoughts of suffering, sadness, and pain, resulting in feelings of disappointment or regret. DIF: Easy REF: Intimate Relationships Are Universal TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships are universal: Cross-cultural research on Western and Eastern cultures: Role of globalization: Westernized values in intimate relationships MSC: Factual 9. Discuss the importance and significance of oxytocin in human bonding.


ANS: Oxytocin is a neuropeptide that is released during intimate physical contact (e.g., holding, caressing, kissing, and sexual intercourse). Oxytocin appears to reduce activity in fear-related brain structures (e.g., the amygdala and the hypothalamus), and the release of oxytocin may result in feelings of calmness, sociability, and trust. If we link these findings to the research on prairie voles, where oxytocin facilitates lifelong pairbonding, and the MRI studies that reveal reduced activity in threat-related brain structures when women hold the hands of their partners, we can infer that oxytocin may facilitate human bonding. DIF: Medium REF: Intimate Relationships Determine the Survival of Our Species TOP: Why Intimate Relationships Are Important: Intimate relationships determine the survival of our species: Oxytocin MSC: Factual 10. Explain why interdependence, although a necessary condition for intimacy, is not a sufficient condition for intimacy. ANS: Interdependence is a defining feature of all relationships; however, many relationships are interdependent without intimacy (e.g., patient and doctor). Such impersonal relationships tend to be formal and task-oriented. In contrast, intimate (personal) relationships tend to engage us at a deeper emotional level; in such relationships, people treat each other as unique individuals. DIF: Medium REF: Interdependence Is the Cornerstone of Relationships | Only Some Social Relationships Are Personal Relationships TOP: What Makes a Relationship Intimate?: Interdependence | What Makes a Relationship Intimate?: Social relationships that are personal relationships MSC: Conceptual 11. Describe the four defining features of an intimate relationship. ANS: The four defining features of an intimate relationship are: (1) Interdependence (partners have mutual influence over each other); (2) Partners view each other as unique; (3) Closeness (partners have strong and frequent influence over one another across a variety of activities); and (4) Intimacy (the relationship includes sexual passion). All four of these features must be present for a relationship to be considered intimate. DIF: Easy REF: What Makes a Relationship Intimate? TOP: What Makes a Relationship Intimate?: Interdependence | What Makes a Relationship Intimate?: Personal relationships that are close relationships: Closeness | What Makes a Relationships Intimate?: Close relationships that are intimate relationships: Sexual passion between partners that could be expressed and shared MSC: Factual 12. Imagine you play matchmaker and introduce your good friends, Pat and Chris, to each other. You know they both enjoy creative writing and a love of the outdoors. Assume that Pat and Chris have begun to spend more and more time together. What features would you look for if you were trying to determine whether Pat and Chris have formed an intimate relationship? ANS: To determine if Pat’s and Chris’ relationship is to be considered intimate, you would look at the answers to four questions: (1) Do Pat and Chris affect each other’s behavior? (i.e., is there evidence of interdependence?); (2) Do they view each other as special and unique?; (3) Do they have a strong and frequent influence over one another across a variety of activities? (i.e., is there evidence of closeness?); and (4) Does their relationship include sexual passion (intimacy)?


DIF: Difficult REF: What Makes a Relationship Intimate? TOP: What Makes a Relationship Intimate?: Interdependence | What Makes a Relationship Intimate?: Personal relationships that are close relationships: Closeness | What Makes a Relationships Intimate?: Close relationships that are intimate relationships: Sexual passion between partners that could be expressed and shared MSC: Applied 13. Although your textbook focuses on intimate relationships, the authors argue that we cannot understand intimate relationships without also discussing close relationships more broadly. Explain why only some close relationships may be considered intimate relationships. ANS: Our experiences in intimate relationships are partly determined by our experiences in close relationships with others in our lives (e.g., parents, siblings). In addition, our intimate relationships develop in the context of other relationships (e.g., friendships, family bonds). Our intimate relationships can also be affected by relatively impersonal or task-oriented relationships (e.g., with colleagues at work). DIF: Medium REF: Only Some Close Relationships Are Intimate Relationships TOP: What Makes a Relationship Intimate?: Personal relationships that are close relationships: Closeness MSC: Conceptual 14. Your friend Jen calls you one night for some relationship advice. She tells you about Cam, a guy that she has been dating for approximately 2 weeks. Jen tells you that they text each other often and that they have great sexual chemistry; however, she cannot figure out why Cam is not willing to call her his “girlfriend” and tell people they are exclusively dating each other. Based on the material discussed in the text about the intensity of intimacy, passion, and commitment, what advice would you give Jen? ANS: Intimacy, passion, and commitment develop at different rates in a romantic relationship. Intimacy typically develops first (and rapidly) as partners begin to learn about each other. As partners’ sense of intimacy grows, so does their sexual passion for one another; however, intimacy diminishes over time. Commitment for one’s partner typically develops after the first month of the relationship. Therefore, it is not surprising that Jen and Cam are spending a lot of time getting to know one another (intimacy) and have great sexual chemistry (passion), despite Cam’s not wanting to commit just yet. It is also important that Jen keeps in mind that intimacy is different from commitment, something that “comes easily” when people are committed to keeping their relationship going. DIF: Difficult REF: Love and the Essential Mystery of Intimate Relationships TOP: Love and the Essential Mystery of Intimate Relationships: Components of love MSC: Applied 15. Distinguish fatuous love from companionate love. ANS: Fatuous love is marked by the presence of passion and commitment and a lack of intimacy. Individuals who experience fatuous love are often thought of as those who “fall in love with the idea of falling in love.” Companionate love is marked by the presence of intimacy and commitment and a lack of passion. This type of love may be common in couples who have been together for a long time, as the frequency of sexual passion decreases over time. DIF: Easy REF: Love and the Essential Mystery of Intimate Relationships TOP: Love and the Essential Mystery of Intimate Relationships: Components of love | Love and the Essential Mystery of Intimate Relationships: Types of love MSC: Factual


16. After dating for two years, Yayoi and her partner, Tom, recently became engaged. Yayoi is participating in a study where she is asked to describe what she believes are the defining features of love. Based on material presented in the text, what essential attributes would you expect Yayoi to describe? ANS: Research has identified seven essential attributes of love. These are: (1) Desire (wanting to be united with the partner, physically and emotionally); (2) Idealization (believing the partner is unique and special); (3) Joy (experiencing very strong, positive emotions); (4) Preoccupation (thinking a lot about the partner and having little control over when these thoughts occur); (5) Proximity (taking steps to maintain or restore physical closeness or emotional contact with the partner); (6) Prioritizing (reordering priorities and goals, so that maintaining the relationship is given more importance than other interests and responsibilities); and (7) Caring (experiencing and expressing feelings of empathy and compassion for the partner). DIF: Medium REF: Love and the Essential Mystery of Intimate Relationships TOP: Love and the Essential Mystery of Intimate Relationships: Components of love | Love and the Essential Mystery of Intimate Relationships: Types of love MSC: Applied


CHAPTER 2: Influential Theories 1. Introduction: Great Minds Don’t Think Alike 2. What Makes a Theory Influential? 3. The Evolutionary Perspective a. Fundamental assumptions i. Sexual selection ii. Physiological mechanisms iii. Environment of evolutionary adaptedness iv. Theory of parental investment v. Gender differences in mate preferences and mating behaviors vi. Explanation of jealousy b. Approach to research i. Human sexuality and mating ii. Cross-cultural studies iii. Evolved psychological mechanisms c. Evaluating the evolutionary perspective 4. Attachment Theory a. Bonds with caregivers in infancy and childhood influence adult intimate relationships b. Fundamental Assumptions i. Attachment figure ii. Attachment behavior system iii. Felt security iv. Working models v. Attachment styles in adult intimate relationships c. Approach to research d. Evaluating attachment theory 5. Social Exchange Theory a. Maximizing relationship outcomes: Interdependence theory b. Fundamental Assumptions i. Rewards and costs: Relationship outcome ii. Subjective probability iii. Comparison level iv. Comparison level for alternatives v. Commitment c. Approach to research d. Evaluating social exchange theory 6. Social Learning Theory a. Fundamental Assumptions i. Partners learn from their experiences ii. Coercion theory b. Approach to research c. Evaluating social learning theory 7. Social Ecological Models a. Interplay between couples and their environments b. Fundamental Assumptions i. ABC-X model: Stressor, resources, interpretation, crisis ii. Double ABC-X model: Stress pile-up c. Approach to research d. Evaluating social ecological models 8. Unifying Themes in Theories of Intimate Relationships a. Dyadic interaction b. Individual differences


c. External circumstances MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. Which of the following is NOT a feature of theories? a. Theories shape how we think. b. Theories guide research. c. Theories are equally accurate at explaining behavior. d. Theories can be explicit or implicit. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Introduction: Great Minds Don't Think Alike TOP: Introduction: Great Minds Don't Think Alike MSC: Factual 2. What is a characteristic of an influential theory? a. tends to be described formally b. articulates a set of explicit premises c. makes predictions that withstand multiple tests d. All of the answer options are correct. ANS: D DIF: Easy TOP: What Makes a Theory Influential?

REF: What Makes a Theory Influential? MSC: Factual

3. Which of the following is NOT a fundamental premise of the evolutionary perspective on intimate relationships? a. Humans must reproduce to pass their genes on to the next generation. b. Survival during infancy requires an ability to maintain proximity to a primary caregiver. c. Through natural selection, humans evolved characteristic ways of attracting and selecting mates. d. Features that contribute to successful reproduction are passed down from generation to generation. ANS: B DIF: Easy TOP: The Evolutionary Perspective

REF: The Evolutionary Perspective MSC: Factual

4. A type of adaptation called “sexual selection” occurs when a characteristic has evolved because it: a. increases an organism’s chances of successfully reproducing. b. increases an organism’s chances for survival. c. increases an organism’s chances of finding food. d. decreases an organism’s exposure to predators. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: The Evolutionary Perspective TOP: The Evolutionary Perspective: Fundamental assumptions: Sexual selection MSC: Factual 5. Peacocks have brilliantly colored tail feathers. This is an example of: a. an adaptive problem. c. cross-species research. b. sexual selection. d. referencing. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: The Evolutionary Perspective TOP: The Evolutionary Perspective: Fundamental assumptions: Sexual selection MSC: Applied 6. According to evolutionary psychologists, the preferences, capacities, responses, and strategies that characterize our species are called: a. adaptive problems. c. psychological mechanisms.


b. sexual selection.

d. adaptations.

ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: The Evolutionary Perspective TOP: The Evolutionary Perspective: Fundamental assumptions: Physiological mechanisms MSC: Factual 7. Which of the following statements does NOT express a position consistent with evolutionary perspectives on intimate relationships? a. Males have developed conscious and explicit preferences for fertility in potential sexual partners. b. Evolved psychological mechanisms are responsive to cues in the environment. c. Mate preferences evolved to adapt not to the current environment but, rather, to the environment that humans faced thousands of years ago. d. Preferences that increase reproductive success should be passed down across generations, even if those preferences impede survival. ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: The Evolutionary Perspective TOP: The Evolutionary Perspective: Fundamental assumptions: Gender differences in mate preferences and mating behaviors MSC: Conceptual 8. According to the theory of parental investment, men and women differ in the amount of energy and resources they invest to raise surviving offspring, with parental investment being higher for women than for men. Consequently, men and women have evolved different mate preferences. Which of the following is NOT consistent with the theory of parental investment? a. Li-ying always dates men who are taller than she is. b. Yasir has dated (and had sexual relations with) only one woman, the one to whom he is married. c. Brett goes on dates with many women but stops seeing them if he finds out they are not virgins. d. Tatiana does not date male students at her college; rather, she only dates men who have established careers. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: The Evolutionary Perspective TOP: The Evolutionary Perspective: Fundamental assumptions: Gender differences in mate preferences and mating behaviors MSC: Applied 9. According to the theory of parental investment, men and women differ in the amount of energy and resources they invest to raise surviving offspring, with parental investment being higher for women than for men. Consequently, men and women have evolved different mate preferences. Which of the following is most consistent with the theory of parental investment? a. Rachel mostly dates men who are shorter than she is. b. Randip has had sexual relations with only one woman, the one to whom he is married. c. Blair is dating a woman who has a 2-year-old daughter from a previous relationship. d. Tatiana does not date male students at her college; rather, she only dates men who have established careers. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: The Evolutionary Perspective TOP: The Evolutionary Perspective: Fundamental assumptions: Gender differences in mate preferences and mating behaviors MSC: Applied 10. Which of the following is NOT a problem facing researchers taking an evolutionary perspective on intimate relationships? a. narrowing the definition of psychological mechanism b. determining whether a behavior is the product of an evolved psychological mechanism c. knowing where to look for evidence of evolved psychological mechanisms


d. conducting longitudinal studies to look for evidence of evolved psychological mechanisms ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: The Evolutionary Perspective TOP: The Evolutionary Perspective: Approach to research MSC: Factual 11. In the “stinky T-shirt” studies, evolutionary psychologists asked men and women to rate the smell of groups of T-shirts that had been worn by either a man or a woman for three nights in a row. What did this unusual research design reveal? a. Women who were ovulating could smell the difference between more or less genetically fit men. b. Women could smell genetic fitness in men, and men could smell genetic fitness in women, but neither gender could smell genetic fitness in other members of their own gender. c. Genetically fit individuals smell better than genetically unfit individuals. d. Women are more sensitive to smell than men. ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: The Evolutionary Perspective TOP: The Evolutionary Perspective: Approach to research MSC: Factual 12. Which of the following is NOT an example of cross-cultural research? a. Women in the United States and in China are more likely than men to prefer taller mates. b. Latino men care more about their partners’ virginity than do Latina women. c. Men in Canada and Brazil prefer younger partners than do Canadian and Brazilian women. d. All of the answer options are examples of cross-cultural research. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: The Evolutionary Perspective TOP: The Evolutionary Perspective: Approach to research: Cross-cultural studies MSC: Applied 13. In evaluating the evolutionary perspective, the textbook authors conclude that: a. a weakness of the perspective is that it examines adaptive functions of mating behaviors. b. the focus on gender differences that characterize most of the species has allowed evolutionary psychologists to acknowledge the rich, complex variability among individuals and within each gender. c. in the search for ancestral causes of human behavior, evolutionary psychologists have also discovered more immediate causes of the same behaviors. d. by focusing on how men and women attract and select mates, evolutionary psychologists have neglected to study the development of relationships. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: The Evolutionary Perspective TOP: The Evolutionary Perspective: Evaluating the evolutionary perspective MSC: Factual 14. The evolutionary perspectives on intimate relationships and attachment theory are similar in that they both: a. suggest that the roots of our current intimate relationships lie in the past. b. suggest we must look to our ancestry to understand intimate relationships. c. focus on how childhood experiences affect adult intimate relationships. d. focus on the way humans’ primate relatives raise their young. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: The Evolutionary Perspective | Attachment Theory TOP: The Evolutionary Perspective | Attachment Theory MSC: Conceptual 15. In contrast to the evolutionary perspective and to attachment theory, which focus on ________ to understand adult intimate relationships, social exchange theory focuses on ________. a. the present; the past


b. the past; the present c. relationship outcomes; relationship experiences d. relationship experiences; relationship outcomes ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: The Evolutionary Perspective | Attachment Theory | Social Exchange Theory TOP: The Evolutionary Perspective | Attachment Theory | Social Exchange Theory MSC: Conceptual 16. Who is most likely to agree with this statement? “Relationships deteriorate because partners have not acquired the skills needed to manage their conflicts and differences of opinion. Mismanaged conflict breeds further conflict or disengagement, to the point where partners conclude that the relationship is no longer satisfying and viable.” a. an attachment theorist c. a social learning theorist b. an evolutionary theorist d. a social ecological theorist ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: The Evolutionary Perspective | Attachment Theory | Social Learning Theory | Social Ecological Models TOP: The Evolutionary Perspective | Attachment Theory | Social Learning Theory | Social Ecological Models MSC: Conceptual 17. A child’s attachment figure is best defined as: a. the child’s favorite stuffed animal. b. the person with whom the child most likes to spend time. c. a person who provides care and comfort to the child. d. the child’s best friend. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Attachment Theory TOP: Attachment Theory: Bonds with caregivers in infancy and childhood influence adult intimate relationships MSC: Factual 18. Twelve-month-old Joshua enters an unfamiliar laboratory playroom with his mother. When she leaves, he gets distressed. Joshua’s distress is an example of a: a. hyperactivating strategy. c. denial strategy. b. deactivating strategy. d. protest strategy. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Attachment Theory TOP: Attachment Theory: Bonds with caregivers in infancy and childhood influence adult intimate relationships | Attachment Theory: Fundamental assumptions: Attachment behavior system MSC: Applied 19. Twelve-month-old Joshua enters an unfamiliar laboratory playroom with his mother. When she leaves, he gets distressed. When his mother has not returned after a few minutes, Joshua stops crying and starts playing listlessly in the far corner of the room. Joshua’s behavior is an example of a: a. hyperactivating strategy. c. denial strategy. b. deactivating strategy. d. protest strategy. ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Attachment Theory TOP: Attachment Theory: Bonds with caregivers in infancy and childhood influence adult intimate relationships | Attachment Theory: Fundamental assumptions: Attachment behavior system MSC: Applied 20. Which of the following statements describes working models of attachment? a. Working models can be thought of as internal psychological structures.


b. Working models represent people’s conscious and unconscious beliefs, expectations, and feelings about themselves, about others, and about relationships. c. Working models are presumed to influence how new experiences in people’s relationships are selected, interpreted, and integrated into their sense of who they are. d. All of the statements accurately describe working models. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Attachment Theory TOP: Attachment Theory: Bonds with caregivers in infancy and childhood influence adult intimate relationships | Attachment Theory: Fundamental assumptions: Working models MSC: Factual 21. Adults who possess a negative view of themselves but a positive view of others are classified by attachment theorists as: a. secure. c. fearful. b. dismissing. d. preoccupied. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Attachment Theory TOP: Attachment Theory: Fundamental assumptions: Attachment styles in adult intimate relationships MSC: Factual 22. When your friend Tom first started dating Ashley, he told you how much he liked her and described her as being the “perfect” girl for him. However, Tom was worried that Ashley did not seem to want a committed relationship and that she might not like him as much as he liked her. When Ashley broke up with Tom, he became very depressed and spent hours talking with you about what went wrong. What is the most accurate statement? a. Tom was showing high attachment-related anxiety and low attachment-related avoidance. b. Tom was showing low attachment-related anxiety and high attachment-related avoidance. c. Tom would be considered fearful. d. Tom experienced a normal reaction to a breakup. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Attachment Theory TOP: Attachment Theory: Fundamental assumptions: Attachment styles in adult intimate relationships MSC: Applied 23. When your friend Ashley first started dating Tom, she told you he seemed like a really nice guy, but she did not spend much time talking about him. After some time, however, Ashley started complaining that Tom wanted to spend time with her constantly and seemed to expect more of a commitment from her than she was interested in giving. She felt frustrated that he did not respect her need for independence, and she eventually broke up with him. What is the most accurate statement? a. Ashley was showing high attachment-related anxiety and low attachment-related avoidance. b. Ashley was showing low attachment-related anxiety and high attachment-related avoidance. c. Ashley would be considered fearful. d. Ashley would be considered secure. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Attachment Theory TOP: Attachment Theory: Fundamental assumptions: Attachment styles in adult intimate relationships MSC: Applied 24. In attachment theory, adults differ along the two main dimensions of: a. anxiety and avoidance. c. anxiety and responsiveness. b. warmth and rejection. d. avoidance and closeness. ANS: A

DIF: Easy

REF: Attachment Theory


TOP: Attachment Theory: Fundamental assumptions: Attachment styles in adult intimate relationships MSC: Factual 25. Angela and Charlie have been dating for a few months. Despite spending most of their time together, Angela’s low self-worth makes her concerned that Charlie is just not that into her. Based on Angela’s working model, she is likely to have what type of attachment style? a. preoccupied c. secure b. dismissing d. fearful ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Attachment Theory TOP: Attachment Theory: Fundamental assumptions: Attachment styles in adult intimate relationships MSC: Applied 26. Paul is a 25-year-old single male. His friends are encouraging him to try online dating, but he does not see what the fuss is about because he is happy being alone and is content with his life. Based on Paul’s working model, he is likely to have what type of attachment style? a. fearful c. dismissive b. secure d. preoccupied ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Attachment Theory TOP: Attachment Theory: Fundamental assumptions: Attachment styles in adult intimate relationships MSC: Applied 27. Adults who possess positive models of themselves but negative models of others are classified by attachment theorists as: a. secure. c. fearful. b. dismissing. d. preoccupied. ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Attachment Theory TOP: Attachment Theory: Fundamental assumptions: Attachment styles in adult intimate relationships MSC: Factual 28. Bowlby, in his original conception of attachment theory, predicted that attachment models would be highly stable over time. How can the research that investigates the continuity of attachment models best be summarized? a. Attachment models change easily over the course of a person’s life. b. There are very few similarities between attachment models in caregiver-child relationships and adult intimate relationships. c. Although there are some similarities between attachment models in caregiver-child relationships and adult intimate relationships, only caregiver-child relationships activate the attachment behavior system. d. Many of the features that characterize caregiver-child relationships also characterize relationships between adults in love. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Attachment Theory TOP: Attachment Theory: Approach to research MSC: Conceptual 29. In evaluating attachment theory, the textbook authors conclude that: a. a strength of the theory is its use of a developmental perspective to study the continuity of experiences across the life span. b. research on attachment has yet to explore sources of variability in relationship outcomes for individuals who share a common attachment style. c. attachment theory helps explain the variability in the values and expectations people bring to their relationships. d. All of the answer options are correct.


ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Attachment Theory TOP: Attachment Theory: Evaluating attachment theory MSC: Factual 30. Which of the following is most true of social exchange theory? a. The primary emphasis of social exchange theory is on relational aspects that negatively and positively reinforce each partner’s behaviors. b. Social exchange theory emphasizes the patterns of communication that we witness in our families of origin. c. The principles of social exchange theory resemble the principles of economics, such as outcomes and rewards. d. Social exchange theory emphasizes the role of interaction on relationship satisfaction. ANS: C DIF: Medium TOP: Social Exchange Theory

REF: Social Exchange Theory MSC: Conceptual

31. Conner and Ben have an open relationship that many would categorize as “uncommitted.” Based on social exchange theory, they are likely to have _____ levels of satisfaction and _____ levels of dependence a. high; low c. high; high b. low; high d. low; low ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Social Exchange Theory TOP: Social Exchange Theory: Maximizing relationship outcomes: Interdependence theory MSC: Factual 32. Social exchange theory and interdependence theory differ in which of the following ways? a. focus on rewards and costs c. explanation of human behavior b. unit of analysis d. associations with satisfaction ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Social Exchange Theory TOP: Social Exchange Theory: Maximizing relationship outcomes: Interdependence theory MSC: Factual 33. Jenny’s partner enjoys cooking, and he often prepares gourmet meals for her. In the language of social exchange theory, what would we call this behavior? a. a reward c. a social reward b. a cost d. an opportunity cost ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Social Exchange Theory TOP: Social Exchange Theory: Fundamental assumptions: Rewards and costs: Relationship outcome MSC: Applied 34. The actor Leonardo DiCaprio, considered by some to be one of the most desirable men on the planet, is not married. He has no trouble forming relationships, but he seems quite willing to leave them as soon as they stop working out for him. Social exchange theories of relationships would say that Leonardo has: a. a high CLalt. b. a low CL. c. a high ratio of rewards to costs. d. a high ratio of satisfaction to dependence. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Social Exchange Theory TOP: Social Exchange Theory: Fundamental assumptions: Comparison level | Social Exchange Theory: Fundamental assumptions: Comparison level for alternatives MSC: Applied


35. According to social exchange theory, what is the most likely reason many women choose to remain in physically abusive intimate relationships? a. They believe they deserve the negative treatment. b. Many women have an unconscious wish to be punished. c. The rewards outweigh the costs. d. They believe they have no alternative. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Social Exchange Theory TOP: Social Exchange Theory: Fundamental assumptions: Comparison level | Social Exchange Theory: Fundamental assumptions: Comparison level for alternatives MSC: Factual 36. Ajia used to live in New York City, where she had a long history of successful close relationships, and attractive men often asked her out. She now lives in Laramie, Wyoming, where she is in, what she considers, a rather poor relationship with Tom, a man she finds insensitive, although he is better than the other options available in her smaller community. From the perspective of social exchange theory, Ajia is in a situation where her: a. CL and CLalt both exceed her outcome. b. outcome exceeds both her CL and CLalt. c. CL exceeds her outcome, and her outcome exceeds her CLalt. d. CLalt exceeds her outcome, and her outcome exceeds her CL. ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Social Exchange Theory TOP: Social Exchange Theory: Fundamental assumptions: Comparison level | Social Exchange Theory: Fundamental assumptions: Comparison level for alternatives MSC: Applied 37. According to interdependence theory, ________ determines relationship stability, and ________ determines relationship satisfaction. a. Outcome – CL; Outcome – CLalt c. CL – CLalt; Outcome – CL b. Outcome – CLalt; Outcome – CL d. Outcome – CLalt; CL – CLalt ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Social Exchange Theory TOP: Social Exchange Theory: Fundamental assumptions: Comparison level | Social Exchange Theory: Fundamental assumptions: Comparison level for alternatives MSC: Factual 38. Which of the following is correct according to social exchange theory? a. Satisfaction = Outcome – CLalt b. Satisfaction = Rewards – CL c. Commitment = Satisfaction + Dependency d. Dependency = Outcome – CL ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Social Exchange Theory TOP: Social Exchange Theory: Fundamental assumptions: Comparison level | Social Exchange Theory: Fundamental assumptions: Comparison level for alternatives | Social Exchange Theory: Fundamental assumptions: Commitment MSC: Factual 39. One of the major contributions social exchange theory makes to the study of intimate relationships is that it: a. recognizes that satisfaction is only one component that influences whether a relationship lasts. b. explains how some initially satisfied couples become distressed over time. c. explains how perceptions of rewards and costs may change over time. d. accounts for relationship patterns across the lifespan.


ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Social Exchange Theory TOP: Social Exchange Theory: Evaluating social exchange theory MSC: Conceptual 40. Social exchange theory and social learning theory are similar in that they both draw from behaviorist principles of reinforcement and punishment. A key difference between the two is that social exchange theory takes a more ________ approach to intimate relationships, whereas social learning theory takes a more ________ approach. a. developmental; motivational c. intrapersonal; interpersonal b. motivational; developmental d. interpersonal; intrapersonal ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Social Exchange Theory | Social Learning Theory TOP: Social Exchange Theory | Social Learning Theory MSC: Conceptual 41. Which statement about the comparison between social exchange theory and social learning theory is FALSE? a. Both theories describe explicit mechanisms to explain how relationships change over time. b. Social exchange theory describes rewards and costs broadly, but social learning theory focuses more narrowly on interpersonal behaviors. c. Both theories consider the balance of rewards and costs in intimate relationships. d. Social exchange theory was adapted from economics, but social learning theory was adapted from clinical psychology. ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Social Exchange Theory | Social Learning Theory TOP: Social Exchange Theory | Social Learning Theory MSC: Conceptual 42. Daniella believes that behavior is shaped and molded within relationships and that rewarding and punishing interactions affect future behavior and judgments of relationship satisfaction. With which relationship theory is this belief most consistent? a. social learning c. social exchange b. attachment d. interdependence ANS: A DIF: Easy TOP: Social Learning Theory

REF: Social Learning Theory MSC: Applied

43. Which of the following best outlines the principles of social learning theory as it is applied to intimate relationships? a. In their adult intimate relationships, individuals imitate behaviors they learned from observing their parents and other adults. b. Behavior is shaped and molded within relationships. Rewarding and punishing interactions affect future behavior and judgments of relationship satisfaction. c. Relationships are best viewed as a series of behaviors that are negatively reinforced. d. Relationship behaviors are learned early in life and, once learned, are difficult to change. ANS: B DIF: Medium TOP: Social Learning Theory

REF: Social Learning Theory MSC: Conceptual

44. One of the major contributions that social ecological models make to the study of intimate relationships is that they: a. focus on how partners interact and behave within their relationship. b. explain how unsatisfying relationships can improve if the environment becomes more supportive. c. explain why some couples develop skills to meet their challenges when others do not. d. specify how resources and coping styles may change over time.


ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Social Ecological Models TOP: Social Ecological Models: Evaluating social ecological models MSC: Conceptual 45. One of the major contributions that social learning theory makes to the study of intimate relationships is that it: a. adopts the couple as the basic unit of analysis. b. explains how a couple’s interactions can improve and decline over time within the same relationship. c. explains why some couples have better communication skills than other couples. d. accounts for why vulnerable couples may experience a decline in relationship satisfaction. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Social Learning Theory TOP: Social Learning Theory: Evaluating social learning theory MSC: Conceptual 46. Lucy and Ricky, who have been married a long time, are having an argument about whether Lucy can perform with Ricky in his nightclub. Ricky does not want to let her perform, but Lucy keeps asking, more and more loudly. Finally, she starts crying, and Ricky gives in. A social learning theorist would call their interaction an example of: a. anxious attachment. c. escape conditioning. b. negative reciprocity. d. coercion theory. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Social Learning Theory TOP: Social Learning Theory: Fundamental assumptions: Coercion theory MSC: Applied 47. Jorge and Tito have been married for several years. When he goes to bed, Tito leaves his socks lying on the bedroom floor, something that really bothers Jorge. Jorge asks Tito nicely to please put the socks in the laundry hamper, but it is not until he has yelled at Tito about the socks that Tito actually does so. A social learning theorist would say that because Jorge has to resort to yelling before Tito responds, Jorge’s nagging behavior has been reinforced in an example of: a. escape conditioning. c. negative reciprocity. b. negative reinforcement. d. coercion theory. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Social Learning Theory TOP: Social Learning Theory: Fundamental assumptions: Coercion theory MSC: Applied 48. According to Bronfenbrenner, the fact that you are a student at a particular college living in a specific city would be part of the ________ context for your romantic relationship, while the fact that your friends are all single and discourage you from being in a committed relationship would be part of the ________ context. a. microsystem; mesosystem c. macrosystem; mesosystem b. mesosystem; microsystem d. mesosystem; macrosystem ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Social Ecological Models TOP: Social Ecological Models: Interplay between couples and their environments MSC: Applied 49. Applying Bronfenbrenner’s ecological model to couples, the microsystem consists of ________, the mesosystem consists of ________, and the macrosystem consists of ________. a. neighborhood and culture; national and historical forces; a couple’s family and friends b. national and historical forces; neighborhood and culture; a couple’s family and friends c. a couple’s family and friends; neighborhood and culture; national and historical forces


d. a couple’s family and friends; national and historical forces; neighborhood and culture ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Social Ecological Models TOP: Social Ecological Models: Interplay between couples and their environments MSC: Conceptual 50. In Hill’s ABC-X model of how relationships react to stressful conditions, the C stands for: a. resources. c. interpretation. b. stressor. d. crisis. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Social Ecological Models TOP: Social Ecological Models: Fundamental assumptions: ABC-X model: Stressor, resources, interpretation, crisis MSC: Factual 51. In Hill’s ABC-X model of how relationships react to stressful conditions, the X stands for: a. resources. c. interpretation. b. stressor. d. crisis. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Social Ecological Models TOP: Social Ecological Models: Fundamental assumptions: ABC-X model: Stressor, resources, interpretation, crisis MSC: Factual 52. One of the classic ecological models of intimate relationships is Hill’s ABC-X model, developed after World War II. More recently, McCubbin and Patterson developed the double ABC-X model, which differs from the original model in that it: a. acknowledges that each element in the original model may change over time. b. acknowledges that stress may harm a relationship, or it may bring couples closer together. c. addresses the effects on the relationship and on children. d. includes elements of the microsystem and the mesosystem. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Social Ecological Models TOP: Social Ecological Models: Fundamental Assumptions: ABC-X model: Stressor, resources, interpretation, crisis | Social Ecological Models: Fundamental Assumptions: Double ABC-X Model: Stress pile-up MSC: Factual 53. According to the chapter about theoretical perspectives on close relationships, which of the following is true? (Hint: Think about the table at the end of the chapter.) a. Attachment theory can be faulted because it does not explain the variability among couples with the same attachment style. b. Social exchange theory offers a compelling explanation for how perceptions of rewards and costs may change over time in a relationship. c. Social learning theory overlooks the proximal causes of behavior in relationships. d. Evolutionary theory focuses too much on fossils and other obscure types of evidence that really do not have much to do with human intimacy. ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Unifying Themes in Theories of Intimate Relationships TOP: Unifying Themes in Theories of Intimate Relationships

MSC: Conceptual

54. According to the chapter about theoretical perspectives on intimate relationships, three broad themes—dyadic interaction, individual differences, and external circumstances—capture the types of variables described by theories of intimate relationships. Yet not all theories focus on all three themes. Which of the following statements about the focus of theories of intimate relationships is most accurate? a. Social learning theory focuses on dyadic interaction and individual differences. b. Evolutionary theory addresses both external circumstances and dyadic interaction.


c. Attachment theory focuses only on individual differences. d. Social ecological theory addresses all three themes: dyadic interaction, individual differences, and external circumstances. ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Unifying Themes in Theories of Intimate Relationships TOP: Unifying Themes in Theories of Intimate Relationships

MSC: Conceptual

ESSAY 1. Outline the fundamental premises of the evolutionary perspective of intimate relationships. ANS: Humans must reproduce to pass their genes on to the next generation. Through natural selection, humans evolved characteristic ways of attracting and selecting mates. Features that contribute to successful reproduction are passed down from generation to generation, even if these features impede survival (sexual selection). These may be physical features or psychological mechanisms. DIF: Easy REF: The Evolutionary Perspective TOP: The Evolutionary Perspective MSC: Factual 2. The theory of parental investment states that sexual selection pressures vary based on the amount of energy and resources that each sex must invest to raise surviving offspring, with parental investment high for females. What are the implications of this differential investment for women’s and men’s mate preferences? ANS: Females should be more selective about mates and choose only high-quality partners. Markers of quality include a partner who (1) has resources, (2) is willing to commit those resources, and (3) is big and strong to protect the female and her offspring. In contrast, males have relatively low parental investment. Males’ selective pressures include (1) ensuring access to females, (2) ensuring that as many pairings as possible result in surviving offspring, and (3) ensuring that they only contribute resources toward raising a child who is genetically related to them. An effective strategy for men in addressing these selection issues would be to desire multiple partners and to have mechanisms for identifying which would likely be fertile. DIF: Medium REF: The Evolutionary Perspective TOP: The Evolutionary Perspective: Fundamental assumptions: Theory of parental investment | The Evolutionary Perspective: Fundamental assumptions: Gender differences in mate preferences and mating behaviors MSC: Factual 3. Describe the strengths and limitations that the evolutionary perspective brings to the study of intimate relationships. ANS: A major strength of the evolutionary perspective is that it examines the adaptive functions of mating behaviors. It addresses ultimate questions about how human beings attract and select mates. Unfortunately, in the search for ancestral causes of human behavior, evolutionary psychologists have sometimes neglected to consider more immediate causes of the same behaviors. Similarly, by focusing on gender differences that characterize most of the species, evolutionary psychologists have sometimes overlooked the rich, complex variability among individuals and within each gender. Finally, by focusing only on how men and women attract and select mates, evolutionary psychologists have neglected to study how people manage their relationships once they begin to form them.


DIF: Easy REF: The Evolutionary Perspective TOP: The Evolutionary Perspective: Evaluating the evolutionary perspective MSC: Factual 4. Outline the fundamental premises of attachment theory. ANS: (1) Infants possess an attachment behavior system—behaviors and reactions that monitor and regulate the distance between them and their attachment figures. The presence of an attachment figure promotes felt security; (2) Over the course of infancy and childhood, repeated experiences with caregivers form the basis of internal working models of attachment—enduring beliefs and expectations about how attachment figures are likely to act. These models draw on expectations about attachment figures as well as on beliefs about the self and about relationships. DIF: Easy REF: Attachment Theory TOP: Attachment Theory: Bonds with caregivers in infancy and childhood influence adult intimate relationships MSC: Factual 5. How are the dimensions of attachment-related anxiety and attachment-related avoidance related to the four attachment styles (secure, fearful, preoccupied, and dismissing)? Why do researchers and theorists now assess the attachment dimensions of anxiety and avoidance rather than use categories to assess the quality of attachment? ANS: Secure = low anxiety, low avoidance; Fearful = high anxiety, high avoidance; Preoccupied = high anxiety, low avoidance; Dismissing = low anxiety, high avoidance. Researchers and theorists assess attachment dimensions rather than use categories because people are generally a mixture of the four patterns of attachment; they do not fit neatly into single categories. DIF: Medium REF: Attachment Theory TOP: Attachment Theory: Bonds with caregivers in infancy and childhood influence adult intimate relationships | Attachment Theory: Fundamental assumptions: Attachment styles in adult intimate relationships MSC: Conceptual 6. Describe the strengths and limitations that attachment theory brings to the study of intimate relationships. ANS: First, a strength of attachment theory is that it adopts a developmental perspective lacking in other theories of intimate relationships, thus providing a framework for thinking about and studying the continuity of experiences across the lifespan. Second, attachment theory offers an explanation for how this continuity may come about. Third, attachment theory begins to explain variability in the values and expectations people bring to their relationships. Finally, attachment theory suggests that intimate relationships, parent-child relationships, and even relationships among primates are all manifestations of a single behavioral system. Unfortunately, however, because of its focus on continuity, attachment theory has not been able to thoroughly explain how a specific relationship develops between two people. Research on attachment has yet to explore sources of variability in relationship outcomes for individuals who share a common attachment style. DIF: Easy REF: Attachment Theory TOP: Attachment Theory: Evaluating attachment theory

MSC: Factual


7. A fundamental assumption of social exchange theory is that people evaluate the rewards and costs of their relationships. Define “rewards” and “costs,” and describe the two types of potential rewards of an intimate relationship. ANS: Rewards are any of the ways in which the relationship may fulfill the needs and desires of each partner; costs are any of the consequences of being in a relationship that prevent partners from fulfilling their needs or desires. The two types of potential rewards of an intimate relationship are: (1) material rewards (e.g., financial resources, protection), and (2) social rewards (e.g., affection, companionship). DIF: Easy REF: Social Exchange Theory TOP: Social Exchange Theory: Fundamental assumptions: Rewards and costs: Relationship outcome MSC: Factual 8. Farida recently moved from a very small town to a large city to pursue a college education. In high school she did not have a boyfriend, even though she would have liked to have been in a relationship. She did not get asked to go on dates because she was not considered one of the “popular” students. In one of her college courses, Farida met Sayid, who asked her out for coffee a few times and seems interested in pursuing a relationship with her. Farida wonders, however, whether Sayid is truly interested in dating her or whether he only wants to spend time with her because she is doing well in their college class. Because no other men have expressed interest, Farida decides to pursue a relationship with Sayid. Interpret Farida’s situation from a social exchange theory perspective. ANS: Farida has a low comparison level (CL): she is willing to be with a partner even though she doubts his intentions. As long as Sayid provides rewards to Farida, she will be satisfied with the relationship. Farida also has a low comparison level for alternatives (CLalt); though she would like to have a boyfriend, there are no other men who have expressed interest. Consequently, Farida is likely to be dependent on this relationship. DIF: Difficult REF: Social Exchange Theory TOP: Social Exchange Theory: Fundamental assumptions: Comparison level MSC: Applied 9. Describe the strengths and limitations that social exchange theory brings to the study of intimate relationships. ANS: Probably the biggest contribution that social exchange theory has made to our understanding of intimate relationships is the recognition that satisfaction is only one component influencing whether a relationship lasts—relationships may endure even if they are not satisfying to the partners. It is important to distinguish between satisfaction and dependence. A limitation of social exchange theory is that it does not explain how some initially satisfied couples become distressed over time or how perceptions of costs and rewards change over time. DIF: Easy REF: Social Exchange Theory TOP: Social Exchange Theory: Evaluating social exchange theory MSC: Factual


10. Imagine that you are a social learning theorist studying communication patterns in intimate relationships. A couple has just arrived at the research lab, and you explain that they will be asked to discuss a problem they are trying to solve as well as share with each other a time when someone else (other than their partner) hurt their feelings. What types of data/information will you, as the researcher, collect based on these interactions? Assuming the couple is in a satisfied relationship, what would you observe about their interactions as compared to couples in unsatisfied relationships? ANS: The couple’s interactions will be recorded, and I will analyze their behavioral sequences (e.g., how they respond to each other’s statements). I may even record their physiological responses. I will rate the amount of positive and negative behaviors in which the partners engage during the problem-solving interaction, as well as the amount of disclosure and empathy they use when discussing their hurt feelings. Because the couple is satisfied in their relationship, they will show more positive and fewer negative behaviors than would an unhappy couple; they will also be able to break out of negative cycles quickly (i.e., not engage in negative reciprocity). DIF: Medium REF: Social Learning Theory TOP: Social Learning Theory: Approach to research

MSC: Applied

11. Describe the strengths and limitations that social learning theory brings to the study of intimate relationships. ANS: One of the major contributions that social learning theory makes to the study of intimate relationships is that it adopts the couple as the basic unit of analysis. Social learning theory also offers a perspective on change in intimate relationships that other theories lack. Additionally, it has led to the development of new techniques and procedures for observing and describing couples. Two limitations are that social learning theory has not been able to explain why some couples have better communication skills than other couples or how a couple’s interactions can improve and yet decline over time within the same relationship. DIF: Easy REF: Social Learning Theory TOP: Social Learning Theory: Evaluating social learning theory MSC: Factual 12. Tina and Jill have been married for 4 years. When experiencing conflict, they tend to respond to each other’s negative effects and behaviors with further negativity. Although they feel somewhat less satisfied with each other and with the relationship after an argument, they generally maintain a high level of satisfaction. In the first few years of their marriage, they rarely argued; however, Jill’s mother was recently diagnosed with cancer, and Jill has been spending more time with her mother and less time with Tina than Tina would like. This has created tension and has led to increased conflict between Tina and Jill. As a result, Tina and Jill find that their satisfaction with the relationship has been steadily decreasing. Your textbook describes five theoretical approaches to intimate relationships. Which of these approaches provide(s) the best explanation for Tina and Jill’s declining relationship satisfaction? Why? ANS: Because of their focus on the influence of environmental stressors, social ecological models can explain why Tina’s and Jill’s relationship satisfaction has started declining since Jill’s mother’s cancer diagnosis. Social learning theory can also explain why an increase in conflict would result in decreased satisfaction by pointing out that Tina and Jill engage in negative reciprocity. But because social learning theory focuses on within-couple interactions, it cannot explain why Tina and Jill experience a higher level of conflict—only social ecological models, with their focus on external stressors, can do that.


DIF: Difficult REF: Social Learning Theory | Social Ecological Models | Unifying Themes in Theories of Intimate Relationships TOP: Social Learning Theory | Social Ecological Models | Unifying Themes in Theories of Intimate Relationships MSC: Applied 13. Outline the components of Hill’s ABC-X model, and explain why the original model has been revised by McCubbin and Patterson in their proposed double ABC-X model. ANS: A = stressor, or any event requiring some sort of behavioral response. B = resources, defined as all the assets a couple may use in coping with a stressor. C = interpretation of the event/stressor as a challenge to be overcome or a catastrophe to be endured. X = crisis, or the couple’s experience of, and response to, the stressful event. Because Hill’s original ABC-X model addresses only the state of the relationship at a single moment in time, McCubbin and Patterson proposed a revision that takes into account changes that can occur over time. DIF: Easy REF: Social Ecological Models TOP: Social Ecological Models: Fundamental assumptions: ABC-X model: Stressor, resources, interpretation, crisis | Social Ecological Models: Fundamental assumptions: Double ABC-X model: Stress pile-up MSC: Factual 14. Describe the strengths and limitations that social ecological models bring to the study of intimate relationships. ANS: Social ecological models address questions about intimate relationships that other theories overlook. By acknowledging the effects of the environment external to a relationship, social ecological models account for the ups and downs of relationships in a way that other theories do not. The limitations of social ecological models stem from its failure to specify exactly how some of the associations come about. For example, most social ecological models describe links between relationships and environments without explaining how demands outside the relationship affect processes within the relationship. Social ecological models have also been slow to explain why some couples develop skills to meet their challenges while others do not. DIF: Easy REF: Social Ecological Models TOP: Social Ecological Models: Evaluating social ecological models MSC: Factual 15. The chapter about theoretical perspectives on intimate relationships outlines three broad themes that capture the types of variables described by theories of intimate relationships. Identify these three themes and indicate which theories described in the chapter tend to focus on each of the themes. ANS: (1) Dyadic interaction. The theories that tend to adopt this focus are social exchange theory, social learning theory, attachment theory, and social ecological models. (2) Individual differences. The theories that tend to adopt this focus are attachment theory, evolutionary theory, social exchange theory, and social ecological models. (3) External circumstances. The theories that tend to adopt this focus are social ecological models, social exchange theory, and evolutionary theory. DIF: Medium REF: Unifying Themes in Theories of Intimate Relationships TOP: Unifying Themes in Theories of Intimate Relationships MSC: Conceptual


CHAPTER 3: Research Methods 1. Challenges of Relationship Science a. Studying constructs i. Psychological constructs ii. Operationalization b. Relationships are complex and multidetermined c. Couples are not objects 2. Measurement Strategies a. Self-reports i. Yes/no response questions ii. Fixed-response scales versus open-ended questions 1. Qualitative research iii. Pros and cons b. Observational measures i. Sentiment override ii. Interrater reliability iii. Pros and cons c. Indirect measures i. Reaction time ii. Implicit attitudes iii. Pros and cons d. Physiological measures i. Pros and cons e. Which measurement strategy is best? i. Multiple-method approach 3. Designing the Study a. Correlational research i. Pros and cons b. Longitudinal research i. Daily diary approach ii. Experience sampling iii. Pros and cons c. Experimental research i. Dependent variable ii. Independent variable iii. Control iv. Random assignment v. Pros and cons d. Archival research i. Analysis of existing data sets ii. Content analysis iii. Pros and cons e. Which research design is best? 4. Choosing Participants a. Representative samples b. Convenience samples 5. Ethical Issues a. Respect for persons


MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. Specific predictions suggested by ________ are called ________. a. theories; hypotheses c. theories; data b. hypotheses; theories d. data; hypotheses ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Understanding Relationships Involves Studying Constructs TOP: Challenges of Relationship Science: Studying constructs MSC: Factual 2. Andy decides to use the number of times per week research participants talk to their partners as a measure of relationship closeness. According to the chapter on research methods, “closeness” is ________. a. an imaginary construct b. the operationalization of a psychological construct c. the predictor variable d. a psychological construct ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Understanding Relationships Involves Studying Constructs TOP: Challenges of Relationship Science: Studying constructs: Psychological constructs MSC: Applied 3. According to the chapter on research methods, which of the following is FALSE? a. Operationalization refers to the translation of an abstract idea into something concrete and measurable. b. A specific measure that does not represent a concept very well is said to lack construct operationalization. c. If a specific measure represents an abstract concept well, it has high construct validity. d. We cannot directly measure abstract ideas, so they must be made observable or concrete. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Understanding Relationships Involves Studying Constructs TOP: Challenges of Relationship Science: Studying constructs: Psychological constructs MSC: Factual 4. You and your friend are discussing what it means to be in love. You think that being in love means that you put your partner’s needs above your own, whereas your friend thinks that it means that you want to spend the rest of your life with that person. Given this, you and your friend obviously differ in your: a. self-report. c. psychological construct. b. operationalization. d. observation. ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Understanding Relationships Involves Studying Constructs TOP: Challenges of Relationship Science: Studying constructs: Operationalization MSC: Factual 5. Andrea is studying the conditions under which people become attracted to each other. She invites male research participants to visit the lab and interact briefly with an attractive person (a paid research assistant). By flipping a coin, Andrea places participants in one of two conditions: (1) The conversation occurs without incident, or (2) There is a brief blackout in the research lab during the conversation. At the end of each session, the attractive research assistant gives the research participant her home phone number and invites him to call her later. In this study, whether the research participant calls the number is the: a. operationalization of the dependent variable.


b. operationalization of the independent variable. c. control variable. d. predictor variable. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Understanding Relationships Involves Studying Constructs TOP: Challenges of Relationship Science: Studying constructs: Operationalization MSC: Applied 6. Andy decides to use the number of times per week research participants talk to their partners as a measure of relationship closeness. According to the chapter on research methods, “how many times per week research participants talk to their partners” is ________. a. an imaginary construct b. the operationalization of a psychological construct c. the predictor variable d. a psychological construct ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Understanding Relationships Involves Studying Constructs TOP: Challenges of Relationship Science: Studying constructs: Operationalization MSC: Applied 7. Your professor is interested in doing a quick study on understanding how watching Netflix with or without one’s partner may be associated with relationship satisfaction. The grant your professor received was for $200, and she needs to have the results within 3 months. What type of measurement strategy would you suggest she use? a. physiological measures c. observational measures b. indirect measures d. self-report measures ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Measurement Strategies TOP: Measurement Strategies: Self-reports MSC: Applied 8. You design a questionnaire where you first ask participants to briefly describe how they met their current romantic partners, and then you ask them to rate, on a scale of 1 to 7, how satisfied they are in their relationships. The first part of the questionnaire is an example of ________ and the second part is an example of ________. a. a fixed-response scale; open-ended questions b. open-ended questions; a fixed-response scale c. open-ended questions; qualitative research d. qualitative research; correlational research ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: Measurement Strategies TOP: Measurement Strategies: Self-reports: Fixed-response scales versus open-ended questions MSC: Applied 9. You are designing an exploratory study on couples who have polyamorous relationships (i.e., they have multiple committed relationships at one time). There is very little research in this area, and not much is known about how these couples manage their relationships. What kind of measurement strategy would be the most appropriate for this new research area? a. fixed-response scales c. global measures b. observational measures d. open-ended questionnaires ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Measurement Strategies TOP: Measurement Strategies: Self-reports: Fixed-response scales versus open-ended questions MSC: Applied


10. You are designing an exploratory study on couples who have polyamorous relationships (i.e., they have multiple committed relationships at one time). There is very little research in this area, and not much is known about how these couples manage their relationships. Which research approach would be the most appropriate for this new research area? a. qualitative research c. correlational research b. observational research d. experimental research ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Measurement Strategies TOP: Measurement Strategies: Self-reports: Fixed-response scales versus open-ended questions MSC: Applied 11. Jacobson and Moore (1981) found that a spouse’s rating of a partner’s behavior on the Spouse Observation Checklist often did not match the partner’s own rating of his or her behaviors. This study suggested that the Spouse Observation Checklist may have a problem with ________. a. construct validity c. reliability b. operationalization d. reactivity ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Measurement Strategies TOP: Measurement Strategies: Self-reports: Pros and cons MSC: Applied 12. Kahni has developed a measure of conflict, and she is using participants’ frequency of conflict to predict their relationship satisfaction. She is assessing relationship satisfaction with the Marital Adjustment Test, which is a self-report measure of satisfaction that taps into how spouses resolve disagreements, how much spouses confide in each other, and how much spouses agree about various topics. Which of the following is NOT a potential problem with using the Marital Adjustment Test in Kahni’s study? a. poor construct validity c. social desirability effect b. reactivity d. sentiment override ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: Measurement Strategies TOP: Measurement Strategies: Self-reports: Pros and cons MSC: Applied 13. Which of the following is a limitation of self-report data in the study of couples? a. Self-report questionnaires are generally unreliable. b. Self-report questionnaires are often invalid. c. Self-report questionnaires cannot capture interactions between partners. d. When asked to report on their relationship, partners often agree about their interactions. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Measurement Strategies TOP: Measurement Strategies: Self-reports: Pros and cons MSC: Factual 14. A researcher is surveying men about partner behaviors that are potentially annoying. When presented with a list of possibly annoying behaviors and asked to rate their tolerance of these behaviors that have occurred in the current relationship, respondents indicate a high level of tolerance for all behaviors, even the most annoying ones. What phenomenon might these responses illustrate? a. inaccurate recall c. social desirability effect b. reactivity d. cognitive editing ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Measurement Strategies TOP: Measurement Strategies: Self-reports: Pros and cons MSC: Applied 15. Carly and Joan are very happy in their relationship and have been together for a long time. When you ask Carly how often Joan says “I love you,” Carly responds that Joan says it almost every day. This is surprising: Joan tells you that she rarely says “I love you” because she reserves those words for special occasions. Why might Carly’s report be so different from Joan’s?


a. social desirability effect b. sentiment override

c. prospective bias d. reactivity

ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: Measurement Strategies TOP: Measurement Strategies: Observational measures: Sentiment override MSC: Conceptual 16. Wei-Chin designed a self-report inventory to measure how intimate partners express affection and hostility toward each other. The inventory is a list of positive behaviors (e.g., back rubs, holding hands) and negative behaviors (e.g., slamming doors, raising voices). After a wide range of couples completed the inventory, Wei-Chin found that happy couples endorsed all the affection items and unhappy couples endorsed all the hostile items. Which of the following problems prevents Wei-Chin from concluding that happy couples exchange more affectionate behaviors than unhappy couples? a. sentiment override c. correlation does not imply causation b. item-overlap problem d. social desirability effect ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Measurement Strategies TOP: Measurement Strategies: Observational measures: Sentiment override MSC: Applied 17. The measurement of agreement between independent observers, who are studying behaviors that require some interpretation on the part of the observer, is called ________. a. reactivity c. correlation b. construct validity d. reliability ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Measurement Strategies TOP: Measurement Strategies: Observational measures: Interrater reliability MSC: Factual 18. Self-report measures that ask about a wide range of emotions or behaviors associated with a specific topic are considered _____ measures. a. global c. self b. omnibus d. indirect ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Which Measurement Strategy Is Best? TOP: Measurement Strategies: Which measurement strategy is best? MSC: Factual 19. The disadvantage to _____ measures is that responses may be weakly correlated with the specific construct of interest. a. indirect c. observational b. physiological d. self-report ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Which Measurement Strategy Is Best? TOP: Measurement Strategies: Which measurement strategy is best? MSC: Factual 20. For Sally’s study, one member of a set of married couples carried voice-activated digital recorders for 2 weeks and both spouses made relationship satisfaction ratings at the end of each day. The recordings contained a lot of meaningless information, but they also contained daily conversations that the spouses had with each other. Sally analyzed the conversations and examined whether the positive and negative behaviors on each day predicted the relationship satisfaction ratings on subsequent days. What kind of research is this? a. home-based observational and cross-sectional b. home-based observational and experimental


c. home-based observational and correlational d. daily diary approach and experimental ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Measurement Strategies | Designing the Study TOP: Measurement Strategies: Which measurement strategy is best? | Designing the Study MSC: Applied 21. Atiyeh is studying whether violations of expectations about the division of household chores lead to a decline in relationship satisfaction. This is an example of a(n) ________ research question. a. descriptive c. explanatory b. predictive d. conceptual ANS: C DIF: Easy TOP: Designing the Study

REF: Designing the Study MSC: Conceptual

22. U.S. divorce rates are nearly twice as high in low-income neighborhoods as in high-income neighborhoods. To learn why this association exists, we must ask ________ research questions. a. conceptual c. predictive b. descriptive d. explanatory ANS: D DIF: Easy TOP: Designing the Study

REF: Designing the Study MSC: Applied

23. Which of the following is FALSE regarding research methods used to understand relationships? a. Ideally, any method of data collection leads to the same results. b. Data often reflect not only the phenomena of interest but also the method used to collect the data. c. It is difficult to reliably quantify thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in intimate relationships, so relationship researchers instead rely on self-report data. d. Direct observation provides unique information about interpersonal processes that cannot be captured from self-report data. ANS: C DIF: Easy TOP: Designing the Study

REF: Designing the Study MSC: Factual

24. Why would you choose to design a longitudinal study rather than to conduct an experiment? a. We can have greater control of participant variables in longitudinal studies. b. Some relationship factors cannot be manipulated in experiments. c. Longitudinal studies are less time intensive than experiments. d. Longitudinal studies allow us to make stronger causal claims than experimental studies. ANS: B DIF: Easy TOP: Designing the Study

REF: Designing the Study MSC: Conceptual

25. “Do couples who cohabit before marriage have less conflict as newlyweds than couples who do not cohabit before marriage?” This is an example of a(n) ________ research question. a. descriptive c. explanatory b. predictive d. predictive and descriptive ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Designing the Study TOP: Designing the Study: Correlational research MSC: Conceptual 26. Daniella wants to know if the birth of a child is linked to lower marital satisfaction. This is an example of a(n) ________ research question. a. descriptive c. explanatory b. predictive d. conceptual


ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Designing the Study TOP: Designing the Study: Correlational research MSC: Conceptual 27. Which type of study design allows the researcher to assess several variables on a single occasion and helps to explain naturally occurring associations among variables? a. longitudinal research c. archival research b. experimental research d. cross-sectional research ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Designing the Study TOP: Designing the Study: Correlational research MSC: Factual 28. Sagga, a researcher studying couples who have been married for 20 years, finds a negative correlation between depression and relationship satisfaction: spouses who are more depressed are less satisfied in their marriages. How might Sagga interpret his findings? a. Being depressed leads people to become less satisfied with their marriages. b. Being dissatisfied with one’s marriage leads people to become depressed. c. Some other factor, such as family background, is responsible both for people’s levels of depression and for people’s relationship satisfaction. d. All of the answer options are possible interpretations of Sagga’s findings. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Designing the Study TOP: Designing the Study: Correlational research: Pros and cons MSC: Applied 29. In the 1970s, a number of studies suggested that over the course of a long marriage, spouses’ relationship satisfaction generally followed a U-shaped curve: first declining, then remaining stable, and then increasing (presumably after children left home). In the 1990s, new research proved this idea wrong. Generally, marital satisfaction declines throughout the course of marriage. What was the difference between the earlier and the later research? a. The early research was correlational, and the later research was experimental. b. The early research suffered from attrition bias, and the later research did not. c. The early research examined only American couples, and the later research examined cross-cultural samples. d. The early research was cross-sectional, and the later research was longitudinal. ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Designing the Study TOP: Designing the Study: Correlational research: Pros and cons | Designing the Study: Longitudinal research MSC: Conceptual 30. You have decided to conduct a research study examining the relationship between depression and relationship satisfaction. To do this you have collected a sample of 120 newlywed couples. In 40 of the couples, neither partner is depressed; in 40 of the couples, one partner is depressed; in the remaining 40 couples, both partners are depressed. You plan to assess both members of each couple on relationship satisfaction and depression every 6 months for the first 5 years of marriage. What type of design is this study? a. correlational and cross-sectional c. experimental and cross-sectional b. correlational and longitudinal d. experimental and longitudinal ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Designing the Study TOP: Designing the Study: Correlational research | Designing the Study: Longitudinal research MSC: Applied 31. You meet a number of students in a graduate program studying intimate relationships. The students describe their research to you. Which of the following students is conducting descriptive research?


a. Ahmed, who is investigating whether couples who cohabit before marriage have less conflict as newlyweds than couples who do not cohabit before marriage b. Jeremy, who is interested in marital satisfaction following the birth of the first child c. Humpreet, who is studying whether violations of expectations about the division of household chores lead to a decline in relationship satisfaction d. All of the students are conducting descriptive research. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Designing the Study TOP: Designing the Study: Correlational research | Designing the Study: Longitudinal research | Designing the Study: Archival research MSC: Applied 32. Tony is interested in understanding how trust develops in the context of a relationship. For example, he would like to determine at what month or year in a relationship do partners really start to trust one another. Based on his question, what type of study would you suggest he design? a. correlational research c. longitudinal research b. experimental research d. archival research ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Designing the Study TOP: Designing the Study: Longitudinal research MSC: Applied 33. Ajay wanted to learn more about how romantic partners share good news with each other. He asked 60 married couples to describe their conversations with their spouses and to rate their partners’ responses to any good news that was shared. The spouses also rated their relationship satisfaction. The questionnaires were completed every day before bed for 14 days. What kind of research design is this? a. experimental c. daily diary approach b. cross-sectional d. experience sampling ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Designing the Study TOP: Designing the Study: Longitudinal research: Daily diary approach MSC: Applied 34. A researcher is interested in interpersonal attraction and the factors that affect it. She designs a study in which she looks at the effect of similarity and social warmth on interpersonal attraction. Participants in her study meet a target person who either is or is not similar to the participant (the similarity variable) and who is either friendly or aloof (the social warmth variable). After interacting with the target person under these conditions, participants are then asked to rate how attractive they think the target person is. In this study, similarity and social warmth are the ________ variables and interpersonal attraction is the ________ variable. a. independent; dependent c. causal; control b. dependent; independent d. control; outcome ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Designing the Study TOP: Designing the Study: Experimental research MSC: Applied 35. Which of the following is NOT a crucial element of a true experiment? a. dependent variable c. random sampling b. random assignment d. control ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Designing the Study TOP: Designing the Study: Experimental research MSC: Factual


36. Danica put spouses in separate rooms, asked them to complete relationship satisfaction ratings, and then videotaped all participants giving a brief speech, which she said their partners would later watch. After the speech, participants were provided with three different types of written false feedback presumably provided by their partners, and then they rated their relationship satisfaction again. Danica then assessed how evaluations of relationship satisfaction changed when participants received three different types of false feedback. In one condition, the feedback was positive and reassuring, in the second, it was negative and critical, and in the third, it was mixed. In this experiment, the independent variable is ________ and the dependent variable is ________. a. the false feedback; the relationship satisfaction b. the relationship satisfaction; the false feedback c. the speech; the false feedback d. the speech; the relationship satisfaction ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Designing the Study TOP: Designing the Study: Experimental research MSC: Applied 37. Researchers collecting their own data must choose who they will include in their sample and how to recruit these participants. The specific characteristics of those who participate in the research may limit the _____ of the study’s results. a. random assignment c. external validity b. control d. internal validity ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Designing the Study TOP: Designing the Study: Experimental research MSC: Factual 38. A researcher is interested in interpersonal attraction and the factors that affect it. She designs a study in which she looks at the effect of similarity and social warmth on interpersonal attraction. Participants in her study meet a target person who either is or is not similar to the participant (the similarity variable) and who is either friendly or aloof (the social warmth variable). After interacting with the target person under these conditions, participants are then asked to rate how attractive they think the target person is. In this study, the dependent variable is: a. similarity. c. interpersonal attraction. b. social warmth. d. All of the answer options are correct. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Designing the Study TOP: Designing the Study: Experimental research: Dependent variable MSC: Applied 39. A researcher is interested in interpersonal attraction and the factors that affect it. She designs a study in which she looks at the effect of similarity and social warmth on interpersonal attraction. Participants in her study meet a target person who either is or is not similar to the participant (the similarity variable) and who is either friendly or aloof (the social warmth variable). After interacting with the target person, participants are then asked to rate how attractive they think the target person is. In this study, the independent variables are: a. similarity and interpersonal attraction. b. similarity and social warmth. c. social warmth and interpersonal attraction. d. similarity, social warmth, and interpersonal attraction. ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Designing the Study TOP: Designing the Study: Experimental research: Independent variable MSC: Applied


40. Harker and Keltner (2001) examined women’s yearbook photos from 30 years ago. They examined how women’s facial expressions in the photos predicted whether or not the women were more or less likely to marry and how happy they were if they stayed married. What kind of research is this an example of? a. archival c. longitudinal b. experimental d. observational ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Designing the Study TOP: Designing the Study: Archival research MSC: Factual 41. Ravneet is doing a study on social support in romantic relationships and depression. He recruited a sample of undergraduates to complete his questionnaires but would like to generalize his findings to anyone in a romantic relationship. What is one problem with his study? a. It may lack internal validity. c. It may lack reliability. b. It may suffer from attrition bias. d. It may lack external validity. ANS: D DIF: Easy TOP: Choosing Participants

REF: Choosing Participants MSC: Factual

42. The following are all challenges to studying couples EXCEPT: a. Whose effect do you consider (actor or c. How do you know people are a couple? partner)? b. Whose information do you trust? d. How will you ensure the couple remains together for the duration of your study? ANS: D DIF: Medium TOP: Choosing Participants

REF: Choosing Participants MSC: Factual

43. Ravneet is doing a study on social support in newlyweds and depression. He would like to collect data from a representative sample. This means Ravneet should: a. recruit couples at bridal shows so he can ensure that couples will be newly married when they enter his study. b. ensure that the couples in his sample are representative of the population of newlywed couples to which he would like to generalize his results. c. make sure there are not any college student couples in his study because these couples have been overrepresented in relationship research. d. give up now—there is no way he will be able to find a representative sample of newlywed couples. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Choosing Participants TOP: Choosing Participants: Representative samples MSC: Applied 44. What is a positive consequence of choosing a representative sample? a. It will result in high external validity. b. It will result in larger differences between groups. c. It will be easier to collect than a nonrepresentative sample. d. It will reduce the effects of social desirability. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Choosing Participants TOP: Choosing Participants: Representative samples MSC: Factual 45. A sample that is recruited solely because it is easy to find is called a ________ sample. a. representative c. biased b. valid d. convenience ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Choosing Participants TOP: Choosing Participants: Convenience samples MSC: Factual


46. Which is an example of the “showing respect for persons” principle? a. maintaining confidentiality b. asking nontrivial questions c. publishing only part of the data that couples have provided d. not harming the research participants ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Ethical Issues TOP: Ethical Issues: Respect for persons MSC: Factual ESSAY 1. Describe some of the pros and cons of using self-reports in relationship research. ANS: Pros: Self-report measures are cheap and easy to administer—no fancy equipment is required. Self-reports may also be the only way to measure certain constructs: if a researcher is interested in what people are thinking and feeling, the only way to find out is to ask them. As a result, self-report measures may have high construct validity—a great deal of overlap between the operationalization and the construct. Cons: One difficulty in using self-report measures is the specific phrasing of a question, which can affect, and sometimes significantly change, the way people respond, which can be a problem whether using open-ended questions or fixed-response scales. A second difficulty is that a variety of factors may result in low construct validity: (1) People will answer the questions asked even if they are unable to provide meaningful answers; (2) People may not remember something and will fill in the gaps with guesses; (3) People may misunderstand the questions asked; and (4) People may be reluctant to answer questions accurately when the answer makes them look bad. DIF: Easy REF: Measurement Strategies TOP: Measurement Strategies: Self-reports: Pros and cons

MSC: Factual

2. Describe some of the pros and cons of using physiological measurement in relationship research. ANS: Pros: Observations directly assess the behaviors of interest to relationship researchers and can provide information that the couple is unable or unwilling to provide through self-report. These observations provide a rich source of data on couples’ interactions and avoid problems associated with self-reports, such as retrospective biases, memory biases, and social desirability. Cons: It is extremely time-consuming and labor-intensive to collect physiological measurements. It requires the participation of outside trained observers; it involves recording the couples, making the use of expensive equipment and the logistics of arranging the meetings difficult; and it may work against the validity of observations because of participant reactivity to the situation—the act of observing may change the participants’ behavior. DIF: Easy REF: Measurement Strategies TOP: Measurement Strategies: Physiological measures: Pros and cons MSC: Factual 3. Your friend Mathilda learns that you are taking a course on the scientific study of relationships. She scoffs that it is not possible to study relationships scientifically. Explain to Mathilda how the scientific method can be applied to the study of intimate relationships. ANS:


Relationships can be studied scientifically by applying the scientific method, a set of procedures for making predictions, gathering data, and comparing the validity of competing claims. For example, we may make an observation about relationships we see in the world around us, or we may have a theory about how relationships work. We can develop specific hypotheses about how concepts should be associated and can translate our abstract concepts into concrete terms (operationalization). We then devise a measurement strategy and a study to test our specific predictions. After analyzing the data and drawing conclusions, we can accept or reject our hypotheses and thereby refine our theories about relationships. DIF: Easy REF: Measurement Strategies | Designing the Study TOP: Measurement Strategies | Designing the Study MSC: Applied 4. Imagine that you wanted to learn more about how couples communicate about hurt feelings, whether and how they forgive each other for interpersonal transgressions, and how these behaviors relate to relationship quality. How would you design your study? Comment on what measurement strategy and what type of design you would use and why. ANS: There are many possible responses to this question, but, ideally, the student would use a multiple-method approach and examine relationship quality longitudinally. Regarding measurement, the student could use a strategy that employs questionnaires in a fixed-response format to assess relationship quality, communication about hurt feelings, and forgiveness; the student could obtain a self-report and partner-report of these processes. Observations of the spouses as they talk about a time that each of their feelings were hurt could also be collected. It would also be possible to obtain physiological measurements while couples discuss the hurt feelings to evaluate how such responses are related to the outcome of interest. The student could opt for laboratory- or home-based observation. Finally, a correlational but longitudinal design would probably be most appropriate because this would allow for better understanding of the causal nature of the associations between forgiveness and marital satisfaction. An experimental design probably would not be the first choice for this type of study, but it is possible that the student could employ a false feedback experimental manipulation and then assess feelings about the relationship to better understand this process. Given that appropriate measures of forgiveness and marital satisfaction are available, a qualitative study or an open-ended questionnaire is probably not a first choice for the design and measurement strategy. DIF: Difficult REF: Measurement Strategies | Designing the Study TOP: Measurement Strategies | Designing the Study MSC: Applied 5. Why would a researcher choose to conduct experimental rather than longitudinal research to understand relationship processes? ANS: Experimental designs are better suited to help answer questions about why things happen in relationships rather than what and when things happen. In other words, we can begin to clearly understand causal relationships when we manipulate a variable under controlled conditions and observe the effect of that manipulation on the outcome of interest. Longitudinal research allows us to begin to understand possible causal associations by examining whether early variables predict changes in outcomes of interest, but we cannot say that one causes the other because we cannot rule out third-variable problems. Thus, longitudinal designs do not allow for strong causal statements in the way that experimental designs do. DIF: Medium REF: Designing the Study TOP: Designing the Study: Longitudinal research | Designing the Study: Experimental research MSC: Conceptual


6. Why would a researcher choose to conduct a longitudinal study rather than an experiment to understand relationship processes? ANS: Although the experimental design allows us to make stronger causal statements than does the longitudinal design, some research questions are not amenable to the experimental design. For example, researchers cannot assign couples to engage in varying levels of conflict to observe the effects on relationships or to divorce or stay together. Also, if the researcher’s interest is in processes that unfold over very long periods of time (e.g., years), then experiments may not be possible. DIF: Medium REF: Designing the Study TOP: Designing the Study: Longitudinal research | Designing the Study: Experimental research MSC: Conceptual 7. Parminder has just finished a 4-year study of engaged couples. Her intention was to find out how relationships with in-laws and the changes in family structures were related to the success or failure of couples’ relationships. During the 4 years, about 20 percent of the couples dropped out of the study. Is this a problem for Parminder? Why or why not? ANS: Attrition in longitudinal studies is always a concern, even though the attrition rate in Parminder’s study is not as large as the average dropout rate of 30 percent. In this case, we do not know whether the couples who dropped out are different from the couples who remained in the study. If only unhappy couples dropped out, then the study could be said to suffer from attrition bias. DIF: Medium REF: Designing the Study TOP: Designing the Study: Longitudinal research: Pros and cons MSC: Conceptual 8. David conducted an experiment where he assigned one group of couples to go on weekly dates and to do something that neither spouse had ever done before or had not done very often (e.g., rollerblading or attending the opera or cooking classes); he called this the “novel” group. He assigned a second group of couples to go on a date every Saturday but to do the same activity every week; David called this the “routine” group. The couples were asked to go on their date nights every Saturday for 6 weeks. The couples completed relationship satisfaction questionnaires prior to starting the date nights and again at the end of the 6 weeks. The answers allowed David to see whether the couples in the novel activity group were happier in their relationships at the end of the study compared to the couples in the routine group. When couples volunteered to be in the study, David asked them which group they would prefer to be in because he thought if couples could choose their own group they would be more likely to complete the 6-week study, and thus David could avoid attrition bias. What is the problem with David’s study, and why is it a concern? ANS: David allowed his participants to choose their group and did not employ random assignment, which is a requirement of an experiment. Thus the two groups may not have been equally matched at the start of the study. Couples who choose to engage in novel activities on their date nights may be quite different from those who do not. David will not be able to rule out the possibility that any differences between the two groups in relationship satisfaction at the end of the study are attributable to those preexisting differences instead of to the activity manipulation. DIF: Medium REF: Designing the Study TOP: Designing the Study: Experimental research 9. What are the pros and cons of using archival research?

MSC: Conceptual


ANS: Pros: When questions can be addressed with archival data, this approach is economical and effective. Archival research can be more economical than, and just as accurate as, conducting an entirely new study. Archival studies may be the only way to study historical trends or to examine how variables were associated in the past. Any data set may contain new insights that could be uncovered with new analytical strategies or as new theoretical approaches are developed. Cons: Because archival researchers did not gather the data to be analyzed, they cannot control the quality of those data. Similarly, the quality of an archival study depends on the quality of the original data. A final limitation of archival research is that the researcher can examine only the questions asked in the original study. DIF: Easy REF: Designing the Study TOP: Designing the Study: Archival research: Pros and cons

MSC: Factual

10. Many relationships researchers collect data from both partners in the relationship (dyadic data) to avoid bias from one partner’s report about the relationship and associated variables. Describe the statistical analysis commonly used to analyze the different ways in which partners’ variables may be associated. Hint: It may be helpful to draw a picture to show how partners’ reports may be associated. ANS: The Actor Partner Interdependence Model (Cook & Kenny, 2005) is a statistical model commonly adopted in relationship research. This model allows researchers to examine both the actor (associations between Partner A’s independent variable on their own dependent variable) and partner (associations between Partner A’s independent variable on Partner B’s dependent variable). DIF: Difficult MSC: Factual

REF: Choosing Participants

TOP: Choosing Participants

11. In a review of 280 studies published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, over half of all the studies sampled college students. What are the pros and cons of using samples of college students in relationship research? ANS: Pros: Samples of college students are common because undergraduate students are readily available to researchers based in a university or college setting, and it is easy to collect data on this population. Cons: College students tend to be middle class, educated, and less likely to be married. Thus, data based on these samples may not generalize to other types of couples or relationships because the sample is not representative. DIF: Easy REF: Choosing Participants TOP: Choosing Participants: Convenience samples

MSC: Factual

12. When conducting research, it is critical to adhere to the highest ethical standards. Describe the two ethical principles discussed in your text and why it is important to adhere to them. ANS: The first principle is respect for persons, which includes not wasting participants’ time collecting information about trivial matters or not utilizing (publishing) the data that have been collected. Making sure that participants understand what will be asked of them and providing them with all the information required to make an informed decision about whether to participate could be considered an example of this first principle, although it is not described as such in the text. A second principle is to protect participants from harm, which includes protecting their confidentiality or, if possible, their anonymity in the research process and not causing them to experience distress because of the research process.


DIF: Easy MSC: Factual

REF: Ethical Issues

TOP: Ethical Issues

13. Describe the ethical considerations associated with conducting intimate relationship research. ANS: Research using human subjects often requires the collection of private, and potentially identifiable, information; as such, it can leave participants feeling highly vulnerable. Therefore, it is important that relationship researchers behave ethically, are mindful of the potential negative consequences associated with their research studies, and ensure that the benefits of conducting the research outweigh the costs. DIF: Medium MSC: Applied

REF: Ethical Issues

TOP: Ethical Issues


CHAPTER 4: Gender 1. Drawing Distinctions: Sex vs. Gender a. Sex versus gender i. Sex characteristics: Primary, secondary, tertiary ii. Gender identity: cisgender and transgender b. Gender expression i. Masculinity, femininity, androgyny c. Gender, thinking, and behavior i. Schemas 2. Not So Innate: The Historical Context of Gender a. Gender stereotypes i. Historical shifts in gender differences 3. Measuring Gender Similarities and Differences a. Research methods i. Meta-analysis b. Sex differences and similarities i. Differences between women and men are not large 4. Explaining Gender Similarities and Differences a. The evolutionary view i. Mate preferences ii. Intrasexual competition b. The social structural view i. Power ii. Social structural theory iii. Empathic accuracy 5. Gender and Intimacy a. Relationship awareness b. Expressing emotion and caring c. Interest in sex d. Ending relationships MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. Sex is to ________ as gender is to ________. a. male or female; masculine or feminine b. masculine or feminine; male or female c. biology; physiology d. physiology; biology ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: From Biological Features to Social Expectations TOP: Drawing Distinctions: Sex vs. Gender: Sex versus gender MSC: Conceptual 2. ________ refers to whether a person has attitudes, traits, and/or behaviors that are masculine or feminine; ________ refers to the biological features that characterize a person as male or female. a. Gender; sex c. Socialization; biology b. Sex; gender d. Biology; socialization ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: From Biological Features to Social Expectations TOP: Drawing Distinctions: Sex vs. Gender: Sex versus gender MSC: Factual 3. Which of the following terms refers to the long-standing belief that “male” and “female” are the only two human sexes? a. social structural theory


b. intrasexual competition c. the binary assumption d. gender identity ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: From Biological Features to Social Expectations TOP: Drawing Distinctions: Sex vs. Gender: Sex versus gender MSC: Factual 4. Ava, an 11-year-old girl, has recently become a little chubby and has started developing breasts. These body changes are examples of: a. primary sex characteristics. c. tertiary sex characteristics. b. secondary sex characteristics. d. intersex characteristics. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: From Biological Features to Social Expectations TOP: Drawing Distinctions: Sex vs. Gender: Sex versus gender: Sex characteristics: Primary, secondary, tertiary MSC: Applied 5. Facial hair, soft skin, and deep voices are all examples of: a. primary sex characteristics. c. tertiary sex characteristics. b. secondary sex characteristics. d. gender characteristics. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: From Biological Features to Social Expectations TOP: Drawing Distinctions: Sex vs. Gender: Sex versus gender: Sex characteristics: Primary, secondary, tertiary MSC: Factual 6. Women and men possess different chromosomes, sex hormones, and genitalia. These are considered: a. primary sex characteristics. c. tertiary sex characteristics. b. secondary sex characteristics. d. adaptations. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: From Biological Features to Social Expectations TOP: Drawing Distinctions: Sex vs. Gender: Sex versus gender: Sex characteristics: Primary, secondary, tertiary MSC: Factual 7. The term “tertiary sex characteristics” refers to the: a. different internal structures and external genitalia that are needed for sexual reproduction. b. characteristics that distinguish the two sexes anatomically and facilitate courtship and mate selection. c. expectations and beliefs about the acceptable and appropriate social roles for men and women. d. the possession of internal genitalia, external genitalia, or chromosomes that are not clearly male or female. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: From Biological Features to Social Expectations TOP: Drawing Distinctions: Sex vs. Gender: Sex versus gender: Sex characteristics: Primary, secondary, tertiary MSC: Factual 8. Juan thinks that, because he is a man, it is his “role” to ask a woman out on a date and to pay when they go out. These beliefs are examples of what type of sex characteristics? a. primary c. tertiary b. secondary d. intersex ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: From Biological Features to Social Expectations TOP: Drawing Distinctions: Sex vs. Gender: Sex versus gender: Sex characteristics: Primary, secondary, tertiary MSC: Applied 9. The term “intersex” refers to the: a. different internal structures and external genitalia that are needed for sexual reproduction.


b. characteristics that distinguish the two sexes anatomically and facilitate courtship and mate selection. c. social behaviors that women and men typically learn and the situations in which they are permitted to display them. d. possession of genitalia or chromosomes that are not clearly identifiable as male or female. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: From Biological Features to Social Expectations TOP: Drawing Distinctions: Sex vs. Gender: Sex versus gender: Gender identity: cisgender and transgender MSC: Factual 10. Gil was born with biological male sex characteristics. As an adult, Gil identifies as masculine. Gil’s gender identity is most likely: a. cisgender. b. transgender. c. intersex. d. nonbinary. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: From Biological Features to Social Expectations TOP: Drawing Distinctions: Sex vs. Gender: Sex versus gender: Gender identity: cisgender and transgender MSC: Applied 11. Curtis was born with biological female sex characteristics. However, when Curtis reached adolescence, he strongly identified as masculine and underwent sex reassignment surgery. Curtis’ gender identity is most likely: a. cisgender. b. transgender. c. intersex. d. binary. ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: From Biological Features to Social Expectations TOP: Drawing Distinctions: Sex vs. Gender: Sex versus gender: Gender identity: cisgender and transgender MSC: Applied 12. The way people’s behaviors fulfill gender expectations is referred to as their: a. sex role socialization. c. gender schema. b. binary assumption. d. gender expression. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Varieties of Gender Expression: Finding the Individuals in the Categories TOP: Drawing Distinctions: Sex vs. Gender: Gender expression: Masculinity, femininity, androgyny MSC: Factual 13. Tabitha describes herself as competitive, independent, self-reliant, willing to take risks, and analytical. Based on this description, Tabitha identifies with desirable traits associated with: a. men. c. androgynous individuals. b. women. d. undifferentiated individuals. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Varieties of Gender Expression: Finding the Individuals in the Categories TOP: Drawing Distinctions: Sex vs. Gender: Gender expression: Masculinity, femininity, androgyny MSC: Applied 14. Jamil describes himself as analytical, affectionate, unpredictable, moody, independent, and gentle. Based on this description, Jamil identifies with desirable traits associated with: a. men. c. both men and women.


b. women.

d. undifferentiated individuals.

ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Varieties of Gender Expression: Finding the Individuals in the Categories TOP: Drawing Distinctions: Sex vs. Gender: Gender expression: Masculinity, femininity, androgyny MSC: Applied 15. Hamad describes himself as sympathetic, affectionate, cheerful, childlike, and gentle. Based on this description, Hamad identifies with desirable traits associated with: a. men. c. both men and women. b. women. d. undifferentiated individuals. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Varieties of Gender Expression: Finding the Individuals in the Categories TOP: Drawing Distinctions: Sex vs. Gender: Gender expression: Masculinity, femininity, androgyny MSC: Applied 16. According to Sandra Bem’s typology of sex role identity, which group of individuals tends to be the most adaptable, attractive, and secure in relationships? a. masculine c. androgynous b. feminine d. undifferentiated ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Varieties of Gender Expression: Finding the Individuals in the Categories TOP: Drawing Distinctions: Sex vs. Gender: Gender expression: Masculinity, femininity, androgyny MSC: Factual 17. Norah Vincent dressed and lived as a man (Ned) for 18 months. During her time as a man, what did Norah observe about men’s emotional experiences? a. Men and women are surprisingly similar in their approaches to expressing emotion. b. Men, unlike women, do not generally worry about what others think of them. c. Men and women adopt different approaches to expressing emotion. d. Only heterosexual men adopt different approaches to emotion than do women; gay men adopt similar approaches to emotion as do women. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: How Gender Shapes Thinking and Affects Behavior TOP: Drawing Distinctions: Sex vs. gender: Gender, thinking, and behavior MSC: Factual 18. Why should people continue to study “masculinity” and “femininity” if there is a wider range of gender identities? a. Although there are new categorizations of gender identity, each one has components of both “masculinity” and “femininity.” b. While a small minority expresses their gender in alternative ways, 90 percent of the world’s population identify as either fully masculine or fully feminine. c. While understanding of gender has evolved, these categorizations continue to affect people’s thoughts about, and behaviors within, intimate relationships. d. While gender expressions are more diverse, there remain only two biological sexes that are studied by exploring “masculinity” and “femininity.” ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: How Gender Shapes Thinking and Affects Behavior TOP: Drawing Distinctions: Sex vs. gender: Gender, thinking, and behavior MSC: Conceptual


19. Cognitive representations that keep ideas about certain concepts mentally organized are: a. contexts. c. traits. b. identities. d. schemas. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: How Gender Shapes Thinking and Affects Behavior TOP: Drawing Distinctions: Sex vs. Gender: Gender, thinking, and behavior: Schemas MSC: Factual 20. What words posted on social media are most likely expressed by self-identified women? a. music, song, listen, singer, bands b. win, lose, game, streak, losers c. opinion, logic, fact, moral, beliefs d. excited, tomorrow, tonight, super, yay ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Not So Innate: The Historical Context of Gender TOP: Not So Innate: The Historical Context of Gender: Gender stereotypes MSC: Factual 21. Devon, a self-identified man, is most likely to post about what topic on social media? a. social life b. anger c. family d. friends ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Not So Innate: The Historical Context of Gender TOP: Not So Innate: The Historical Context of Gender: Gender stereotypes MSC: Applied 22. Leda recently gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. Without revealing the sex of her babies, she has invited guests over and dressed her daughter in blue and her son in pink. Which of the following is an unlikely response from her guests? a. They will most likely treat her son more c. They will encourage her daughter to be delicately than her daughter. friendlier than her son. b. They will encourage her daughter to d. They will incorrectly identify her daughter behave more aggressively than her son. as a boy. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Not So Innate: The Historical Context of Gender TOP: Not So Innate: The Historical Context of Gender: Gender stereotypes MSC: Applied 23. What is true about behaviors and expectations associated with gender? a. Expectations regarding gendered behavior are primarily communicated via the legal system. b. Gendered expectations reflect predetermined, essential facts regarding men and women. c. What it means to be a man or a woman depends on context, including time and culture. d. While gender expectations remain rigid, the genetics underlying biological sex are constantly changing. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Not So Innate: The Historical Context of Gender TOP: Not So Innate: The Historical Context of Gender: Gender stereotypes: Historical shifts in gender differences MSC: Conceptual


24. Jane is looking at black and white photographs of babies born during World War I as inspiration for her next painting. To be consistent with the historical context, what color should Jane use while painting to identify a baby as a boy? a. blue c. white b. pink d. yellow ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: Not So Innate: The Historical Context of Gender TOP: Not So Innate: The Historical Context of Gender: Gender stereotypes: Historical shifts in gender differences MSC: Applied 25. According to _____________, men were capable of forming relationships whereas women were too emotional for true relationships. a. the ancient Greeks b. the founding fathers of the United States c. Sigmund Freud d. Charles Darwin ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Not So Innate: The Historical Context of Gender TOP: Not So Innate: The Historical Context of Gender: Gender stereotypes: Historical shifts in gender differences MSC: Factual 26. Which of the following is an example of how gender stereotypes around the world have persisted? a. Women are believed to be incapable of forming true relationships. b. The colors used to identify babies as boys and girls have not changed over time. c. Women are described as vulnerable, whereas men are described as strong. d. Acceptable occupational roles for men and women are fewer than in the past. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Not So Innate: The Historical Context of Gender TOP: Not So Innate: The Historical Context of Gender: Gender stereotypes: Historical shifts in gender differences MSC: Factual 27. Dr. Torroba conducted a meta-analysis on whether men and women differ in their liking of chocolate, and she found that d = 1.17. What can she conclude based on this finding? a. This is a small difference, showing that, on average, women like chocolate more than men do. b. This is a small difference, showing that, on average, men like chocolate more than women do. c. This is a large difference, showing that, on average, men like chocolate more than women do. d. This is a large difference, showing that all men like chocolate more than women do. ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Measuring Gender Similarities and Differences TOP: Measuring Gender Similarities and Differences: Research methods: Meta-analysis MSC: Applied 28. Meta-analyses show that men are more likely to interrupt during a conversation than are women (d = .15), and that women are more skilled at expressing emotion than are men (d = −.52). Based on these findings we can conclude that, overall, differences between males and females are: a. large and meaningful. c. moderate but inconclusive. b. not large and not meaningful. d. not large but may be meaningful. ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Measuring Gender Similarities and Differences TOP: Measuring Gender Similarities and Differences: Sex differences and similarities: Differences between women and men are not large MSC: Conceptual


29. According to the research on differences between men and women, which of the following statements is most accurate? a. When it comes to social behaviors, men and women are more similar than dissimilar. b. Knowing how men’s and women’s social behaviors differ allows us to understand those differences. c. When the average difference between men and women is significant, it means that most men differ from most women. d. Male-female differences in tertiary sex characteristics are slightly smaller than male-female differences in secondary sex characteristics. ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Measuring Gender Similarities and Differences TOP: Measuring Gender Similarities and Differences: Sex differences and similarities: Differences between women and men are not large MSC: Conceptual 30. David and Filippa have been dating for almost a year. Based on the research discussed in the textbook, which of the following differences would you most expect to see in David’s and Filippa’s behavior? a. Filippa will self-disclose more than David will. b. David will use problem-focused coping more than Filippa will. c. Filippa will be more assertive than David will be. d. David will masturbate more frequently than Filippa will. ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Measuring Gender Similarities and Differences TOP: Measuring Gender Similarities and Differences: Sex differences and similarities: Differences between women and men are not large MSC: Applied 31. How do evolutionary psychologists explain gender differences? a. They propose that the booming population growth has led to an increase in gender differences. b. They propose that sexual promiscuity in women is a mutation that contributed to increased gender variability. c. They propose that, over time, females began to develop in maladaptive ways whereas males became more suited to their changing environment. d. They highlight the unique problems males and females faced in our ancestral past. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: The Evolutionary View: Gender Differences Are Inherited TOP: Explaining Gender Similarities and Differences: The evolutionary view MSC: Factual 32. Joseph, a self-identified male, is single. Consistent with an evolutionary explanation for sex differences, he is likely to date someone who is: a. physically attractive and older. b. faithful and older. c. physically attractive and younger. d. untrustworthy and younger. ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: The Evolutionary View: Gender Differences Are Inherited TOP: Explaining Gender Similarities and Differences: The evolutionary view: Mate preferences MSC: Applied 33. According to the evolutionary perspective, males select mates based on their _____, whereas females select mates base on their _____. a. attractiveness and youthfulness; ability to protect and provide b. ability to protect and provide; attractiveness and youthfulness


c. fertility and ambition; faithfulness and financial prospects d. faithfulness and financial prospects; fertility and ambition ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: The Evolutionary View: Gender Differences Are Inherited TOP: Explaining Gender Similarities and Differences: The evolutionary view: Mate preferences MSC: Factual 34. According to evolutionary theory, aggression is likely to be considered advantageous because it: a. increases intrasexual competition. b. allows men to protect their families from competitors. c. decreases intrasexual competition. d. allows men to inflict emotional injury to their competitors. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: The Evolutionary View: Gender Differences Are Inherited TOP: Explaining Gender Similarities and Differences: The evolutionary view: Intrasexual competition MSC: Factual 35. Which of the following is most consistent with a social structural theory explanation for sex differences in relationship behavior? a. Jenny, who is a construction worker, will be viewed less favorably than Cathy, who is a nurse. b. Connor, who works in a daycare center, will be viewed more favorably than Bob, who works as a mechanic. c. Professors Nalini, in a country low on gender equality, and Tasha, in a country high on gender equality, will be viewed equally favorably. d. Teachers Lacey and Mohammed will be viewed equally favorably in a country low on gender equality. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: The Social Structural View: Gender Differences Are Learned TOP: Explaining Gender Similarities and Differences: The social structural view: Social structural theory MSC: Applied 36. Which of the following is LEAST consistent with a social structural theory explanation for sex differences in relationship behavior? a. Jenny, who is a construction worker, will be viewed less favorably than Cathy, who is a nurse. b. Connor, who works in a daycare center, will be viewed less favorably than Bob, who works as a mechanic. c. Nalini, a female college professor in a country low on gender equality, will be viewed more favorably than Tasha, a female college professor in a country high on gender equality. d. Marco, who works as a lawyer, will be viewed more favorably than Jacob, who works as a receptionist. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: The Social Structural View: Gender Differences Are Learned TOP: Explaining Gender Similarities and Differences: The social structural view: Social structural theory MSC: Applied 37. According to __________ theory, differences in how money, power, and resources are divided between women and men are important. a. evolutionary b. social structural


c. social exchange d. interdependence ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: The Social Structural View: Gender Differences Are Learned TOP: Explaining Gender Similarities and Differences: The social structural view: Social structural theory MSC: Conceptual 38. The capacity for an individual to know what someone else is thinking or feeling is known as: a. metacognition. b. emotional awareness. c. intimacy. d. empathic accuracy. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: The Social Structural View: Gender Differences Are Learned TOP: Explaining Gender Similarities and Differences: The social structural view: Empathic accuracy MSC: Factual 39. Which of the following conclusions about sex, gender, and intimacy is most accurate? a. Women are more interested in nurturing their intimate relationships than men. b. Women tend to be oriented to a couple of people or a small group, whereas men tend to be more oriented to crowds. c. Males’ and females’ capacities for behavior in intimate relationships differs significantly. d. Men and women attempt to fulfill their need for social belonging in the same way. ANS: B DIF: Easy TOP: Gender and Intimacy

REF: Gender and Intimacy MSC: Conceptual

40. Following the _____, society began to view women’s responsibilities in the home and men’s in the workplace. a. American Revolution b. Industrial Revolution c. American Civil War d. Civil Rights Movement ANS: B DIF: Medium TOP: Gender and Intimacy

REF: Gender and Intimacy MSC: Factual

41. What contributed to the creation of the social hierarchy between men and women? a. Men were paid for their work, whereas women were not. b. Women received social praise for their work, whereas men did not. c. Women created secret societies that barred men from entering. d. Men used scientific data to support their status as the superior sex. ANS: A DIF: Medium TOP: Gender and Intimacy

REF: Gender and Intimacy MSC: Factual

42. Which of the following is NOT consistent with sex differences in relationship awareness? a. Stacy can remember more details of her first date with Sukhjot than he can. b. When his friends ask Sai why he is getting divorced, he tells them he does not really know why the relationship ended. c. Though Fiona can easily remember detailed statistics about all the players on her favorite hockey team, she has trouble remembering the date of her wedding anniversary. d. When Martin and Yvonne tell the story of how they first met, Yvonne often corrects


Martin’s description. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Relationship Awareness TOP: Gender and Intimacy: Relationship awareness MSC: Applied 43. Research on sex differences in relationship awareness suggests that: a. women develop more complex mental c. men express more emotional range when representations of their relationships than discussing their relationships compared to men do. women. b. men develop more complex mental d. women recall fewer details when representations of their relationships than discussing their relationships compared to women do. men. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Relationship Awareness TOP: Gender and Intimacy: Relationship awareness MSC: Factual 44. Which of the following is most consistent with sex differences in relationship awareness? a. Sukhjot can remember more details of his first date with Stacy than she can. b. When his friends ask Sai why he is getting divorced, he tells them he does not really know why the relationship ended. c. Though Fiona cannot remember detailed statistics about all the players on her favorite hockey team, she has no trouble remembering the date of her wedding anniversary. d. When Martin and Yvonne tell the story of how they first met, they generally agree on the description. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Relationship Awareness TOP: Gender and Intimacy: Relationship awareness MSC: Applied 45. According to research on opposite-sex interactions and same-sex interactions, which of the following is most accurate? a. Women rate their opposite-sex interactions as significantly more meaningful than do men. b. Women rate their opposite-sex interactions as less meaningful than their same-sex interactions. c. Men rate their opposite-sex interactions as more meaningful than their same-sex interactions. d. Men rate their opposite-sex interactions as less meaningful than their same-sex interactions. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Expressing Emotion and Caring TOP: Gender and Intimacy: Expressing emotion and caring MSC: Factual 46. Caleb and Dianne participate in a study of stress and partner social support. Each day, over the course of a week, they report on how much stress they experienced and how much partner support they received. Which of the following is most likely to be a finding in this study? a. Caleb reports that his stressful days are met with increases in Dianne’s support and criticism; Dianne’s stressful days are met with decreases in Caleb’s support. b. Caleb reports that his stressful days are met with increases in Dianne’s support; Dianne’s stressful days are met with increases in Caleb’s criticism rather than support. c. Dianne reports that her stressful days are met with increases in Caleb’s support and criticism; Caleb’s stressful days are met with decreases in Dianne’s support. d. Dianne reports that her stressful days are met with increases in Caleb’s support and criticism; Caleb’s stressful days are met with increases in Dianne’s support. ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Expressing Emotion and Caring TOP: Gender and Intimacy: Expressing emotion and caring MSC: Applied


47. What did Hagedoorn and colleagues (2000) find in their study comparing distress in healthy couples to couples wherein one partner was diagnosed with cancer? a. Healthy couples were likely to experience the same levels of distress as couples in which one partner received a cancer diagnosis. b. Women whose partners were diagnosed with cancer experienced the same level of distress as their partner experienced. c. Men whose partners were diagnosed with cancer experienced greater distress than their partner experienced. d. Women whose partners were diagnosed with cancer experienced the same level of distress as the healthy controls. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Expressing Emotion and Caring TOP: Gender and Intimacy: Expressing emotion and caring MSC: Factual 48. When it comes to sex, men tend to: a. have a smaller variety of sexual fantasies than women. b. desire a lower frequency of sex than women. c. masturbate less than women. d. be less willing to forego sex than women. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Interest in Sex TOP: Gender and Intimacy: Interest in sex MSC: Conceptual 49. According to data collected in 2011, approximately what percentage of American women reported experiencing some form of unwanted sexual contact? a. 24 percent b. 34 percent c. 44 percent d. 54 percent ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Interest in Sex TOP: Gender and Intimacy: Interest in sex MSC: Factual 50. In Clark and Hatfield’s (1989) study, _____ percent of men said they would be willing to go to bed with a complete stranger, whereas _____ percent of women said they would. a. 0; 75 b. 25; 50 c. 50; 25 d. 75; 0 ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Interest in Sex TOP: Gender and Intimacy: Interest in sex MSC: Factual 51. What was the startling discovery that Masters and Johnson made in 1966? a. Over 40 percent of American women have experienced a form of sexual harassment. b. Women have a higher sex drive compared to men. c. Men and women are equally capable of experiencing sexual pleasure. d. Over 90 percent of American men reported masturbating. ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Interest in Sex TOP: Gender and Intimacy: Interest in sex MSC: Factual 52. Gurmit and Sara have recently divorced after 27 years of marriage. Based on the material presented in the chapter, which of the following is most likely to be true? a. Sara was most likely the one who applied for the divorce.


b. Gurmit most likely accepted the need for counseling. c. Gurmit was most likely the first to mention getting a divorce. d. Sara was most likely reluctant to talk about getting a divorce. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Ending Relationships TOP: Gender and Intimacy: Ending relationships MSC: Applied 53. Who is most likely to be the first to recognize problems in one’s relationship? a. children b. husbands c. in-laws d. wives ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Ending Relationships TOP: Gender and Intimacy: Ending relationships MSC: Factual 54. Based on the socialization processes surrounding romantic relationships, compared to men, women are: a. more likely to be depressed about their relationship issues. b. more sensitive to relationship issues. c. less likely to be unfaithful to their partners. d. less likely to criticize their partners. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Ending Relationships TOP: Gender and Intimacy: Ending relationships MSC: Conceptual ESSAY 1. Distinguish between primary, secondary, and tertiary sex characteristics. ANS: Primary sex characteristics, such as different chromosomes, sex hormones, and internal and external genitalia in women and men, are needed to accomplish sexual reproduction. Secondary sex characteristics (e.g., breasts, finer skin, and more subcutaneous fat for females; facial hair, deep voice, and greater musculature for males) develop later and further differentiate the two sexes anatomically and help facilitate courtship and mate selection. Primary and secondary sex characteristics are embedded within particular historical and cultural circumstances, resulting in the social behaviors that men and women typically learn and the situations in which they are permitted to display them. These latter behaviors are called tertiary sex characteristics. DIF: Easy REF: From Biological Features to Social Expectations TOP: Drawing Distinctions: Sex vs. Gender: Sex versus gender: Sex characteristics: Primary, secondary, tertiary MSC: Factual 2. What is gender identity? How is biological sex conceptualized for individuals who identify as cisgender compared to those who identify as transgender? ANS: Gender identity is determined by whether people perceive themselves as masculine or feminine. Those whose gender identity matches their biological sex are referred to as cisgender. Contrastingly, those whose gender identity does not match their biological sex are referred to as transgender. DIF: Easy REF: From Biological Features to Social Expectations TOP: Drawing Distinctions: Sex vs. Gender: Sex versus gender: Gender identity: cisgender and transgender MSC: Factual


3. Tan was born with female internal genitalia and male external genitalia. How might Tan identify? How does Tan’s case contradict the binary assumption? ANS: Tan would most likely identify as intersex because his biology is not clearly male or female. Tan may more strongly identify as a male because of his external genitalia. He may not be aware of his internal genitalia until later in life. He may also identify as transgender because his sex characteristics are mixed and cannot match with either femininity or masculinity. Tan’s condition breaks with the assumption that there are only two human sexes. Although part of a small percentage, Tan does not fit into either of those categories. DIF: Difficult REF: From Biological Features to Social Expectations TOP: Drawing Distinctions: Sex vs. Gender: Sex versus gender: Gender identity: cisgender and transgender MSC: Applied 4. Describe the intersection between masculine and feminine traits and their associations with relationship outcomes. ANS: High level of masculine traits and low level of feminine traits = Masculine; High level of feminine traits and low level of masculine traits = Feminine; High level of masculine traits and high level of feminine traits = Androgynous; Low level of masculine traits and low level of feminine traits = Undifferentiated. Androgynous individuals tend to experience the most favorable outcomes in intimate relationships. DIF: Easy REF: Varieties of Gender Expression: Finding the Individuals in the Categories TOP: Drawing Distinctions: Sex vs. Gender: Gender expression: Masculinity, femininity, androgyny MSC: Conceptual 5. Individuals who are androgynous are thought to have a number of advantages compared to those who are more stereotypically masculine or feminine. List and describe such advantages. ANS: Androgynous individuals, who are high in both masculine and feminine traits, are hypothesized to be competent in a wide range of situations and are less constrained by the roles and expectations associated with either gender. Androgynous individuals appear to enjoy higher levels of self-esteem, lower levels of anxiety, and higher levels of emotional intelligence. When compared to masculine or feminine individuals, androgynous people express their emotions more readily. They are also more likely to adjust their behavior according to the demands of a situation, changing the situation via direct action when possible but accepting it when it is out of their control. Compared to masculine or feminine individuals, androgynous individuals tend to experience the most favorable outcomes in intimate relationships; they are more desired as relationship partners. DIF: Easy REF: Varieties of Gender Expression: Finding the Individuals in the Categories TOP: Drawing Distinctions: Sex vs. Gender: Gender expression: Masculinity, femininity, androgyny MSC: Factual 6. How do schemas impact gender expression and behavior? ANS:


Schemas are mental representations about particular constructs. There are schemas for gender that illustrate expectations for men and women. People treat others in line with their schema based on how they perceive that person. If a man believes he is negotiating with a woman, he is more likely to give her feminine tasks than if he were negotiating with a man. Yet, gender categories have been expanding, theoretically allowing for greater variety in gender expression and behavior. DIF: Medium REF: How Gender Shapes Thinking and Affects Behavior TOP: Drawing Distinctions: Sex vs. Gender: Gender, thinking, and behavior: Schemas MSC: Factual 7. Discuss the ways in which gender stereotypes have changed throughout history. ANS: Gender stereotypes have changed throughout history, although knowledge of biological sex has remained constant. Stereotypes are perpetuated in many forms and many persist to the present day. Some persisting stereotypes are that women are vulnerable, but men are strong and independent. A stereotype that has changed is the belief that women are better at maintaining relationships than men. The ancient Greeks used to believe that women were incapable of forming relationships and that forming relationships was a man’s domain. Another example is the colors stereotypically associated with male and female babies. While pink is presently popular for girls and blue for boys, in the early 1900s, the stereotypic association was the opposite. DIF: Difficult REF: Not So Innate: The Historical Context of Gender TOP: Not So Innate: The Historical Context of Gender: Gender stereotypes: Historical shifts in gender differences MSC: Factual 8. Belle, a self-identified female, and Gaston, a self-identified male, are participating in a study in which the words they use on social media are analyzed. Discuss the topics and types of words Belle and Gaston are likely to use. ANS: Belle will use words that are associated with topics such as family, friends, and social life. She may use words like: excited, tomorrow, happy, birthday, sister, babe, best friend, fun, shopping, and love. Gaston is more likely to use words associated with swearing and anger. He is also more likely to use argumentative language and discuss objects instead of people. He is more likely to use words such as government, democracy, shit, win, game, music, football, opinion, economy, and guns. DIF: Medium REF: Not So Innate: The Historical Context of Gender TOP: Not So Innate: The Historical Context of Gender: Gender stereotypes MSC: Applied 9. Based on the accumulated research on sex and intimate relationships, what can we conclude about differences between men and women? ANS: We can conclude that males and females differ, but we must acknowledge that the degree of difference varies depending on the characteristic in question (and even on the specific variable being considered within that characteristic). Overall, we can conclude that, regardless of the domain, differences between males and females are not large; in fact, considerable similarity exists between males and females. DIF: Easy REF: Measuring Gender Similarities and Differences TOP: Measuring Gender Similarities and Differences: Sex differences and similarities: Differences between women and men are not large MSC: Conceptual


10. Trends in the behavior and experiences of men and women differ. For example, men are more likely to masturbate than women, and women are more skilled at expressing emotion than are men. Even though social scientists have come to a reasonable degree of consensus on the validity of the similarities and differences described, great controversy persists regarding how to best understand them. Briefly describe two broad approaches that seek to explain the observed differences between men and women’s behavior. ANS: One approach is the nature or evolution perspective, which looks at biological influences on behavior. The other approach is the nurture or socialization perspective, which looks at environmental influences on behavior. DIF: Easy REF: Explaining Gender Similarities and Differences TOP: Explaining Gender Similarities and Differences MSC: Factual 11. Imagine you are a high school teacher. As you walk into your classroom Monday morning, you overhear snippets of conversation your students are having. There is Tiroyaone, describing in detail how he scored the winning goal in his soccer game; across the room, while applying another coat of mascara to her lashes, Leitisha raves about the new tanning salon in town, and Ryland is making fun of Josh for failing the latest chemistry test. According to the evolutionary explanation for sex differences, why are your students engaging in these behaviors? ANS: My students are engaged in intrasexual competition. Their behaviors are aimed at gaining advantage in the “mating marketplace” by competing with members of their own sex. Women tend to focus on enhancing cues that signal their youth and health, such as Leitisha’s use of mascara and tanning salon patronage. Men, on the other hand, tend to compete for women’s attention, establishing, defending, and elevating their status (such as Tiroyaone bragging about his winning goal and Ryland making fun of Josh’s failing grade). DIF: Easy REF: The Evolutionary View: Gender Differences Are Inherited TOP: Explaining Gender Similarities and Differences: The evolutionary view: Intrasexual competition MSC: Applied 12. Define the structural and evolutionary view of gender differences and describe the ways in which they are similar and different from one another. ANS: The social structural view posits that gender differences arise due to the way society punishes or reinforces behaviors. The evolutionary view of gender differences posits that gender differences highlight the unique problems males and females faced in our ancestral past. Men have traditionally held positions of power in society while women have not. Men are encouraged to behave in ways that align with their superior position in the social hierarchy whereas women are discouraged from exhibiting those behaviors. Instead, women are encouraged to nurture others and to promote cooperation. Unequal access to status and power leads to differences in the ways men and women are expected to behave. The social structural view differs from the evolutionary perspective because gender differences are not described as the result of genetic differences. DIF: Medium REF: The Evolutionary View: Gender Differences Are Inherited | The Social Structural View: Gender Differences Are Learned TOP: Explaining Gender Similarities and Differences: The evolutionary view | Explaining Gender Similarities and Differences: The social structural view MSC: Conceptual


13. How did the Industrial Revolution impact men’s and women’s gender roles? ANS: Before the Industrial Revolution, men and women both contributed to family life and work. Many people made their living as farmers, which required everyone in the family to play their part. However, with the Industrial Revolution, many men left their homes to seek employment in factories while their wives stayed home to take care of domestic affairs. While both contributed to the family in different ways, men were paid while women were not. This led to a division between the types of tasks men and women performed, as well as the value associated with them. The formation of social hierarchies served to exaggerate the differences between the spheres of men and women. Because women learned that relationships were their primary responsibility, it follows that they cultivated skills for developing relationships and intimacy. DIF: Difficult MSC: Factual

REF: Gender and Intimacy

TOP: Gender and Intimacy

14. You are watching a reality TV dating show wherein partners are discussing how they met. Based on the information presented in the chapter on gender differences and relationship awareness, how are women and men likely to differ in the stories they share? ANS: Compared to men, women are more likely to recall more details about their relationship, demonstrate greater accuracy and vividness, express more emotional range, and be overall more aware of their relationship. Additionally, women are more likely to develop more complex mental representations of their relationship compared to men. DIF: Medium REF: Relationship Awareness TOP: Gender and Intimacy: Relationship awareness

MSC: Applied

15. Caleb and Dianne, along with 39 other heterosexual couples, participate in a study of stress and partner social support. Each day, over the course of a week, they report on how much stress they experienced and how much partner support they received. Based on the textbook material about sex differences in the couple’s interactions, what would you expect the results of this study to show? ANS: Caleb and the other men in the study will likely report that, on days when they experience more stress, their partners respond with increased support. Dianne and the other women in the study will likely report that, on days when they experience more stress, their partners respond not only with increased support but with increased criticism as well. It appears that, although men and women are equally capable of displaying supportive behaviors, women tend to offer higher-quality support in daily life than do men. DIF: Medium REF: Expressing Emotion and Caring TOP: Gender and Intimacy: Expressing emotion and caring

MSC: Applied

16. How might women and men experience the end of a relationship differently? ANS: When it comes to ending a relationship, women tend to be the ones who initiate the dissolution. Women are also more likely to seek relationship counseling earlier, initiate contact with practitioners, bring up divorce, and file for divorce. Data collected on wives, rather than husbands, are more likely to predict divorce. Wives are more likely to be sensitive to issues in the relationship because they have been socialized to be more sensitive than men when it comes to relationships. DIF: Difficult

REF: Ending Relationships


TOP: Gender and Intimacy: Ending relationships

MSC: Factual


CHAPTER 5: Sexual Orientation 1. Something Greater Than Once They Were 2. Sexual Orientations and Identities a. Experiences and expressions of sexual orientation i. Romantic attraction ii. Sexual arousal iii. Sexual attraction iv. Sexual behavior v. Sexual identity b. Sexual orientations of women and men i. Sexual fluidity c. Asexuality 3. Origins of Sexual Orientation a. Evolution and genes b. Prenatal hormones i. Gender nonconformity c. Social influences 4. Sexual Orientation and Intimate Relationships a. Stigma and prejudice b. Communication, cooperation, and conflict i. Division of labor ii. Resolving conflicts c. Sexual activity and sexual exclusivity i. Heteronormativity ii. Internalized homonegativity


MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. The U.S. Supreme Court’s Defense of Marriage Act is an act that defined marriage strictly as a relationship between: a. a man and a woman. c. two women. b. two men. d. two individuals irrespective of sex. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: “Something Greater Than Once They Were” TOP: “Something Greater Than Once They Were” MSC: Factual 2. Which of the following components of sexual orientation is mostly likely to be influenced by our parents’ upbringing or how tolerant our local culture is of sexual diversity? a. sexual behavior c. sexual arousal b. sexual attraction d. sexual identity ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Sexual Orientations and Identities TOP: Sexual Orientations and Identities: Experiences and expressions of sexual orientation MSC: Factual 3. Which of the following is NOT considered one of the five strands of sexual orientation? a. sexual identity c. gender identity. b. sexual arousal d. sexual behavior ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Sexual Orientations and Identities TOP: Sexual Orientations and Identities: Experiences and expressions of sexual orientation MSC: Factual 4. Individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender are considered: a. sexually fluid. c. celibate. b. sexual minorities. d. asexual. ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Sexual Orientations and Identities TOP: Sexual Orientations and Identities: Experiences and expressions of sexual orientation MSC: Factual 5. Peter is highly attracted to people of the opposite sex, and is not attracted to people of the same sex. Peter is likely to subscribe to which of the following sexual orientations? a. straight c. asexual b. bisexual d. gay ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Sexual Orientations and Identities TOP: Sexual Orientations and Identities: Experiences and expressions of sexual orientation MSC: Applied 6. Mari is highly attracted to people of the same sex and is not attracted to people of the opposite sex. Mari is likely to subscribe to which of the following sexual orientations? a. asexual c. gay or lesbian b. straight d. bisexual ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Sexual Orientations and Identities TOP: Sexual Orientations and Identities: Experiences and expressions of sexual orientation MSC: Applied 7. Kris is highly attracted to people of the same sex and to people of a different sex. Kris is most likely to identify as: a. bisexual. c. straight.


b. asexual.

d. gay.

ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Sexual Orientations and Identities TOP: Sexual Orientations and Identities: Experiences and expressions of sexual orientation MSC: Applied 8. Abra identifies herself as lesbian. This means that she: a. is a sexual minority. b. is highly empathic. c. has a higher sex drive than heterosexual women. d. is androgynous. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Sexual Orientations and Identities TOP: Sexual Orientations and Identities: Experiences and expressions of sexual orientation MSC: Applied 9. Sexual________ refers to the way in which we pursue love, attachment, and meaningful social connections with people of our same sex, with people of a different sex, or with people of either sex. a. orientation c. arousal b. attraction d. identity ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Sexual Orientations and Identities TOP: Sexual Orientations and Identities: Experiences and expressions of sexual orientation MSC: Factual 10. Knowing the ________ of the partners involved is necessary for understanding intimate relationships. a. sex c. sexual orientation b. gender d. All of the answer options are correct. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Sexual Orientations and Identities TOP: Sexual Orientations and Identities: Experiences and expressions of sexual orientation MSC: Conceptual 11. Which of the following refers to feelings of infatuation, love, and emotional desire for another person? a. sexual orientation c. sexual arousal b. romantic attraction d. sexual identity ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Sexual Orientations and Identities TOP: Sexual Orientations and Identities: Experiences and expressions of sexual orientation: Romantic attraction MSC: Factual 12. Which of the following is the most important element in sexual orientation? a. sexual identity c. sexual attraction b. sexual arousal d. sexual behavior ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Sexual Orientations and Identities TOP: Sexual Orientations and Identities: Experiences and expressions of sexual orientation: Sexual attraction MSC: Factual 13. Your friend Tommy tells you that he enjoys having sex with men. His description of his preferences is referring to his sexual: a. attraction. c. behavior. b. arousal. d. identity. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Sexual Orientations and Identities TOP: Sexual Orientations and Identities: Experiences and expressions of sexual orientation: Sexual


behavior

MSC: Applied

14. Your friend Nikola tells you that she often fantasizes about having sex with women. Her description of her behavior is referring to her sexual: a. attraction. c. behavior. b. arousal. d. identity. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Sexual Orientations and Identities TOP: Sexual Orientations and Identities: Experiences and expressions of sexual orientation: Sexual behavior MSC: Applied 15. The way a person understands and labels his or her attraction to, and sexual interactions with, other people is referred to as: a. sexual orientation. c. sexual arousal. b. romantic attraction. d. sexual identity. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Sexual Orientations and Identities TOP: Sexual Orientations and Identities: Experiences and expressions of sexual orientation: Sexual identity MSC: Factual 16. Recent data suggest that a majority of men and women describe themselves as: a. completely heterosexual. c. bisexual. b. mostly heterosexual. d. mostly homosexual. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Sexual Orientations and Identities TOP: Sexual Orientations and Identities: Sexual orientations of women and men MSC: Factual 17. Recent data suggest that men versus women are more likely to show a greater inclination to say that they: a. are either exclusively straight or c. are heteroflexible. exclusively gay. b. identify mostly as bisexual. d. are sexually fluid. ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Sexual Orientations and Identities TOP: Sexual Orientations and Identities: Sexual orientations of women and men MSC: Factual 18. Based on research that has examined pupil dilation in response to sexual imagery, which two groups of individuals were likely to respond similarly to images of women? a. lesbian women and bisexual women c. straight men and straight women b. gay men and bisexual women d. lesbian women and straight men ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Sexual Orientations and Identities TOP: Sexual Orientations and Identities: Sexual orientations of women and men MSC: Factual 19. Compared to male sexual attraction, female sexual attraction can be characterized as: a. more likely to be influenced by biological c. more likely to be influenced by factors. sociocultural factors. b. more stable over time. d. aroused by a narrow array of sexual stimuli. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Sexual Orientations and Identities TOP: Sexual Orientations and Identities: Sexual orientations of women and men MSC: Factual


20. Compared to female sexual attraction, male sexual attraction can be characterized as: a. aroused by a broad array of sexual stimuli. c. more likely to be influenced by sociocultural factors. b. more fluid over time. d. aroused by a narrow array of sexual stimuli. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Sexual Orientations and Identities TOP: Sexual Orientations and Identities: Sexual orientations of women and men MSC: Factual 21. In high school, your friend Jordan only dated men, so you were surprised to learn that she is now dating a woman. The idea that Jordan’s sexual attractions can change is best reflected by which concept? a. sexual identity c. sexual behavior b. sexual arousal d. sexual fluidity ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Sexual Orientations and Identities TOP: Sexual Orientations and Identities: Sexual orientations of women and men: Sexual fluidity MSC: Applied 22. According to your text, what is one factor that may prompt a shift in a person’s sexual attraction? a. availability of partners c. family support b. number of prior partners d. the person’s current age ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Sexual Orientations and Identities TOP: Sexual Orientations and Identities: Sexual orientations of women and men: Sexual fluidity MSC: Factual 23. Your friend Clare mentions to you that she is not interested in sex; rather, she just wants to be able to find a partner with whom she can spend time and with whom she can travel. Based on this, it is likely that Clare could be characterized as: a. aromantic. c. asexual. b. celibate. d. bisexual. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Sexual Orientations and Identities TOP: Sexual Orientations and Identities: Asexuality MSC: Applied 24. Asexuality is different from celibacy in that: a. asexual people experience sexual desire. b. asexual people do not experience sexual desire.

c. celibate people do not experience sexual desire. d. celibate people are sexually active.

ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Sexual Orientations and Identities TOP: Sexual Orientations and Identities: Asexuality MSC: Factual 25. The term “gray asexual” refers to people who: a. identify predominately as asexual but c. experience no sexual attraction. b. identify predominately as asexual but d. experience occasional sexual attraction.

experience sexual attraction only after establishing a strong bond with someone. experience intimate longing and a desire for emotional and physical (but not sexual) closeness.

ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Sexual Orientations and Identities TOP: Sexual Orientations and Identities: Asexuality MSC: Conceptual 26. The term demisexual refers to people who:


a. identify predominately as asexual but experience no sexual attraction. b. identify predominately as asexual but experience occasional sexual attraction.

c. experience sexual attraction only after establishing a strong bond with someone. d. experience intimate longing and a desire for emotional and physical (but not sexual) closeness.

ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Sexual Orientations and Identities TOP: Sexual Orientations and Identities: Asexuality MSC: Conceptual 27. Research studies that have compared sexual orientation of monozygotic twins and dizygotic twins are not perfect because they: a. establish an especially weak genetic basis c. include small numbers of people who are for sexual orientation. not straight. b. establish an especially weak genetic basis d. include large numbers of people who are for romantic attraction. not straight. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Origins of Sexual Orientation TOP: Origins of Sexual Orientation: Evolution and genes MSC: Factual 28. According to neuroscientist LeVay, _____ men and _____ women have been exposed to higher levels of testosterone prenatally and are thereby “masculinized” biologically. a. straight; bisexual c. bisexual; straight b. bisexual; lesbian d. straight; lesbian ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Origins of Sexual Orientation TOP: Origins of Sexual Orientation: Prenatal hormones MSC: Factual 29. Your professor, Linda, who is a self-identified female, often wears masculine clothes to class. Linda can be considered to be: a. sexually fluid. c. gender nonconforming. b. gender conforming. d. asexual. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Origins of Sexual Orientation TOP: Origins of Sexual Orientation: Prenatal hormones: Gender nonconformity MSC: Applied 30. People become clear about their sexual identities between the ages of ____ and ____. a. 4; 11 c. 18; 23 b. 12; 17 d. 24; 31 ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Origins of Sexual Orientation TOP: Origins of Sexual Orientation: Prenatal hormones: Gender nonconformity MSC: Factual 31. Prenatal exposure to _______ has been shown to contribute to the development of childhood behaviors that are not associated with one’s gender. a. testosterone c. progesterone b. estrogen d. oxytocin ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Origins of Sexual Orientation TOP: Origins of Sexual Orientation: Prenatal hormones: Gender nonconformity MSC: Factual 32. Efforts to change one’s sexual orientation have been found to be harmful and ineffective. Which strategy was found to be the most harmful? a. psychiatry c. support groups


b. church counseling

d. righteousness

ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Origins of Sexual Orientation TOP: Origins of Sexual Orientation: Social influences MSC: Factual 33. Efforts to change one’s sexual orientation have been found to be harmful and ineffective. Despite this, which strategy was found to be the most effective (at 24 percent) in changing one’s sexual orientation? a. individual effort c. family therapy b. church counseling d. group retreats ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Origins of Sexual Orientation TOP: Origins of Sexual Orientation: Social influences MSC: Factual 34. Research suggests that, compared to straight parents, children born to lesbian mothers are likely to: a. pursue a same-sex relationship. c. show no difference in sexual attraction. b. pursue a different-sex relationship. d. identify as asexual. ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Origins of Sexual Orientation TOP: Origins of Sexual Orientation: Social influences MSC: Factual 35. Same-sex couples face various forms of stigma, prejudice, and discrimination. Which of the following is not one of the forms commonly experienced? a. fears of rejection c. internalized stigma b. feeling public scrutiny d. seeking community ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Sexual Orientation and Intimate Relationships TOP: Sexual Orientation and Intimate Relationships: Stigma and prejudice MSC: Factual 36. Marco is a gay male; however, he is very uncomfortable with his sexuality. He often experiences symptoms of depression and anxiety about his relationship. It is likely that Mark is experiencing: a. internalized homonegativity. c. heteronormativity. b. stigma and prejudice. d. exclusion from social support. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Sexual Orientation and Intimate Relationships TOP: Sexual Orientation and Intimate Relationships: Stigma and prejudice MSC: Applied 37. Which of the following is NOT an example of how sexual minorities participate in communities that affirm their relationships? a. Same-sex couples create “families of c. When gays and lesbians end their choice” as support networks. relationship, they are not likely to remain in contact with ex-partners. b. When gays and lesbians end their d. Same-sex couples seek support from their relationships, they are likely to remain in families of origin. contact with ex-partners. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Sexual Orientation and Intimate Relationships TOP: Sexual Orientation and Intimate Relationships: Stigma and prejudice MSC: Factual 38. Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and straight individuals all value which of the following in an intimate relationship? a. happiness c. levels of intimacy b. authentic emotional connection d. equal division of labor


ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Sexual Orientation and Intimate Relationships TOP: Sexual Orientation and Intimate Relationships: Communication, cooperation, and conflict MSC: Factual 39. Which of the following is an example of gender deviance neutralization? a. When women do fewer household chores c. When women do more household chores as as compared to men. compared to men. b. When men do more household chores as d. When men do not do any household chores compared to women. but women do all of them. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Sexual Orientation and Intimate Relationships TOP: Sexual Orientation and Intimate Relationships: Communication, cooperation, and conflict: Division of labor MSC: Applied 40. Based on laboratory observations of same-sex and different-sex couples, straight couples are most likely to use which of the following strategies when discussing differences of opinion? a. being domineering c. whining b. expressing sadness d. showing affection ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Sexual Orientation and Intimate Relationships TOP: Sexual Orientation and Intimate Relationships: Communication, cooperation, and conflict: Resolving conflict MSC: Applied 41. Based on laboratory observations of same-sex and different-sex couples, gay and lesbian couples are most likely to use which of the following strategies when discussing differences of opinion? a. being domineering c. expressing humor b. being belligerent d. showing affection ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Sexual Orientation and Intimate Relationships TOP: Sexual Orientation and Intimate Relationships: Communication, cooperation, and conflict: Resolving conflict MSC: Applied 42. _______ couples who had been together more than 10 years were the most likely to report having sex once a month or less. a. Married c. Lesbian b. Gay d. Dating ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Sexual Orientation and Intimate Relationships TOP: Sexual Orientation and Intimate Relationships: Sexual activity and sexual exclusivity MSC: Factual 43. Compared to relationships involving one woman and one man, in lesbian relationships, sex tends to be: a. more frequent and longer-lasting. c. less frequent and shorter-lasting. b. more frequent but shorter-lasting. d. less frequent but longer-lasting. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Sexual Orientation and Intimate Relationships TOP: Sexual Orientation and Intimate Relationships: Sexual activity and sexual exclusivity MSC: Factual 44. ______ are more likely to have open relationships than straight men are. a. Bisexual women c. Gay men b. Lesbian women d. Bisexual men ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Sexual Orientation and Intimate Relationships TOP: Sexual Orientation and Intimate Relationships: Sexual activity and sexual exclusivity MSC: Factual


45. Which of the following is NOT one of the ways the relationships of gay and lesbian couples differ from the relationships of heterosexual couples? a. Gay and lesbian couples do not receive the same level of societal and familial support that their heterosexual counterparts receive. b. Homosexual people must come to terms with having a sexual orientation that can be the subject of prejudice. c. Because they are part of the mainstream, heterosexual people do not need to worry about how they are going to develop as participants in romantic relationships. d. Unlike heterosexual couples, gay and lesbian couples are often not able to express intimacy in public. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Sexual Orientation and Intimate Relationships TOP: Sexual Orientation and Intimate Relationships: Sexual activity and sexual exclusivity MSC: Applied 46. Compared to straight couples, which of the following couples are most prone to relationship breakdown and divorce? a. gay couples c. bisexual males b. bisexual females d. lesbian couples ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Sexual Orientation and Intimate Relationships TOP: Sexual Orientation and Intimate Relationships: Sexual activity and sexual exclusivity MSC: Factual 47. Lesbian couples devote approximately ________ minutes to their sexual encounters, compared to the approximately _____ minutes for women with a male partner. a. 60; 20 c. 30; 90 b. 20; 60 d. 90; 30 ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Sexual Orientation and Intimate Relationships TOP: Sexual Orientation and Intimate Relationships: Sexual activity and sexual exclusivity MSC: Factual 48. All of the following are examples of the ways in which the sex lives of gay versus straight couples differ EXCEPT: a. Gay men are least likely to report sexual c. Straight men are more likely to report that exclusivity with their partner as important. sex outside the relationship is acceptable. b. Gay men are more likely to report being d. Straight men prefer more sensual monogamous. interaction. ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: Sexual Orientation and Intimate Relationships TOP: Sexual Orientation and Intimate Relationships: Sexual activity and sexual exclusivity MSC: Applied 49. Which of the following statements about how homosexual and heterosexual relationships differ in terms of relationship dissolution is accurate? a. In countries where homosexual couples do not have the same rights as heterosexual couples, homosexual relationships are more likely to dissolve than are heterosexual relationships. b. In countries where homosexual couples have the same rights as heterosexual couples, homosexual relationships are equally likely to dissolve as are heterosexual relationships. c. Gay male relationships are more likely to end than are lesbian relationships. d. Relationship satisfaction declines more quickly in lesbian relationships than it does in gay male relationships.


ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Sexual Orientation and Intimate Relationships TOP: Sexual Orientation and Intimate Relationships: Sexual activity and sexual exclusivity MSC: Conceptual ESSAY 1. Describe the characteristics of sexual attraction for women and men. ANS: Female sexual attraction is characterized as: arousal by a broad array of sexual stimuli (including those depicting their non-preferred sex) and greater fluidity. Females are more likely than males to be mostly straight or bisexual, and more likely to be influenced by sociocultural factors. Male sexual attraction is characterized as: arousal by a narrow array of sexual stimuli (primarily those depicting their preferred sex) and greater stability. Males are more likely to be straight or gay, and are more likely to be influenced by biological factors. DIF: Medium REF: Sexual Orientations and Identities TOP: Sexual Orientations and Identities: Sexual orientations of women and men MSC: Factual 2. Describe the ways in which homosexuality may enhance the fitness of close relatives (hint: think of the cross-cultural studies conducted with gay men in Samoa and Indonesia). ANS: Evolutionary biologists suggest that in our past, gay individuals may have been critical in helping people raise children. By caring for nieces and nephews, gay individuals could increase the chances of their relatives’ children growing up and reproducing, thus helping with the survival of their family’s genes. Cross-cultural studies conducted with gay men in Samoa and Indonesia have found that gay men are more likely than straight men to invest in relatives’ offspring. DIF: Medium REF: Origins of Sexual Orientation TOP: Origins of Sexual Orientation: Evolution and genes

MSC: Factual

3. Imagine you are at a dinner party and you overhear someone talking about Lady Gaga’s song, “Born this Way.” Overhearing this conversation leads an acquaintance to discuss how people are born with a specific sexual orientation and that social influence matters little. Would you agree or disagree with this acquaintance? Please provide support for your answer. ANS: Although a majority of explanations of sexual orientation contain biological roots, there is some evidence to suggest that sexual orientation has social influences as well. For example, Diamond’s (2008) concept of sexual fluidity helps to explain how women’s sexual orientation can fluctuate over time. Therefore, some have argued that social, cultural, and personal factors may contribute to how the biological predisposition of an individual will be expressed. Additionally, there is no evidence to suggest that parenting practices influence a child’s sexual orientation. Lastly, some have argued that our “‘conscious choices” have a strong biological component and that sexual orientation is difficult to change. DIF: Difficult REF: Origins of Sexual Orientation TOP: Origins of Sexual Orientation: Social influences

MSC: Applied

4. When we make comparisons between same- and different-sex couples, what are the three big traps to be avoided?


ANS: First, we have to recognize that the studies conducted with same-sex couples today differ than those conducted 10 years ago, due to legal and social-context changes. Second, we should not assume that all couples are equally representative of any larger group. Third, we have to avoid the trap of heteronormativity. DIF: Medium REF: Sexual Orientation and Intimate Relationships TOP: Sexual Orientation and Intimate Relationships MSC: Conceptual


CHAPTER 6: Personality and Personal History 1. Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies a. Effects of personality traits on intimate relationships b. Trait approach i. The Big Five c. Consequences of negative affectivity and low self-esteem i. Dependence regulation model 2. Childhood Experiences in Families a. Family of origin b. Intergenerational transmission effects c. Family transitions and the well-being of children d. How childhood experiences influence later relationships e. The social learning theory view 3. Early Relationships with Caregivers a. The attachment theory view i. Attachment behavior system b. Overcoming insecurity MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. What was Lewis Terman’s view on personality and marital success? a. A person who is unsuccessful in one relationship is likely to be unsuccessful in any relationship because of a fundamental lack of qualities that lead to compatibility with others. b. Early childhood experiences and the views of self and others that develop as a function of the caregiving relationship lead to marital success and failure. c. Personality traits have the potential to affect relationship satisfaction, but it is the dynamics of the couple that determines success or failure. d. Personality does not shape and influence the intimate bonds that we form with others. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies TOP: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies: Effects of personality traits on intimate relationships MSC: Factual 2. According to the text, ________ refer(s) to “those distinctive qualities that characterize an individual, that are relatively stable over time and across situations, that have some internal organization to them, and that influence how the individual behaves in and adapts to the world around them.” a. conflict management style c. motives b. attachment style d. personality ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies TOP: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies: Effects of personality traits on intimate relationships MSC: Factual 3. Which of the following is NOT a component of the way psychologists define personality? a. qualities that characterize all individuals b. qualities that are relatively stable over time and across situations c. qualities that have some internal organization d. qualities that influence how individuals behave in and adapt to the world around them ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies TOP: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies: Effects of personality traits on intimate relationships MSC: Factual


4. People with similar personality traits generally ________ in intimate relationships, yet partners who have ________ personalities tend to have happier relationships. a. do not pair up; similar c. do not pair up; less similar b. pair up; less similar d. pair up; similar ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies TOP: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies: Effects of personality traits on intimate relationships MSC: Factual 5. Which of the following statements about how personality traits affect intimate relationships is accurate? a. People with similar personality traits generally do not pair up in intimate relationships; luckily, partners with less similar personalities tend to have happier relationships. b. People with similar personality traits generally pair up in intimate relationships; luckily, partners with similar personalities tend to have happier relationships. c. People with similar personality traits generally do not pair up in intimate relationships, yet partners with similar personalities tend to have happier relationships. d. People with similar personality traits generally pair up in intimate relationships, yet partners with less similar personalities tend to have happier relationships. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies TOP: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies: Effects of personality traits on intimate relationships MSC: Factual 6. Which of the following statements about how personality traits affect intimate relationships is NOT accurate? a. People with similar personality traits generally do not pair up in intimate relationships. b. People with similar personality traits generally pair up in intimate relationships. c. Partners with less similar personalities tend to have happier relationships. d. None of the answer options is correct. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies TOP: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies: Effects of personality traits on intimate relationships MSC: Factual 7. How can we summarize the research on personality and relationships? a. Personality affects relationships more than relationships affect personality. b. Relationships affect personality more than personality affects relationships. c. Personality affects relationships to the same degree that relationships affect personality. d. We cannot determine at this time how personality affects relationships or how relationships affect personality. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies TOP: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies: Effects of personality traits on intimate relationships MSC: Factual 8. Derek tends to be somewhat critical of his wife, Jane. He worries a lot about his lack of success at work and lately has been very pessimistic. According to the text, these facts indicate that Derek and Jane are likely to: a. have a happy marriage if Derek is an extrovert. b. have an unhappy marriage. c. have more than three children. d. have no children. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies TOP: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies: Effects of personality traits on intimate


relationships | Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies: Trait approach: The Big Five MSC: Applied 9. Chantey is low in agreeableness. Her husband is likely to report that she: a. can be argumentative but is considerate of his needs. b. is very generous toward him and their children. c. is far too trusting of strangers. d. treats him condescendingly. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies TOP: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies: Effects of personality traits on intimate relationships | Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies: Trait approach: The Big Five MSC: Applied 10. Dr. Andrews examines whether shyness and assertiveness are related to partner preferences in a study of dating couples. What approach to relationships is Dr. Andrews using? a. trait approach c. Big Five approach b. attachment theory d. dependence regulation model ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies TOP: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies: Trait approach MSC: Factual 11. Dr. Allison examines whether generosity and empathy are related to marital satisfaction in a study of newlyweds. What approach to relationships is Dr. Allison using? a. trait approach c. Big Five approach b. attachment theory d. dependence regulation model ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies TOP: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies: Trait approach MSC: Factual 12. Derek tends to be very critical of his wife, Jane. He worries a lot about his lack of success at work and lately has been very pessimistic about his work environment. These behaviors reflect which personality trait? a. low extraversion c. high negative affectivity b. high attachment anxiety d. low agreeableness ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies TOP: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies: Trait approach: The Big Five MSC: Applied 13. Chantey tends to be somewhat critical of her husband, John. She worries a lot about her inability to market herself as a successful painter and lately has been very pessimistic about how media advertising is affecting her daughter’s body image. These behaviors reflect which personality trait? a. low extraversion c. high negative affectivity b. high attachment anxiety d. low agreeableness ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies TOP: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies: Trait approach: The Big Five MSC: Applied


14. Despite being a single parent, Nancy enjoys spending time with her friends and attends parties whenever she can. She also runs her own business, making children’s toys, which she sells through a website she maintains herself. To get her work done while her children are in school, Nancy must be very organized and must schedule her time carefully. These behaviors reflect which personality traits? a. high extraversion and high agreeableness b. high extraversion and high conscientiousness c. high conscientiousness and high agreeableness d. high openness and high agreeableness ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies TOP: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies: Trait approach: The Big Five MSC: Applied 15. Which of the following traits is NOT part of the Big Five model of personality? a. agreeableness c. openness b. acquiescence d. conscientiousness ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies TOP: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies: Trait approach: The Big Five MSC: Factual 16. Nicole’s coworkers often describe her as being very organized and acting according to policy; however, she is very friendly and willing to engage with her staff. According to her coworkers, how would you define Nicole’s personality? a. low in extraversion; high in agreeableness b. high in agreeableness; low in conscientiousness c. high in conscientiousness; high in extraversion d. low in negative affectivity; low in openness ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies TOP: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies: Trait approach: The Big Five MSC: Applied 17. According to the text, people who are ________ appear to be particularly vulnerable to poor relationships. a. low in openness c. low in extraversion b. high in negative affectivity d. high in impulse control ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies TOP: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies: Consequences of negative affectivity and low self-esteem MSC: Factual 18. What prediction would follow from Sandra Murray and her colleagues’ dependence regulation model? a. Individuals low in self-esteem tend to overestimate their partners’ regard for them. b. Individuals low in self-esteem are biased toward looking for evidence that their partners care for them. c. Individuals high in self-esteem see rejection even where it does not exist. d. The rejection sensitivity of individuals low in self-esteem is associated with declines in their partners’ relationship satisfaction. ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies TOP: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies: Consequences of negative affectivity and low self-esteem: Dependence regulation model MSC: Conceptual


19. Kadija has never thought much of herself, and she does not think that her partner, Mac, does either. Mac has been preoccupied at work lately, and Kadija thinks that he is drifting away from her. Because of her dissatisfaction, Kadija has been quick to anger, and she and Mac have been arguing a lot. What best describes the cycle that Kadija is experiencing? a. dismissing attachment c. trait theory b. dependence regulation model d. fearful attachment ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies TOP: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies: Consequences of negative affectivity and low self-esteem: Dependence regulation model MSC: Applied 20. What is the main premise of the dependence regulation model? a. Enduring personality characteristics can affect how partners perceive and communicate with one another. b. Early experiences with caregivers have a lasting impact on security. c. Physical proximity to a caregiver regulates dependency needs in close relationships. d. When dependency needs are poorly regulated in close relationships, relationships are destined to dissolve. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies TOP: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies: Consequences of negative affectivity and low self-esteem: Dependence regulation model MSC: Factual 21. The effects that the family of origin have on who people are as individuals are referred to as: a. intergenerational transmission effects. b. family of origin experiences. c. trait theory. d. interfamilial effects. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Childhood Experiences in Families TOP: Childhood Experiences in Families: Intergenerational transmission effects MSC: Factual 22. Melanie’s parents frequently argued when she was young and divorced when she was 12 years old. Now that Melanie is in her early 20s, she finds that her romantic relationships are often tense and conflict-ridden. What phenomenon does this reflect? a. protection effects b. intergenerational transmission effects c. interdependence effects d. selection effects ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Childhood Experiences in Families TOP: Childhood Experiences in Families: Intergenerational transmission effects MSC: Applied 23. Xie’s parents have been married 27 years. Growing up, Xie and his parents played board games every Friday night and made each other laugh by making up jokes. Xie, now 23 years old, is in his first serious romantic relationship: he has finally found a woman who shares his quirky sense of humor and love of board games. What phenomenon does Xie’s behavior reflect? a. selection effects b. protection effects c. interdependence effects d. intergenerational transmission effects ANS: D

DIF: Easy

REF: Childhood Experiences in Families


TOP: Childhood Experiences in Families: Intergenerational transmission effects MSC: Applied 24. The percentage of children who have an adverse outcome following parental divorce is ________. a. 1 to 5 percent c. 40 to 60 percent b. 20 to 30 percent d. 60 to 80 percent ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Childhood Experiences in Families TOP: Childhood Experiences in Families: Family transitions and the well-being of children MSC: Factual 25. Approximately what percentage of children in the United States will experience the divorce of their parents? a. 60 percent c. 40 percent b. 50 percent d. 30 percent ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Childhood Experiences in Families TOP: Childhood Experiences in Families: Family transitions and the well-being of children MSC: Factual 26. Sociologist Paul Amato has studied how the well-being of adults is related to the state of their parents’ marriages when the participants were children. What best represents the findings of that study? a. If the parents’ marriage ended in divorce, the level of discord had no additional effect on well-being. b. If the parents had a lot of discord, divorce had no additional effect on well-being. c. If the parents had little discord and divorced, or if the parents’ marriage had a lot of discord but the couple remained married, the children had the poorest well-being as adults. d. If the parents’ marriage had a lot of discord and then ended in divorce, the children had the lowest well-being as adults. ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Childhood Experiences in Families TOP: Childhood Experiences in Families: Family transitions and the well-being of children MSC: Factual 27. Sociologist Paul Amato has studied how the well-being of adults is related to the state of their parents’ marriages when the participants were children. Based on his findings, which of the following individuals would you expect to have the LOWEST well-being as adults? a. Melanie, whose parents frequently argued when she was young and divorced when she was 12 years old b. Phaelan, whose parents’ marriage had a lot of discord when he was young but they never divorced c. Brontë, whose parents had little discord and never argued but divorced when she was 7 years old d. Beckett, whose parents occasionally argued when he was young but they never divorced ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: Childhood Experiences in Families TOP: Childhood Experiences in Families: Family transitions and the well-being of children MSC: Applied 28. Sociologist Paul Amato has studied how the well-being of adults is related to the state of their parents’ marriages when the participants were children. Based on his findings, which of the following individuals would you expect to have the HIGHEST well-being as adults? a. Melanie, whose parents frequently argued when she was young and divorced when she was 12 years old b. Phaelan, whose parents’ marriage had a lot of discord when he was young but they never


divorced c. Brontë, whose parents had little discord and never argued but divorced when she was 7 years old d. Beckett, whose parents occasionally argued when he was young but they never divorced ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Childhood Experiences in Families TOP: Childhood Experiences in Families: Family transitions and the well-being of children MSC: Applied 29. Compared to individuals whose parents divorced, offspring from intact homes: a. show less commitment to future relationships and have a higher divorce rate. b. are more likely to focus on school and work, and therefore are more socioeconomically successful. c. are more likely to live with a romantic partner without marrying. d. have poorer relationships with their parents when they are adults. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Childhood Experiences in Families TOP: Childhood Experiences in Families: Family transitions and the well-being of children MSC: Factual 30. Compared to individuals from intact homes, offspring whose parents divorced: a. show more commitment to future relationships and have a lower divorce rate. b. are more likely to focus on school and work, and therefore are more socioeconomically successful. c. are less likely to live with a romantic partner without marrying. d. have poorer relationships with their parents when they are adults. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Childhood Experiences in Families TOP: Childhood Experiences in Families: Family transitions and the well-being of children MSC: Factual 31. In longitudinal studies of outcomes for children of divorced families, one result is that: a. divorce is much worse for children than exposure to conflict in intact but troubled families. b. experiences in the family prior to divorce affect the well-being of children. c. although divorce doubles the risk of adverse outcomes for children of divorce, most children of divorce eventually do quite well. d. most children do quite well while in intact families, but that always changes when their parents divorce. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Childhood Experiences in Families TOP: Childhood Experiences in Families: Family transitions and the well-being of children | Childhood Experiences in Families: How childhood experiences influence later relationships MSC: Factual 32. After two kids and 10 years of marriage, James and Sarah divorce. According to research on divorced families, which of the following statements is most accurate? a. James and Sarah’s grandchildren will be at greater risk for divorce. b. James and Sarah will be better parents following their divorce because they can focus on their children rather than fighting with each other. c. James and Sarah’s children will be less well adjusted if their parents’ marriage was characterized by high conflict versus low conflict. d. James and Sarah’s children are more likely to succeed in their future careers because they value work more than intimate relationships. ANS: A

DIF: Difficult

REF: Childhood Experiences in Families


TOP: Childhood Experiences in Families: How childhood experiences influence later relationships MSC: Applied 33. After two kids and 10 years of marriage, James and Sarah divorce. According to research on divorced families, which of the following statements is most accurate? a. James and Sarah’s children, but not grandchildren, will be at greater risk for divorce. b. James and Sarah will be better parents following their divorce because they can focus on their children rather than on fighting with each other. c. James and Sarah’s children will have higher levels of well-being if their parents’ marriage was characterized by high conflict versus low conflict. d. James and Sarah’s children are more likely to succeed in their future careers because they value work more than intimate relationships. ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Childhood Experiences in Families TOP: Childhood Experiences in Families: How childhood experiences influence later relationships MSC: Applied 34. How does the experience of divorce in the family of origin relate to the adult children’s communication in intimate relationships? a. Women with divorced parents express about the same level of disagreement as women from intact families. b. Men with divorced parents express more disagreement, invalidation, and less negative listening than men from intact families. c. Women with divorced parents express less disagreement and invalidation than negative listening. d. Men with divorced parents express more disagreement and invalidation than men from intact families. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Childhood Experiences in Families TOP: Childhood Experiences in Families: How childhood experiences influence later relationships MSC: Factual 35. According to Sanders and colleagues (1999), women and men with divorced parents, as compared to those whose parents have intact marriages, expressed more __________ when discussing relationship problems. a. positive facial expressions b. agreement c. disagreement d. validation ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Childhood Experiences in Families TOP: Childhood Experiences in Families: The social learning theory view MSC: Factual 36. What is the primary idea of attachment theory? a. Relationships between adults are better when the attachment between partners is similar to the parents’ attachment. b. Early experiences lead some individuals to form attachments, while other individuals learn relationship skills from their caregivers. c. The nature of the early childhood bond with caregivers influences the bonds created in adult relationships. d. Love is a biological drive shaped by powerful evolutionary forces. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Early Relationships with Caregivers TOP: Early Relationships with Caregivers: The attachment theory view


MSC: Factual 37. While Nicole’s coworkers often describe her as being very organized and compliant, they also agree that she is very friendly and receptive to feedback. This becomes encoded as _____ aspects of _____. a. other-relevant; avoidance b. self-relevant; avoidance c. other-relevant; anxiety d. self-relevant; anxiety ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Early Relationships with Caregivers TOP: Early Relationships with Caregivers: The attachment theory view MSC: Factual 38. After being married 6 years, Sarah does not get Amanda a gift for her birthday. The textbook points out that internal working models of attachment affect how we view interpersonal events. Which of the following interpretations about Sarah’s behavior might we expect Amanda to make if she is low in both anxiety and avoidance? a. “Sarah has been under so much stress at work lately, it’s no wonder she didn’t have time to get a gift.” b. “Sarah must still be mad at me because I forgot to pick up her dry cleaning last week.” c. “Sarah knows how much rampant consumerism bothers me; she was trying to be considerate when not buying anything for me.” d. “Oh well, it’s not a big deal.” ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Early Relationships with Caregivers TOP: Early Relationships with Caregivers: The attachment theory view: Attachment behavior system MSC: Applied 39. After being married 6 years, Sarah does not get Amanda a gift for her birthday. The textbook points out that internal working models of attachment affect how we view interpersonal events. Which of the following interpretations about Sarah’s behavior might we expect Amanda to make if she is high in both anxiety and avoidance? a. “Sarah has been under so much stress at work lately, it’s no wonder she didn’t have time to get a gift.” b. “Sarah must still be mad at me because I forgot to pick up her dry cleaning last week.” c. “Sarah knows how much rampant consumerism bothers me; it was really considerate of her not to buy anything for me.” d. “Oh well, it’s not a big deal.” ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: Early Relationships with Caregivers TOP: Early Relationships with Caregivers: The attachment theory view: Attachment behavior system MSC: Applied 40. Relatively secure women who are experiencing anxiety about an impending nonrelationship stressor seek contact with their partners, and the resulting support (physical proximity) reduces the women’s distress. From an attachment perspective, what conclusion can you draw from this? a. Secure women tend to experience more anxiety than their partners experience. b. Experiencing a nonrelationship stressor elicits more anxiety than a relationship stressor. c. Attachment behaviors, such as seeking closeness, serve to regulate distressing emotions. d. Insecure women are more likely to seek support than are secure women. ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Early Relationships with Caregivers TOP: Early Relationships with Caregivers: The attachment theory view: Attachment behavior system MSC: Conceptual


41. According to attachment theory, experiences in early relationships are internalized as ________. Research has shown that these early experiences ________ later attachment relationships. a. working models; systematically affect b. the attachment behavioral system; systematically affect c. working models; determine satisfaction in d. the attachment behavioral system; determine satisfaction in ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Early Relationships with Caregivers TOP: Early Relationships with Caregivers: The attachment theory view: Attachment behavior system MSC: Factual 42. In attachment theory, adults differ along the two main dimensions of: a. anxiety and avoidance. c. pain and responsiveness. b. warmth and rejection. d. comfort and closeness. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Early Relationships with Caregivers TOP: Early Relationships with Caregivers: The attachment theory view: Attachment behavior system MSC: Factual 43. Regarding attachment theory, which of the following is true? a. Anxiety reflects the degree to which we view others as approachable or rejecting. b. Avoidance reflects a dislike of other people. c. Anxiety stems from inconsistent and unavailable care giving. d. Avoidance of others stems from a lack of self-confidence and a fear about others’ regard for the self. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Early Relationships with Caregivers TOP: Early Relationships with Caregivers: The attachment theory view: Attachment behavior system MSC: Factual 44. Compared to secure individuals, insecure individuals (high anxiety and/or high avoidance) tend to: a. maximize the impact of negative relationship events. b. minimize the impact of negative relationship events. c. experience more positive emotion in their relationships. d. display less negative emotion when communicating with their partners. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Early Relationships with Caregivers TOP: Early Relationships with Caregivers: The attachment theory view: Attachment behavior system MSC: Factual 45. How would attachment theorists classify adults who are low on the self-relevant dimension of anxiety and low on the other-relevant dimension of avoidance? a. secure c. dismissive b. preoccupied d. fearful ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Early Relationships with Caregivers TOP: Early Relationships with Caregivers: The attachment theory view: Attachment behavior system MSC: Conceptual 46. How would attachment theorists classify adults who are high on the self-relevant dimension of anxiety and high on the other-relevant dimension of avoidance? a. secure c. dismissive b. preoccupied d. fearful ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Early Relationships with Caregivers TOP: Early Relationships with Caregivers: The attachment theory view: Attachment behavior system


MSC: Conceptual 47. Berndt enjoys spending time with his romantic partner, but he seldom talks with her about relationship issues or concerns. He prefers that his partner talk with her friends when she is upset about something because he is not comfortable discussing relationship issues and does not think that it is useful for her to talk about such issues with him. Which of the following best fits Berndt’s approach to relationships? a. Berndt has a secure attachment style: he is realistic in knowing that it would be more useful for his partner to talk to her friends rather than to him when something is bothering her. b. Berndt has a fearful (insecure) attachment style: he is worried that if he talks with his partner about her relationship concerns, she will end up breaking up with him. c. Berndt has an anxious (insecure) attachment style: he would like to be closer to his partner, so he avoids talking about her relationship concerns to focus on the positive aspects of their relationship. d. Berndt has an avoidant (insecure) attachment style: he is happy not being too emotionally close to his partner and expresses less emotion in response to events in their relationship. ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Early Relationships with Caregivers TOP: Early Relationships with Caregivers: The attachment theory view: Attachment behavior system MSC: Applied 48. Linda is thought to have an insecure attachment style. Which of the following is NOT one way she can reduce her sense of insecurity? a. deepen her self-affirmation b. adopt her partner’s perspective c. increase her psychological closeness d. decrease her physical closeness ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Early Relationships with Caregivers TOP: Early Relationships with Caregivers: Overcoming insecurity MSC: Applied ESSAY 1. Describe the associations between enduring emotional traits and experiences people have in intimate relationships. ANS: Individuals who are high in negative affectivity tend to dwell on their own and others’ negative qualities. Additionally, these individuals tend to be more vulnerable to poor relationships. Individuals who have a conscientious partner are more effective at work, in part, because the household chores are being handled at home. Individuals whose partners are low in agreeableness report being treated with a lack of respect, and individuals whose partners are more prone to negative emotions are likely to report self-centeredness, jealousy, and dependence as difficulties in their relationship. DIF: Medium REF: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies TOP: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies: Effects of personality traits on intimate relationships MSC: Factual 2. What is the Big Five model of personality? ANS:


There is an emerging consensus that, among all the personality traits studied, only five are required to capture individual differences in personality functioning between individuals. These traits are known as the Big Five and include negative affectivity, agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness, and extraversion. DIF: Easy REF: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies TOP: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies: Trait approach: The Big Five MSC: Factual 3. How are the Big Five personality traits related to relationship quality? ANS: The Big Five personality traits include neuroticism (negative affectivity), agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness, and extraversion. Although not all personality traits appear to affect relationship functioning, there is evidence that some traits do have an effect. For example, in a study of marriage conducted over 5 decades, neuroticism of the people when they were engaged (as judged by five acquaintances) was related to later marital dissatisfaction and divorce. Couples who were unhappy were more likely to divorce if the husbands had personality traits (e.g., extraversion, impulsivity) that made them prone to behaviors that undermined the relationship, such as infidelity, financial irresponsibility, and excessive drinking. In other research, agreeableness and conscientiousness were related to marital satisfaction. Personality traits appear to make relationships more or less satisfying and lasting. DIF: Easy REF: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies TOP: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies: Trait approach: The Big Five | Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies: Effects of personality traits on intimate relationships MSC: Factual 4. Describe the dependence regulation model and the four key phases. ANS: The dependence regulation model suggests that enduring characteristics, such as low self-esteem, affect how relationship partners perceive and behave in their relationship. Phase one: Low self-esteem: a personality trait that reflects feelings of unworthiness. Phase two: Underestimating the partner’s regard for self: individuals low in self-esteem assume that their partners see them in a negative light, leading to expectations of rejection and low approach motives; this perception creates a distance that confirms their doubts about their partners’ regard. Phase three: Perceiving the partner in an unfavorable light and expressing discontent: in error, individuals see their partners’ lacking in feelings of love and positive regard, and they misinterpret signals as rejection; this misinterpretation leads to devaluation of the partner, perhaps as a self-defense mechanism. Phase four: Perceiving the relationship in an unfavorable light: people who are rejection-sensitive and low in self-esteem become less satisfied with their relationship over time, as do their partners. DIF: Medium REF: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies TOP: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies: Consequences of negative affectivity and low self-esteem: Dependence regulation model MSC: Factual 5. Kadija has never thought much of herself, and she does not think that her partner, Mac, does either. Mac has been preoccupied at work lately, and Kadija thinks that he is drifting away from her. Because of her dissatisfaction, Kadija has been quick to anger, and she and Mac have been arguing a lot. Use the four key phases of the dependence regulation model to explain what is happening in Kadija and Mac’s relationship. ANS:


The dependence regulation model suggests that enduring characteristics, such as low self-esteem, affect how relationship partners perceive and behave in their relationship. Phase one of the model (low self-esteem) is evident in the fact that Kadija has never thought much of herself. Phase two is also evident: Kadija thinks that Mac sees her in a negative light (here we are assuming that Kadija is underestimating Mac’s regard for her) and interprets his preoccupation with work as an indication that he does not value their relationship. Because she now perceives Mac in an unfavorable light, Kadija openly expresses her discontent and anger (phase three). As a result, both she and Mac argue and (we assume) become less satisfied with their relationship (phase four). DIF: Difficult REF: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies TOP: Personality Traits and Emotional Tendencies: Consequences of negative affectivity and low self-esteem: Dependence regulation model MSC: Applied 6. You are asked to go on a daily show at a local radio station to discuss the effects of divorce on children. One of the presenters claims that children of divorce have considerably worse outcomes as adults compared to the adult children of intact marriages. How will you address this point on the show? ANS: The first point is the risk of negative outcome: children of divorce have double the risk of adverse consequences compared to children from intact homes; about 20 to 30 percent of children from divorced parents experience negative outcomes compared to 10 to 15 percent of children from intact homes. Thus, although there is an increased risk, these two groups of children are more alike than different in their outcomes; the majority of children from divorced families are functioning in the healthy range. The second point is that the family environment has an impact on the child regardless of whether the parents separate or divorce; thus, high levels of parental conflict are detrimental, and children do poorly as adults if their parents’ high-conflict marriage does not end. DIF: Medium REF: Childhood Experiences in Families TOP: Childhood Experiences in Families: Family transitions and the well-being of children | Childhood Experiences in Families: How childhood experiences influence later relationships MSC: Applied 7. You are asked to go on a daily show at a local radio station to discuss the effects of divorce on children. One of the presenters claims that, when a parents’ marriage is filled with conflict, children have considerably worse outcomes as adults if the parents stay together than if they divorce. How will you address this point on the show? ANS: High levels of parental conflict are detrimental, and it is true that children do poorly as adults if their parents’ high-conflict marriage does not end (i.e., parents remain married). Children who have highly conflictual parents who do divorce do not do as poorly as adults; however, it cannot be said they do well either. Children, whose parents experience little discord but then divorce, do poorly as adults; their well-being is almost as poor as that of individuals whose parents experienced high levels of conflict and did not divorce. DIF: Medium REF: Childhood Experiences in Families TOP: Childhood Experiences in Families: Family transitions and the well-being of children | Childhood Experiences in Families: How childhood experiences influence later relationships MSC: Applied 8. Explain how the magnitude of the effects of divorce on children can be interpreted in different ways. ANS:


Some studies show that parental divorce approximately doubles the risk of adverse consequences for the children, a statistic that sounds ominous. But it does not mean that divorce guarantees unhappiness in children. In fact, although about 20 to 30 percent of children from divorced families experience adverse outcomes, about 10 to 15 percent of children from intact marriages do also. This means that children from divorced and intact families are far more alike than different, and that most children (regardless of whether their parents divorced or not) function in the normal or healthy range. DIF: Easy REF: Childhood Experiences in Families TOP: Childhood Experiences in Families: Family transitions and the well-being of children | Childhood Experiences in Families: How childhood experiences influence later relationships MSC: Factual 9. Describe how attitudes toward relationships and marriage differ between individuals whose parents divorced compared to individuals from intact families. ANS: Children of divorce exercise more caution toward marriage and are more accepting of divorce than children from intact families. Some studies show that children of divorce are more likely to live together without marrying and to delay getting married. Studies also show that unhappily married offspring with divorced parents are more likely to contemplate divorce as an option than equally unhappy offspring from intact family backgrounds. Children of divorce experience more relationship distress and dissolution. Compared to children from intact family backgrounds, children exposed to parental divorce are more likely to divorce as adults. In fact, these effects are so strong that they have been shown to extend into the intimate relationships of grandchildren. DIF: Medium REF: Childhood Experiences in Families TOP: Childhood Experiences in Families: Family transitions and the well-being of children | Childhood Experiences in Families: How childhood experiences influence later relationships MSC: Factual 10. Barbara and Sean have been married 5 years; Barbara’s parents divorced when she was 14, and Sean’s parents are still married. Their friends, Ksenia and Eke, have been married 2 years; Ksenia’s parents are still married, and Eke’s parents divorced when he was 11. Both couples participate in a study about couple communication, where they are observed in the laboratory discussing relationship difficulties with their spouses. Based on the material in the textbook about communication patterns in couples with intact or divorced parents, how would you expect Barbara’s, Sean’s, Ksenia’s, and Eke’s communication patterns to differ? ANS: Because their parents are divorced, I would expect Barbara and Eke to show more negative communication patterns than Ksenia and Sean. Specifically, Barbara and Eke will be more likely to show disagreement, invalidation, and disrespect and disdain for their partners and to withdraw in unproductive ways from the conversation. When Sean or Ksenia are speaking, Barbara and Eke will show more negative facial expressions and gestures as listeners. Barbara (with divorced parents) will show the highest levels of these behaviors, and Sean (with intact parents) will show the lowest levels; interestingly, Ksenia (with intact parents) and Eke (with divorced parents) will show similar levels of these behaviors. DIF: Medium REF: Childhood Experiences in Families TOP: Childhood Experiences in Families: Family transitions and the well-being of children | Childhood Experiences in Families: How childhood experiences influence later relationships MSC: Applied


11. Briefly describe the five key conclusions that have emerged from research into the ways parental conflict and divorce affect individuals as they develop through childhood to adolescence and into adulthood. ANS: First, the adverse effects of marital discord and divorce on children are evident in a range of domains, including academic achievement, conduct and behavior, psychological adjustment, self-esteem, and social relationships. Second, the magnitude of these effects can be interpreted in different ways: we can focus on the differences between children from divorced and intact families, or we can focus on the similarities between them. Third, children are affected by conflict and divorce because the dissolution of a marriage jeopardizes the family’s economic circumstances and parental mental health, reduces the amount and quality of the child’s contact with one parent (typically the father), and makes the family vulnerable to new kinds of stresses. Fourth, children can have difficulties in the absence of divorce; high levels of conflict between parents are often correlated with the negative effects noted above. Finally, the well-being of adult offspring depends on a complex combination of whether the parents divorced and what the marriage was like before the divorce (i.e., if there were high levels of conflict or not). DIF: Medium REF: Childhood Experiences in Families TOP: Childhood Experiences in Families: How childhood experiences influence later relationships MSC: Factual 12. The parents of 9-year-old Wolfgang have just divorced. From your textbook, you know that a number of factors can undermine Wolfgang’s adjustment (e.g., parental conflict, economic difficulties). How can Wolfgang minimize the impact of these adverse effects (although he may not consciously be aware of doing so)? ANS: The impact of these effects on Wolfgang will be minimized if he employs active coping skills, does not blame himself for the divorce, and develops supportive relationships with his peers, parents, and other family members. DIF: Easy REF: Childhood Experiences in Families TOP: Childhood Experiences in Families: How childhood experiences influence later relationships MSC: Applied 13. The social learning theory posits that individuals learn about relationships by observing how family members relate to one another. According to your text, what are some empirical examples that support this theory? ANS: Children who grow up in warm and supportive environments feel more closely connected with their partner 60 years later (Waldinger & Schultz, 2016). Children who experience forms of abuse and neglect experience increased psychological aggression, relationship problems, and decreased trust and sexual activity later in life (DiLillo et al., 2009). Partners from harsh and conflicted families display less positive behavior when communicating (Maleck & Papp, 2013). Individuals with a history of parental divorce are more likely to disagree, express disdain, and withdrawal from conversation (Sanders et al., 1999). DIF: Medium REF: Childhood Experiences in Families TOP: Childhood Experiences in Families: The social learning theory view MSC: Factual 14. Explain how early caregiver interactions impact individual differences in attachment.


ANS: The quality of the caregiver-child bond contributes to the child’s internal working model of attachment. Individual differences arise from these early connections. Through repeated experiences, children develop working models or views of self and others in relationships. These working models function as templates for future relationship behavior. The models can vary in terms of positivity; in contemporary attachment theory, the individual differences in attachment security are defined in terms of anxiety and avoidance. The self-relevant dimension of anxiety becomes encoded as a result of how consistent and available caregivers are to meet children’s need. When caregivers are consistent and available, children develop confident, positive senses of self. When caregivers are inconsistent and unavailable, children feel anxious, insecure, inadequate, and unworthy of others’ care and attention. The other-relevant dimension of avoidance becomes encoded as a result of how caregivers respond when children seek proximity: when such efforts are met with love and comfort, children come to believe that others are trustworthy and that they (the children) are valued; on the other hand, punishment and rejection lead children to conclude that others are unreliable and are best avoided. DIF: Medium REF: Early Relationships with Caregivers TOP: Early Relationships with Caregivers: The attachment theory view MSC: Factual 15. Describe the dimensions of attachment anxiety and avoidance. ANS: The dimensions of attachment anxiety and avoidance are independent, continuous dimensions that together capture the variability in individual differences in attachment. Attachment anxiety relates to views of the self (it is self-relevant); high attachment anxiety reflects worries about whether others will find the self worthy of love and affection. Attachment avoidance relates to views of others (it is other-relevant): Can one rely on or go to others to seek comfort in times of distress? DIF: Easy REF: Early Relationships with Caregivers TOP: Early Relationships with Caregivers: The attachment theory view: Attachment behavior system MSC: Conceptual 16. After being married 6 years, Sarah forgets the birthday of her wife, Amanda. Your textbook points out that internal working models of attachment affect how we view interpersonal events. Discuss how Amanda’s interpretations about Sarah’s behavior might differ depending on whether she is high or low in anxiety and avoidance. ANS: Internal working models affect how we view interpersonal events: Amanda can “spin” this event in a way that benefits the relationship or damages it. If Amanda has a secure attachment style (low in both anxiety and avoidance), her interpretation will tend to minimize the impact of the negative event (Amanda might think: “Sarah knows how much rampant consumerism bothers me; it was really considerate of her not to buy anything for me”). If Amanda has an insecure attachment style, her interpretations will magnify the impact of this event. In fact, if Amanda is fearful (high in both anxiety and avoidance), she will offer the most pessimistic interpretation for this relationship event (Amanda might think: “Sarah must still be mad at me because I forgot to pick up her dry cleaning last week—maybe she is wishing we never got married”). If Amanda typically keeps tighter control over her emotions as a means of denying the importance of intimacy—that is, she is higher in avoidance—she will express less emotion in response to this relationship event (Amanda could think: “Sarah has been under so much stress at work lately, it’s no wonder she didn’t have time to get a gift,” or “Oh, well, it’s not a big deal”). DIF: Difficult REF: Early Relationships with Caregivers TOP: Early Relationships with Caregivers: The attachment theory view: Attachment behavior system


MSC: Applied


CHAPTER 7: Romantic Attraction 1. Physical Appearance a. How much does appearance matter? i. Gender differences ii. Matching phenomenon b. Why does appearance make such a difference? 2. Personal Characteristics a. Vertical versus horizontal attributes b. Personality and similarity i. Complementarity c. Reciprocity and selectivity d. Unrequited love i. Stalking e. Knowing what you want in a romantic partner i. Speed dating 3. How Context Affects Romantic Attraction a. Misattribution of arousal 4. Making a Connection a. Mate selection b. First moves: Signaling availability and interest i. Proceptivity ii. Behavioral synchrony c. Self-disclosure: Knowing and being known i. Social penetration theory 1. Disclosure reciprocity d. Developing Commitment MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. The experience of evaluating another individual as an attractive, potentially intimate, partner, with or without a sexual element, refers to: a. romantic attraction. c. sexual attraction. b. dating. d. mate selection. ANS: A DIF: Easy TOP: Physical Appearance

REF: Physical Appearance MSC: Factual

2. Brian is taking a cooking class. On the first day of class, Brian is paired with Brittany. As they are talking, Brian realizes he likes the way he feels around Brittany and thinks she is beautiful. By the last cooking class, Brian feels a strong urge to ask her on a date. Brian’s feelings best demonstrate the process of: a. romantic attraction. c. mate selection. b. misattribution of arousal. d. the primacy effect. ANS: A DIF: Easy TOP: Physical Appearance

REF: Physical Appearance MSC: Applied

3. Elaine Hatfield and her colleagues randomly matched University of Minnesota freshmen for a Welcome Week dance. When the students were asked to evaluate their dates, the physical attractiveness of the date was the best predictor of whether someone wanted to go out with that person again. What was the second-best predictor? a. similarity of values c. intelligence b. sense of humor d. There was no second-best predictor.


ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: How Much Does Appearance Matter? TOP: Physical Appearance: How much does appearance matter? MSC: Factual 4. Miguel is a college freshman of average physical attractiveness who waits tables at the campus café to help pay his tuition. Based on what you have learned about attraction research, which of the following women would you expect Miguel to most want to spend time with? a. Jolanda, a stunning freshman who does some modeling to help pay her tuition b. Mandip, a freshman of average physical attractiveness who works as a cashier at the local grocery store c. Casey, a senior of average physical attractiveness who works at the campus library d. Brenda, a somewhat unattractive senior who works part-time as a waitress ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: How Much Does Appearance Matter? TOP: Physical Appearance: How much does appearance matter? MSC: Applied 5. What are women likely to report are the most important aspects in a potential partner? a. earning potential and emotional expressiveness b. physical appeal and personality c. earning potential and personality d. emotional expressiveness and physical appeal ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: How Much Does Appearance Matter? TOP: Physical Appearance: How much does appearance matter? MSC: Factual 6. When it comes to romantic attraction: a. shared interests are equally as important in predicting attraction as physical appearance is. b. physical appearance is the largest predictor of attraction for men and women. c. women are more influenced by physical appearance than men are. d. men are more influenced by physical appearance than women are. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: How Much Does Appearance Matter? TOP: Physical Appearance: How much does appearance matter?: Gender differences MSC: Factual 7. Nalini is a college senior majoring in mathematics. To help pay her tuition, she works part-time waiting tables at a local restaurant. She enjoys playing soccer and going for hikes. Her friends would describe her as outgoing, kind, funny, and pretty but not beautiful. Based on the matching phenomenon, which of the following men is Nalini most likely to form an intimate relationship with? a. Trevor, a senior in the math department who plays on the same soccer team as Nalini b. Jagdeep, a fairly good-looking senior in the physics department who works at the same restaurant as Nalini c. Tremayne, a somewhat unattractive junior in the math department with whom Nalini goes hiking every other weekend d. José, an extremely attractive senior in the math department who volunteers in a local elementary school helping disadvantaged children with their math skills ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: How Much Does Appearance Matter? TOP: Physical Appearance: How much does appearance matter?: Matching phenomenon MSC: Applied 8. The matching phenomenon suggests that people tend to pair with partners who are similar in their:


a. social skills. b. intellectual capacity.

c. socioeconomic background. d. physical attractiveness.

ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: How Much Does Appearance Matter? TOP: Physical Appearance: How much does appearance matter?: Matching phenomenon MSC: Factual 9. You conduct a study about what people find physically attractive by creating computer-generated composites of photographs and asking people to rate the attractiveness of each. Your results show that the composite made up of ________ faces is rated as most attractive. a. 2 c. 16 b. 4 d. 32 ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Why Appearance Makes Such a Difference TOP: Physical Appearance: Why does appearance make such a difference? MSC: Applied 10. What aspects of physical attraction appear consistent across a variety of cultures? a. Culturally diverse men and women tend to regard men with large eyes, a small nose, and high cheekbones as attractive. b. Culturally diverse men and women tend to regard women with a wide smile and broad jaw as attractive. c. Culturally diverse men and women tend to regard women with large eyes, a small nose, and high cheekbones as attractive. d. Culturally diverse men and women tend to regard men with broad shoulders and tall stature as attractive. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Why Appearance Makes Such a Difference TOP: Physical Appearance: Why does appearance make such a difference? MSC: Factual 11. How are Sam and Jaydee likely to rate the physical attractiveness of a wide array of photos? a. They are likely to agree on most of their evaluations of attractiveness. b. They are likely to disagree in many of their evaluations of attractiveness. c. They are likely to rate strong characteristics as more attractive than average features. d. They are likely to agree that men with broad shoulders and tall statures are attractive. ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Why Appearance Makes Such a Difference TOP: Physical Appearance: Why does appearance make such a difference? MSC: Applied 12. Snyder’s (1977) research examining telephone conversations between unacquainted men and women found that: a. attractiveness of a conversation partner has no effect on the nature of the interaction. b. men who think they are talking to an attractive woman are friendlier than women who believe they are talking to an attractive man. c. women who think they are talking to an attractive man are friendlier than men who believe they are talking to an attractive woman. d. women and men believed to be attractive by their partners behave in a friendlier manner. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Why Appearance Makes Such a Difference TOP: Physical Appearance: Why does appearance make such a difference? MSC: Conceptual


13. The beauty stereotype suggests that physically attractive people are kinder, more sensitive, and more interesting than less attractive people. What is a downside to being physically attractive? a. Attractive people are judged as equally vain as less attractive people. b. Potential partners are only interested in attractive people’s reproductive fitness. c. Attractive people find it difficult to trust positive feedback from others. d. Employers are more likely to offer attractive people a job after an interview. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Why Appearance Makes Such a Difference TOP: Physical Appearance: Why does appearance make such a difference? MSC: Factual 14. Which of the following statements about physical attractiveness is FALSE? a. Distinctive or unusual faces tend to be rated as more attractive than average ones. b. The physical attractiveness of potential partners affects the mate choices of men and women to about the same degree. c. People tend to pair up with mates whose physical attractiveness matches their own. d. People tend to believe that physically attractive individuals are also attractive in other ways. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Why Appearance Makes Such a Difference TOP: Physical Appearance: Why does appearance make such a difference? MSC: Factual 15. Dr. Brenner is an evolutionary psychologist who hypothesizes that more attractive children will be healthier as adults. After conducting a longitudinal study, what result is Dr. Brenner likely to find? a. Being attractive is positively associated with physical health. b. Girls who are rated as more beautiful have better health, but attractiveness is not associated with health in boys. c. Boys who are rated as more handsome have better health, but attractiveness is not associated with health in girls. d. Being attractive is not associated with physical health. ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Why Appearance Makes Such a Difference TOP: Physical Appearance: Why does appearance make such a difference? MSC: Applied 16. A horizontal attribute refers to qualities on which people ________, whereas a vertical attribute refers to qualities on which people ________. a. can be ranked hierarchically; differ, but cannot be judged as better or worse b. differ, but cannot be judged as better or worse; can be ranked hierarchically c. are similar; differ d. differ; are similar ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Personal Characteristics TOP: Personal Characteristics: Vertical versus horizontal attributes MSC: Conceptual 17. Leona tells her friend about her ideal partner: “He would be handsome, rich, and share my love for cooking.” Leona is seeking a partner on the basis of: a. horizontal attributes. b. vertical attributes. c. both horizontal and vertical attributes. d. neither horizontal nor vertical attributes. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Personal Characteristics TOP: Personal Characteristics: Vertical versus horizontal attributes


MSC: Applied 18. Research about personality and attraction shows that: a. those who are rated as fun, rather than good, are perceived as more attractive. b. people are most attracted to others with the same personality traits. c. personality has little effect on attraction. d. the association between personality and attraction is complex. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Personality and Similarity TOP: Personal Characteristics: Personality and similarity MSC: Factual 19. Anderson’s (1968) list of the top 10 most likeable and least likeable personality traits suggests that: a. being trustworthy is more attractive than being fun. b. no one finds dishonest individuals attractive. c. friendliness is the most attractive personality trait. d. individuals with a few negative qualities are not attractive. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Personality and Similarity TOP: Personal Characteristics: Personality and similarity MSC: Conceptual 20. One reason why we find people who are similar to us more attractive is because they: a. are easy to get along with and are validating. b. increase our confidence and facilitate self-expansion. c. are probably going to like us. d. increase our confidence and share our vulnerabilities. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Personality and Similarity TOP: Personal Characteristics: Personality and similarity MSC: Factual 21. According to Lykken and Tellegen (1993), why is similarity not a strong predictor of romantic attraction? a. There are infinite ways to evaluate similarity with others. b. Similarity is one predictor of romantic attraction, but context plays a larger role in predicting romantic attraction. c. People tend to seek partners who have traits that they lack. d. People tend to seek partners who are opposite than themselves. ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Personality and Similarity TOP: Personal Characteristics: Personality and similarity MSC: Conceptual 22. Which of the following is supported by research about complementarity? a. Complementary traits are more predictive of relationship satisfaction than similar traits. b. Couples may adopt complementary patterns of behavior when they are together. c. People report being more attracted to individuals whom they think have personality traits that they themselves lack. d. There is no evidence that complementarity is attractive. ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Personality and Similarity TOP: Personal Characteristics: Personality and similarity: Complementarity MSC: Factual 23. Research about reciprocity has shown that: a. the effects of being liked influences feelings of attraction more strongly than the effects associated with the qualities of the individuals. b. the effects associated with the qualities of the individuals influence feelings of attraction


more strongly than the effects of being liked. c. the effects of being liked influence feelings of attraction as strongly as the effects associated with the qualities of the individuals. d. the highest levels of liking another correlate with the highest reciprocated feelings of liking. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Reciprocity and Selectivity TOP: Personal Characteristics: Reciprocity and selectivity MSC: Factual 24. You participate in a study where you meet four other students and work one-on-one with each on a series of activities (i.e., first you are paired with one student, then with a second, etc.). After each activity, you overhear your partner talking to the experimenter about you. According to research by Aronson and his colleagues, which of the students will you like more? a. Kenisha, who likes you at the beginning of the study and still likes you at the end of the study b. Will, who likes you at the beginning of the study but not at the end of the study c. Jamie, who does not like you at the beginning of the study but likes you by the end of the study d. José, who does not like you at the beginning of the study and still does not like you at the end of the study ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Reciprocity and Selectivity TOP: Personal Characteristics: Reciprocity and selectivity MSC: Applied 25. Jake is presented with four fictional women. According to Hatfield, Pilavin, and Schmidt’s (1973) study, whom is he most likely to be interested in asking out? a. Kanna, who expresses she would date anyone b. Nadia, who expresses interest in most men, but not Jake c. Adele, who rejects most men, but expresses interest in Jake d. Merle, who expresses she is uninterested in dating anyone ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Unrequited Love OBJ: Personal Characteristics: Unrequited love MSC: Applied 26. Research on unrequited love shows that: a. unrequited love is relatively rare because being romantically attracted to someone who is not romantically attracted to us in return is not rewarding. b. because it causes heartache, feelings of unrequited love fade quickly once it becomes clear the other person is not attracted to us in return. c. being the object of unrequited love is a particularly flattering experience. d. feelings of unrequited love are likely to persist because we believe that if we work hard enough we may eventually win the affection of the person we desire. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Unrequited Love TOP: Personal Characteristics: Unrequited love MSC: Factual 27. Ana is extremely attracted to Mark, a coworker; however, Mark is unaware that Ana even works for the company. Ana makes every effort to be near Mark, including sitting next to him during meetings and attending company social events that Mark has RSVP’d to. Ana’s behavior can best be described as an example of: a. unrequited love. c. obsessive-compulsive disorder. b. consummate love. d. mate selection. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Unrequited Love TOP: Personal Characteristics: Unrequited love MSC: Applied


28. The distinction between unrequited love and stalking: a. is clear—unrequited lovers are sweet and harmless, whereas stalkers are dangerous. b. may be difficult to assess—unrequited lovers and stalkers both believe they can win over the objects of their affections. c. may be difficult to assess—it depends on how clearly the object of unwanted attraction communicates his or her lack of interest; he or she may just be playing hard to get. d. is nonexistent—it all depends on the interpretation made by the object of unwanted attraction. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Unrequited Love TOP: Personal Characteristics: Unrequited love: Stalking MSC: Conceptual 29. Speed dating is: a. a smartphone application that matches individuals’ preferences and characteristics to determine whether they would be a good couple. b. the most common way American college students determine if they are romantically interested in others. c. common among individuals who jump in and out of committed relationships regularly. d. an event in which participants talk one-on-one with many individuals to see if they are romantically attracted. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Knowing What You Want in a Romantic Partner TOP: Personal Characteristics: Knowing what you want in a romantic partner: Speed dating MSC: Factual 30. Bev participates in a speed-dating study. On the prestudy questionnaire she reports that physical attractiveness in a potential romantic partner is very important to her. Yet, at the end of the study, the people she reports wanting to meet again are not those she rates as being most physically attractive. How can we explain this discrepancy? a. Bev misunderstood the prestudy questionnaire and does not think physical attractiveness in a potential romantic partner is important. b. Mate selection is essentially random so Bev’s preferences are not important. c. The prestudy measures are unable to assess dynamic processes, such as how each person Bev met made her feel. d. Most people think physical attraction is important, but humor plays a larger role in attraction. ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Knowing What You Want in a Romantic Partner TOP: Personal Characteristics: Knowing what you want in a romantic partner MSC: Applied 31. To understand people’s mate choices, it is enough to know about the qualities of the two individuals involved. a. True b. False c. This is true except when partners share temperament qualities. d. This is false except when partners share qualities that indicate loyalty. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Knowing What You Want in a Romantic Partner TOP: Personal Characteristics: Knowing what you want in a romantic partner MSC: Factual 32. Who is most likely to have the highest standards for selecting a partner for a one-night stand? a. Adam, a man at a party b. Inigo, a man in a café


c. Niko, a woman at a bar d. Marjan, a woman at a library ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: How Context Affects Romantic Attraction TOP: How Context Affects Romantic Attraction MSC: Applied 33. Research based on sexual strategies theory shows that: a. men derive benefits only from pursuing many short-term relationships. b. women have nothing to gain from pursuing short-term relationships. c. men are willing to lower their standards to engage in short-term relationships. d. women are willing to pursue a short-term relationship as long as the male partner is dependable. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: How Context Affects Romantic Attraction TOP: How Context Affects Romantic Attraction MSC: Applied 34. Social psychologists Donald Dutton and Art Aron had an attractive female research assistant offer her phone number to men in the middle of the high, rickety Capilano Suspension Bridge in Vancouver, British Columbia, and to men on a nearby low, sturdy bridge. The main finding was that the men on the suspension bridge were ________ likely to call the research assistant because they ________ the swaying bridge was the source of their physiological arousal and so attributed their feelings of arousal to ________. a. less; did not realize; the research assistant b. more; mistakenly thought; the bridge c. less; correctly realized; the bridge d. more; did not realize; the research assistant ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: How Context Affects Romantic Attraction TOP: How Context Affects Romantic Attraction: Misattribution of arousal MSC: Factual 35. Javeed has a fear of flying, and every time he has to fly, his heart races and his palms get sweaty. On business trips, Javeed usually travels with his colleague Franco, but on a recent trip, a new female colleague, Blanca, accompanied him. Meeting her for the first time at the airport, Javeed found himself extremely attracted to her. Based on the chapter’s coverage of attraction, what best explains Javeed’s attraction to Blanca? a. disclosure reciprocity b. behavioral synchrony c. misattribution of arousal d. proceptivity ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: How Context Affects Romantic Attraction TOP: How Context Affects Romantic Attraction: Misattribution of arousal MSC: Applied 36. Romantic attraction is to ________ as mate selection is to ________. a. commitment; desire b. love; liking c. desire; commitment d. liking; love ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Making a Connection OBJ: Making a Connection: Mate selection MSC: Conceptual 37. The process through which a committed relationship is formed is called:


a. hooking up. b. mate selection.

c. behavioral synchrony. d. the matching phenomenon.

ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Making a Connection TOP: Making a Connection: Mate selection MSC: Factual 38. Blaine is a college student who is interested in one of his classmates, Kendall. What is Blaine most likely to do? a. ask Kendall to spend time with him in a group setting b. ask Kendall out on a one-on-one date c. ask Kendall to hook up with him d. ask Kendall to be his girlfriend ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: First Moves: Signaling Availability and Interest TOP: Making a Connection: First moves: Signaling availability and interest MSC: Applied 39. Which of the following factors is the most significant predictor of hookups? a. sexual drive b. emotional connection c. intoxication d. physical attraction ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: First Moves: Signaling Availability and Interest TOP: Making a Connection: First moves: Signaling availability and interest MSC: Factual 40. According to Glenn and Marquadt (2011), hooking up is defined as: a. a physical encounter with the expectation to date. b. a physical encounter without any further expectations. c. kissing an individual outside of a committed relationship. d. having intercourse outside of a committed relationship. ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: First Moves: Signaling Availability and Interest TOP: Making a Connection: First moves: Signaling availability and interest MSC: Factual 41. An experiment by Bernstein and his colleagues (1983) showed that men will crowd into a small viewing booth next to an attractive woman to view a film when different movies are being shown in two viewing rooms but will go to a separate booth when the same film is shown in both settings. An explanation for this finding is that: a. the men didn’t like the movie being shown in the other room. b. when people have a choice of settings, perceived control makes crowding more tolerable. c. men prefer watching movies in spacious environments when possible. d. in the two-film condition, there was less risk of rejection. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: First Moves: Signaling Availability and Interest TOP: Making a Connection: First moves: Signaling availability and interest MSC: Factual 42. Fan is telling her friends about how she hooked up with one of her classmates a couple months ago. She is describing that it was an awful experience. What experience is she likely to mention? a. That the hook-up led to a few dates, but did not develop into a relationship. b. What the person’s name was and where they lived. c. That she felt used and pressured to have sex.


d. That she was attracted to the person, but was not interested in a relationship. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: First Moves: Signaling Availability and Interest TOP: Making a Connection: First moves: Signaling availability and interest MSC: Applied 43. According to Muehlenhard and colleagues (1986), what is the strongest sign of a woman’s interest in a potential partner? a. leaning forward c. touching while not laughing b. speaking with animation d. touching while laughing ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: First Moves: Signaling Availability and Interest TOP: Making a Connection: First moves: Signaling availability and interest: Proceptivity MSC: Factual 44. Proceptivity is to ________ as behavioral synchrony is to ________. a. attraction; proximity c. signaling; mimicking b. proximity; attraction d. mimicking; signaling ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: First Moves: Signaling Availability and Interest TOP: Making a Connection: First moves: Signaling availability and interest: Proceptivity | Making a Connection: First moves: Signaling availability and interest: Behavioral synchrony MSC: Conceptual 45. As mentioned in the attraction chapter, behavioral synchrony refers to ________. a. the idea that we become more attracted to people (and objects) that we have been exposed to more frequently b. the fact that sharing common experiences leads us to want to disclose other experiences to an attractive person c. how people interested in each other unconsciously mimic the other’s movements d. a research method used to study the determinants of physical attraction (e.g., hip-to-waist ratio) ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: First Moves: Signaling Availability and Interest TOP: Making a Connection: First moves: Signaling availability and interest: Behavioral synchrony MSC: Factual 46. After taking this class and mastering the material on attraction, you go to a bar on a Friday night, take a corner table, and observe how people meet and form couples. Which of the following individuals is likely to be the LEAST successful at finding a partner at a singles’ bar? a. Martin, who greets his friends with a loud insult and a punch in the arm b. Tuan, who tends to mimic the behaviors of the people she finds herself talking to c. June, who emphasizes her long hair by tossing it frequently d. Terry, who openly shares personal details of his life shortly after he meets someone ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Self-Disclosure: Knowing and Being Known TOP: Making a Connection: Self-disclosure: Knowing and being known MSC: Applied 47. Which of the following are topics commonly avoided in discussions by partners in romantic relationships? a. the state of the relationship, activity outside of the relationship, and prior romantic relationships b. feelings for one’s parents, experiences that one is ashamed of, and general childhood experiences


c. dates shared by the partners, feelings regarding a partner’s career, and aspirations d. expectations regarding parenting, one’s greatest fears, and negative experiences ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Self-Disclosure: Knowing and Being Known TOP: Making a Connection: Self-disclosure: Knowing and being known MSC: Factual 48. What are the two categories of self-disclosure according to social penetration theory? a. task-orientation and relationship-orientation b. reports and inquiries c. romance and friendship d. breadth, the variety of information shared, and depth, the personal significance of the information shared ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Self-Disclosure: Knowing and Being Known TOP: Making a Connection: Self-disclosure: Knowing and being known: Social penetration theory MSC: Factual 49. Janet and Phil have been married for over 50 years. At what point in their relationship did they most likely avoid topics that would induce conflict, such as discussing past romantic partners? a. when they first met c. when they reported moderate levels of intimacy b. when they reported low levels of intimacy d. when they reported high levels of intimacy ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Self-Disclosure: Knowing and Being Known TOP: Making a Connection: Self-disclosure: Knowing and being known MSC: Applied 50. What predictions would NOT follow from Altman and Taylor’s social penetration theory? a. As you get closer with your roommate, you will discuss more personal information with him or her. b. If your partner is supportive when you discuss slightly personal information, it is reasonable to assume that he or she will be supportive when you discuss topics that are more intimate. c. Depth of disclosure between partners tends to be fairly equal across all topical areas. d. The pace of disclosure tends to slow as disclosures become very intimate. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Self-Disclosure: Knowing and Being Known TOP: Making a Connection: Self-disclosure: Knowing and being known: Social penetration theory MSC: Conceptual 51. Which of the following statements about self-disclosure in relationships is NOT true? a. Relationship development is associated with an increase in depth and breadth of information shared. b. We like people more after we have disclosed personal information to them. c. We expect more immediate reciprocal exchange of personal information from our closest friends and partners than either more distant friends or strangers. d. A pattern of matching and deepening self-disclosures characterizes relationship development. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Self-Disclosure: Knowing and Being Known TOP: Making a Connection: Self-disclosure: Knowing and being known: Social penetration theory MSC: Factual 52. When someone shares something personal with another person, the other person usually shares something personal as well. This is known as:


a. b. c. d.

disclosure reciprocity. behavioral synchrony. mate selection. misattribution of arousal.

ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Self-Disclosure: Knowing and Being Known TOP: Making a Connection: Self-disclosure: Knowing and being known: Social penetration theory: Disclosure reciprocity MSC: Factual 53. Research about commitment suggests that: a. whether a relationship becomes more or less committed depends on the enduring qualities of the two partners. b. how quickly partners make a commitment to each other depends on the speed of their self-disclosures. c. committed couples tend to avoid discussing threatening topics. d. relationships can become more or less committed for reasons that have little to do with the qualities of the two partners. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Developing Commitment TOP: Making a Connection: Developing commitment MSC: Factual 54. Relationship development is commonly thought of in terms of: a. turning points. b. rigid sequences of events. c. phases that are not necessarily chronological. d. levels of commitment between partners. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Developing Commitment TOP: Making a Connection: Developing commitment MSC: Conceptual 55. Which of the following events is NOT necessarily associated with greater commitment in a relationship? a. accepting a job in a different city b. discussing intended involvement in the relationship c. moving in together d. saying “I love you” ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Developing Commitment TOP: Making a Connection: Developing commitment MSC: Factual ESSAY 1. When he first moved from another state, your friend Annand used an online dating service to look for a girlfriend. Annand is of average attractiveness, plays soccer twice a week, and likes sci-fi movies. Although he continually claimed to be interested only in very attractive women, his girlfriend of one year (whom he met through the service) is of average attractiveness. Based on the matching phenomenon, how would you explain this apparent contradiction between Annand’s claims and his actual choice of a romantic partner? ANS:


Physical appearance is important in attraction: people are generally more interested in forming romantic relationships with people who are physically attractive. However, people also want to pursue relationships that are likely to be successful and are reluctant to open themselves to the possibility of rejection. Therefore, although Annand may have claimed to be interested only in the most attractive women, he was more likely to approach women who were of similar attractiveness to him rather than to risk rejection by the highly attractive women. DIF: Difficult REF: How Much Does Appearance Matter? TOP: Physical Appearance: How much does appearance matter?: Matching phenomenon MSC: Applied 2. Your friend wonders why female celebrities who have unusual facial features are judged as being most physically attractive. Based on what you have learned about physical appearance and attractiveness, what do you tell your friend? ANS: There appears to be a considerable level of overall agreement about the components of physical attractiveness. Men and women from a variety of different cultures tend to agree that women with large eyes, a small nose, and high cheekbones are especially attractive—features that many attractive female celebrities are likely to possess. Overall, however, research suggests that the features people find attractive are characteristic of average faces, not unusual ones. Other research suggests that what people find attractive is symmetry, or the degree to which paired features on both sides of the face are aligned. Yet despite the evidence that people find “averageness” and symmetry attractive, some evidence does support the notion that those faces that are rated as extremely attractive are not necessarily symmetrical or average. DIF: Medium REF: Why Appearance Makes Such a Difference TOP: Physical Appearance: Why does appearance make such a difference? MSC: Applied 3. Relationship development often involves romantic attraction and mate selection. Discuss the similarities and differences of these subjects. ANS: Romantic attraction separates people whom we find attractive into those with whom we want to pursue a romantic relationship and those with whom we want to be friends. Thus, romantic attraction is defined as the process of finding someone desirable as a potential intimate partner. Although we may be romantically attracted to any number of people, most of us develop intimate relationships with relatively few of these people. Distinguished from romantic attraction, mate selection is the process through which committed relationships are formed. DIF: Easy REF: Physical Appearance | Making a Connection TOP: Physical Appearance | Making a Connection: Mate selection MSC: Factual 4. Discuss how personality is related to romantic attraction. ANS: Research suggests that we are attracted to people who have positive personality characteristics and dislike people with negative ones. In particular, we appear to be attracted to people who are honest and trustworthy. This does not mean, however, that the more positive personality traits a person has, the more attractive they will be to us. DIF: Medium

REF: Personality and Similarity


TOP: Personal Characteristics: Personality and similarity

MSC: Conceptual

5. Two of your friends are arguing about what makes someone attractive. One of your friends claims, “opposites attract,” whereas the other insists, “birds of a feather flock together.” Both point to couples you both know to support their arguments. Based on the information presented in the chapter, what would you tell your friends about whether similarity or complementarity is more attractive? ANS: A large body of research supports the claim that we generally find people more attractive the more similar they are to ourselves. On the other hand, some researchers suggest that, when it comes to personality, it is complementarity that matters, for example, where one partner is dominant and the other submissive. Unfortunately, almost all research attempts to validate the complementarity hypothesis have failed. When it comes to attraction, people find similarity, not complementarity, attractive. These findings are more supportive of the adage “birds of a feather flock together.” DIF: Medium REF: Personality and Similarity TOP: Personal Characteristics: Personality and similarity

MSC: Conceptual

6. Explain why we find people who are similar to us more attractive than those who are different. ANS: First, it is validating to be with people who are similar to us; being with people who share our beliefs and interests reinforces the idea that our beliefs and interests are justified and worthwhile, and this makes us feel better about ourselves. Second, people who are similar to us are easier to get along with. We are less likely to have disagreements and arguments with those who share our values. DIF: Easy REF: Personality and Similarity TOP: Personal Characteristics: Personality and similarity

MSC: Factual

7. Early research on reciprocity suggested that we are attracted to people who are like us. Explain how subsequent research about the role of reciprocity on attraction has refined this idea. ANS: Research has shown that not all liking is equally rewarding. It turns out that, rather than preferring people who like us right away, we tend to prefer people who initially have negative opinions of us but then grow to like us over time. People who like us without even knowing us might simply be very easy to please. Although it may be flattering that they like us, we are unlikely to take their liking personally (perhaps they like everyone!). People who grow to like us over time, however, may be harder to please. Consequently, when those people come to like us, we can feel certain that the approval we are receiving reflects our own qualities. DIF: Medium REF: Reciprocity and Selectivity TOP: Personal Characteristics: Reciprocity and selectivity

MSC: Factual

8. Your friend Abdul claims he is in love with Maia, a woman in his health psychology class. He tells you that, so far, he has had no luck in getting her to agree to go on a date with him, but he is certain that, if he keeps trying, Maia will change her mind. After what you have learned in your intimate relationships course, you conclude that Abdul is experiencing unrequited love. Provide three reasons why Abdul would choose to continue to pursue Maia, despite her repeated rejections. ANS:


First, Abdul likely believes that Maia is exceptionally desirable. Thus, in terms of rewards, Maia’s perceived capacity to reward Abdul is very high. Second, Abdul seems to believe that, although his feelings are not currently returned, they are likely to be returned eventually. For Abdul, the costs of not being loved today might be outweighed by the potential rewards of Maia possibly loving him in the future. Finally, Abdul is likely to endorse the view that simply being in love is rewarding, even if Maia does not return his feelings. For example, he is likely to agree with the statement, “It is better to have loved in vain than never to have loved at all.” DIF: Easy REF: Unrequited Love TOP: Personal Characteristics: Unrequited love

MSC: Applied

9. According to sexual strategies theory, how are men’s and women’s standards likely to differ in selecting a partner for a one-night stand? Additionally, discuss how standards for a one-night stand may differ, based on setting. ANS: Men report lower standards for a one-night stand in settings most likely to promote one-night stands. For example, men are more likely than women to have lower standards for a potential partner in a bar or at a party. Contrastingly, women report higher standards for a one-night stand in settings most likely to promote one-night stands. Women report lower standards in a setting like a church or library, whereas men report higher standards in these settings. DIF: Easy REF: How Context Affects Romantic Attraction TOP: How Context Affects Romantic Attraction MSC: Factual 10. Explain how situations can affect romantic attraction. ANS: Research clearly shows that our preferences for intimate partners are not consistent across situations. This applies to internal and external context. An example where internal states affect romantic attraction is misattribution of arousal. When we feel physiologically aroused, we are quite poor at recognizing where that arousal comes from. In a classic study, Dutton and Aron had an attractive female research assistant offer her phone number to men in the middle of the high rickety Capilano Suspension Bridge in Vancouver, British Columbia, and to men on a nearby sturdy, low concrete bridge. Dutton and Aron found that the men from the suspension bridge were more likely to call the research assistant because they misinterpreted the source of their physiological arousal and so attributed their feelings of arousal to the attractive woman. External context can also affect romantic attraction by supporting different mating strategies. For example, being in a singles bar versus a library changes the targets of our romantic attraction. DIF: Difficult REF: How Context Affects Romantic Attraction TOP: How Context Affects Romantic Attraction MSC: Conceptual 11. Explain how the “social scripts” for getting to know a potential partner have changed over time. ANS: In the past, when individuals were interested in getting to know one another, they would go on dates. Generally, it was the man’s role to ask a woman out, decide the activity for the date, and pay for the activity. As the individuals went on dates, they decided whether or not they would progress into a relationship with each other. If sex were to occur, it would be the culmination of dating. Today individuals tend to ask others whom they are interested in to spend time in group settings. College students do not generally go on dates unless they are already in a committed relationship. Sex may be an aspect of the relationship, casually, before there is a romantic commitment.


DIF: Easy REF: First Moves: Signaling Availability and Interest TOP: Making a Connection: First moves: Signaling availability and interest MSC: Conceptual 12. Compare and contrast proceptivity and behavioral synchrony. ANS: Proceptivity and behavioral synchrony both play a role in the way romantic connections form. They are both nonverbal cues that suggest whether or not one individual is attracted to another. Proceptivity refers to the signals that individuals display to communicate romantic interest. While men often initiate romantic interactions, they wait for a signal of interest from their potential partners. Common signals include leaning forward, speaking animatedly, touching while laughing and not laughing, and standing close. Contrastingly, behavioral synchrony tends to occur after two people have become more involved. Individuals displaying behavioral synchrony tend to unconsciously mimic each other’s movements. The opposite, leaning away, crossing one’s arms or avoiding eye contact, indicates that there is a lack of interest. DIF: Medium REF: First Moves: Signaling Availability and Interest TOP: Making a Connection: First moves: Signaling availability and interest: Proceptivity | Making a Connection: First moves: Signaling availability and interest: Behavioral synchrony MSC: Conceptual 13. Describe Altman and Taylor’s social penetration theory. How does it relate to attraction? ANS: According to social penetration theory, the development of a relationship is associated with the kind of personal information that partners exchange with each other. The theory categorizes self-disclosures along two dimensions: breadth, or the variety of information shared, and depth, or the personal significance of the information shared. During an initial conversation, people tend to exchange information that is neither broad nor deep (e.g., “What other classes are you taking?”). Over the course of multiple interactions, however, people’s self-disclosures tend to spread over a wider range of areas and tend to deal with increasingly personal issues (e.g., “I’ve been depressed because my parents are getting divorced.”). Research shows that there is generally a strong relationship between disclosure and liking between two people. However, not all disclosures lead to increased liking, such as when people disclose highly personal information too early in an interaction or when people disclose personal information about themselves while giving the impression that they would disclose the information to anyone who will listen. DIF: Medium REF: Self-Disclosure: Knowing and Being Known TOP: Making a Connection: Self-disclosure: Knowing and being known: Social penetration theory MSC: Factual 14. What is the problem with stage theories of relationship development? In what other way do relationship researchers conceptualize relationship development? ANS:


The problem with stage theories is that intimate relationships rarely follow the orderly pattern of development that stage models describe. For example, although some recently married couples do describe a steady increase in involvement over time, others describe relationships that progressed from strangers to marriage very quickly or relationships that experienced many ups and downs before reaching marriage. Consequently, rather than thinking of relationship development in terms of stages, researchers, who examine how relationships actually develop, think, instead, about turning points, or specific events or behaviors, that increase or decrease the level of commitment between two people. For example, the first time partners exchange the words I love you is a major event that changes how both partners feel about the relationship, as are more concrete behaviors, such as buying a house. Thus, more recent research suggests that, rather than progressing along a series of “steps,” relationships appear to experience turning points during which each partner’s commitment to the relationship is made explicit, either through a conversation or through the choices he or she makes in response to the opportunities offered. DIF: Medium REF: Developing Commitment TOP: Making a Connection: Developing commitment

MSC: Factual

15. Kara and her girlfriend have just said I love you to each other for the first time. Why would researchers studying commitment describe this as a turning point in their relationship? ANS: The first time Kara and her girlfriend exchange the words I love you represents a major event that changes how both partners feel about the relationship. Although researchers initially thought of relationship development as progressing through a series of stages, they now examine how specific events or behaviors (called turning points) increase or decrease the level of commitment between partners. During such turning points, each partner’s commitment to the relationship is made explicit, either through a conversation (as for Kara and her girlfriend) or through the choices each partner makes in response to the opportunities offered. DIF: Easy REF: Developing Commitment TOP: Making a Connection: Developing commitment

MSC: Applied


CHAPTER 8: Communication 1. How Communication Promotes Intimacy a. Relationship maintenance b. Disclosures and responses: The intimacy process model i. Interpretive filters ii. Empathy iii. Partner responsiveness c. Research findings on the process of intimacy 2. Maintaining Intimacy a. Shared activities i. Self-expansion model b. Social support i. Social integration ii. Visible versus invisible support c. Capitalization: Broaden-and-build theory i. Active-constructive responses ii. Passive-constructive responses iii. Active-destructive responses iv. Passive-destructive responses d. Forgiveness i. Intrapersonal and interpersonal components 1. Silent versus hollow forgiveness ii. Stages of forgiveness 1. Impact 2. Making meaning 3. Moving on MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. ________ refers to the routine behaviors and strategies partners undertake to help ensure that their relationship will continue. a. Capitalization c. Intimacy process model b. Relationship maintenance d. Support ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: How Communication Promotes Intimacy TOP: How Communication Promotes Intimacy: Relationship maintenance MSC: Factual 2. You know your partner has been studying all day for an exam and will not have had time to cook supper, so you pick up some takeout on your way home from work. Your behavior is an example of: a. empathy. c. relationship maintenance. b. capitalization. d. intimacy process model. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: How Communication Promotes Intimacy TOP: How Communication Promotes Intimacy: Relationship maintenance MSC: Applied 3. The intimacy process model is important because it draws attention to: a. how support can sometimes be costly because it involves vulnerable disclosures. b. capitalization processes in relationships. c. the empathy process in relationships. d. how partner responses to disclosures influence the perception of the relationship.


ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Disclosures and Responses: The Intimacy Process Model TOP: How Communication Promotes Intimacy: Disclosures and responses: The intimacy process model MSC: Factual 4. According to the intimacy process model: a. factual disclosures provide greater opportunities for intimacy than emotional disclosures. b. motives, needs, goals, and fears affect how partners interpret one another’s behaviors. c. feelings of being understood, validated, and cared for are determined by one’s attachment history. d. responses to disclosures are unrelated to intimacy development. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Disclosures and Responses: The Intimacy Process Model TOP: How Communication Promotes Intimacy: Disclosures and responses: The intimacy process model MSC: Factual 5. Petula’s mother has a terminal illness and she is not expected to live more than a few weeks. Petula just placed her mother in hospice. Petula told her romantic partner, Sarah, that she feels guilty and that she feels she is abandoning her mother. Sarah responds by saying, “Well, everyone has to die sometime.” What perspective from your text helps us understand Sarah’s response? a. intimacy process model c. self-expansion model b. attachment theory d. capitalization ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Disclosures and Responses: The Intimacy Process Model TOP: How Communication Promotes Intimacy: Disclosures and responses: The intimacy process model MSC: Applied 6. Ivan’s father had a stroke and is now living with Ivan’s sister. Ivan told his wife, Ann, that he feels guilty that his sister has to bear the burden of caring for their father. Ann responds by saying, “Well, maybe we can help pitch in for some of the extra groceries.” What perspective from your text helps us understand Ann’s response? a. intimacy process model c. self-expansion model b. attachment theory d. capitalization ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Disclosures and Responses: The Intimacy Process Model TOP: How Communication Promotes Intimacy: Disclosures and responses: The intimacy process model MSC: Applied 7. You have been under a great deal of stress at work for the past few months. You tell your partner about your concerns. Your partner responds by saying, “It sounds like this is really difficult for you to handle.” What kind of response has your partner made? a. invalidation c. invisible support b. empathy d. active-constructive ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Disclosures and Responses: The Intimacy Process Model TOP: How Communication Promotes Intimacy: Disclosures and responses: The intimacy process model: Empathy MSC: Applied


8. Adnan has had a tough day at work and his partner, Georges, listens to him complain and then makes sure that Adnan eats a good meal and gets to bed early. The next day, Adnan tells Georges that he wishes Georges was more supportive about his work problems. What is the most likely explanation for Adnan’s comment to Georges? a. Adnan views Georges’ responses through an interpretive filter. b. Georges views Adnan’s responses through an interpretive filter. c. Georges failed to provide good social support to Adnan. d. Adnan is the kind of person who simply complains a lot. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Disclosures and Responses: The Intimacy Process Model TOP: How Communication Promotes Intimacy: Disclosures and responses: The intimacy process model: Interpretive filters MSC: Applied 9. Julian tells his wife, Danielle, “I’m worried that my brother might be drinking again.” She nods and goes back to typing on the computer. Julian tries again, “I smelled alcohol on my brother last week, and I really hope he hasn’t fallen off the wagon.” After a few seconds of silence, his wife turns to him and says, “Hmm, right.” What is this an example of? a. vulnerable disclosure c. interpretive filters b. empathy d. disengagement ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Research Findings on the Process of Intimacy TOP: How Communication Promotes Intimacy: Research findings on the process of intimacy MSC: Applied 10. Asian Americans are ________ likely than European Americans to disclose their needs for support to a romantic partner because of concern that ________. a. more; not doing so will cause embarrassment b. more; the partner will value them less if they do not c. less; doing so will burden the partner d. less; it might be interpreted as disengagement ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Disclosures and Responses: The Intimacy Process Model TOP: How Communication Promotes Intimacy: Disclosures and responses: The intimacy process model: Partner responsiveness MSC: Factual 11. When a partner makes a personal disclosure, how does that affect the self-esteem of the other partner? a. Individuals with high self-esteem are likely to feel less valued by their partners. b. Individuals with high self-esteem are likely to feel more valued by their partners. c. Individuals with low self-esteem are likely to feel more valued by their partners. d. Regardless of the level of self-esteem, individuals are likely to feel valued by their partners if their partner is a good listener. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Research Findings on the Process of Intimacy TOP: How Communication Promotes Intimacy: Research findings on the process of intimacy MSC: Factual 12. Regarding maintenance processes in relationships, which of the following is true? a. Invisible support is typically detrimental to relationships because it goes unnoticed. b. Social scientists have not established sound procedures for observing social support. c. Forgiveness does not require an apology. d. Capitalization has more to do with the perception of behavior than with the actual behavior. ANS: C

DIF: Easy

REF: Maintaining Intimacy


TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Social support | Maintaining Intimacy: Capitalization: Broaden-and-build theory | Maintaining Intimacy: Forgiveness MSC: Factual 13. Studies by Aron and colleagues suggest that couples who engage in ________ activities together tend to experience increases in relationship satisfaction and communication. a. cooperative c. trust-building b. passionate d. novel ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Expanding the Self: Shared Activities TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Shared activities: Self-expansion model MSC: Factual 14. Which types of shared-couple activities have been shown to increase relationship satisfaction and communication? a. outdoor c. novel b. trust-building d. pleasant ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Expanding the Self: Shared Activities TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Shared activities: Self-expansion model MSC: Factual 15. Jaswinder has been in a relationship with Sukhdip for about 2 years; they have set up a joint bank account and have bought a house together, and Jaswinder has taught Sukhdip how to ski and has introduced her to his hobby of photography. What model or perspective best explains these behaviors? a. self-expansion c. social support b. intimacy process model d. capitalization ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Expanding the Self: Shared Activities TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Shared activities: Self-expansion model MSC: Applied 16. You design a couples experiment where half the couples go on weekly dates and do activities that they find exciting and novel (e.g., cooking class, skydiving) and the other half go on weekly dates and engage in activities that they typically enjoy (e.g., movies, dinner). What prediction do you make about the effect of this experiment on their relationship satisfaction? a. The two groups should have the same satisfaction at the end of the study because they are both engaging in pleasant activities. b. The couples in the novel and exciting group should have higher relationship satisfaction because they are self-expanding together. c. The couples in the pleasant activities group should have higher relationship satisfaction because they are not imposing certain activities on each other. d. The couples in the pleasant activities group should have higher relationship satisfaction because they are self-expanding together. ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Expanding the Self: Shared Activities TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Shared activities: Self-expansion model MSC: Conceptual 17. Studies conducted to test the self-expansion model proposed by Aron and colleagues suggest that: a. even conflict, if it is sufficiently arousing and frequent, can improve relationships. b. engaging in novel and arousing activities can counteract the “typical honeymoon-then-years-of-blandness pattern” that tends to happen as relationships develop. c. self-expansion is more important than other-expansion early in relationships. d. arousing activities must also be self-expanding for relationships to be maintained.


ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Expanding the Self: Shared Activities TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Shared activities: Self-expansion model MSC: Factual 18. Which of the following is true? a. Self-expansion only occurs in the context of relationships. b. Engaging in exciting activities, even unpleasant ones, will always enrich relationships. c. In the early stages of self-expansion, relationship satisfaction is mostly derived from the shared activities that are novel and exciting to at least one member of the couple. d. Engaging in shared pleasant activities is not as self-expanding as engaging in shared novel activities. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Expanding the Self: Shared Activities TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Shared activities: Self-expansion model MSC: Factual 19. Over the course of the semester, your friend Samantha meets someone and falls in love. From the self-expansion perspective, what changes can you expect to observe in Samantha? a. She will be more likely to share good experiences with her new partner. b. She will feel less effective in her schoolwork because she will be spending more time with her new partner. c. She will have a richer sense of her own identity. d. She will engage in fewer new activities because she will be building intimacy with her new partner. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Expanding the Self: Shared Activities TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Shared activities: Self-expansion model MSC: Applied 20. Your friend Mia is in a bad spot in her 5-year relationship with Lee. She finds the relationship boring and complains that she never does anything new; she does not feel particularly attracted to Lee anymore. Given this information, which of the following is the most credible explanation for why Mia is dissatisfied? a. Mia desires quality time more than Lee, so she is likely to be unhappy with Lee. b. Mia has an avoidant attachment system, so she is likely to become bored with Lee. c. Mia and Lee are engaging in more self-expansion opportunities compared to routine ones. d. Mia and Lee are engaging in more pleasant activities compared to self-expanding ones. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Expanding the Self: Shared Activities TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Shared activities: Self-expansion model MSC: Applied 21. As the rate of self-expansion drops in a relationship, _____ and ___________begin to fade. a. satisfaction; love c. boredom; disappointment b. visible support; invisible support d. real support; perceived support ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Expanding the Self: Shared Activities TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Shared activities: Self-expansion model MSC: Factual 22. Self-expansion theory provides an explanation for: a. why relationship satisfaction declines over time. b. why people prefer predictability in their relationship. c. mate selection. d. why people stay in a relationship that is not particularly satisfying.


ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Expanding the Self: Shared Activities TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Shared activities: Self-expansion model MSC: Conceptual 23. Acts that communicate caring and validate the other’s feelings are known as _____ support. a. perceived c. accepted b. social d. instrumental ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Overcoming Stress and Adversity: Social Support TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Social support MSC: Factual 24. Mohinder takes care of making dinner and washing the dishes while Sally is studying for her exam. Based on this, Mohinder is offering what type of support? a. tangible b. invisible c. visible d. emotional ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Overcoming Stress and Adversity: Social Support TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Social support: Visible versus invisible support MSC: Applied 25. What is social integration? a. when people acquire resources, enrich their identities, and elaborate on what they know via their close relationships b. when people respond positively to their partners’ disclosures of positive news c. when people have stronger social ties and connections d. when people take on aspects of their partners’ identities as their own ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Overcoming Stress and Adversity: Social Support TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Social support: Social integration MSC: Factual 26. Your roommate is studying for a big final exam. You notice that she is anxious, so, to help out, you decide to wash all the dinner dishes, even though it is her turn. What kind of support is this? a. emotional support c. active-constructive support b. invisible support d. passive-constructive support ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Overcoming Stress and Adversity: Social Support TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Social support: Visible versus invisible support MSC: Applied 27. Lisa is in the middle of studying for four final exams and feels a great deal of stress. Her partner, Alex, decides to help more around the house by doing the dishes and cooking dinner more often and mowing the lawn; however, Lisa does not notice that Alex has stepped up because she is too busy studying for finals. According to the textbook, Alex is providing: a. emotional support. c. accepted support. b. visible support. d. invisible support. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Overcoming Stress and Adversity: Social Support TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Social support: Visible versus invisible support MSC: Applied 28. Lisa is in the middle of studying for four final exams and feels a great deal of stress. Her partner, Alex, offers to help quiz her on some of the material. According to the textbook, Alex is providing: a. emotional support. c. accepted support.


b. visible support.

d. invisible support.

ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Overcoming Stress and Adversity: Social Support TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Social support: Visible versus invisible support MSC: Applied 29. Lisa is in the middle of studying for four final exams and feels a great deal of stress. Her partner, Alex, is trying to decide how best to help: he could do more around the house by doing the dishes and cooking dinner more often and mowing the lawn, or he could offer to help quiz her on some of the material. What should Alex do and why? a. Alex should offer to help quiz Lisa on the material so that she knows it really well in time for her exam. b. Alex should offer to help quiz Lisa on the material because it is clear she cannot handle the situation on her own. c. Alex should do more around the house because Lisa is likely to notice and appreciate everything he is doing for her. d. Alex should do more around the house in a way that Lisa will not notice so that she will not feel like she cannot handle the situation on her own. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Overcoming Stress and Adversity: Social Support TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Social support: Visible versus invisible support MSC: Applied 30. Your partner is dealing with an upcoming important deadline at work. What type of support should you provide and why? a. emotional support to bolster his self-esteem b. practical support to help him with his work c. visible support so that he knows you care for and value him d. invisible support so as not to undermine his self-esteem ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Overcoming Stress and Adversity: Social Support TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Social support: Visible versus invisible support MSC: Applied 31. Niall Bolger and his colleagues (2000) conducted a study of law students taking the bar exam and their partners. Which of the following is true? a. Law students had the best adjustment (i.e., more positive mood) when they perceived support from their partners. b. Law students were most satisfied in their relationships when their distress level (anxiety, depression, etc.) was the lowest. c. Law students had the best adjustment when their partners provided more support than the law students reported receiving. d. Law students had the best adjustment when they perceived more support, but their partners said they had not provided it. ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Overcoming Stress and Adversity: Social Support TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Social support: Visible versus invisible support MSC: Factual 32. Visible support is to ________ as invisible support is to ________. a. not helpful; helpful c. practical; emotional b. known; unknown d. satisfied; dissatisfied ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Overcoming Stress and Adversity: Social Support TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Social support: Visible versus invisible support


MSC: Conceptual 33. Sharing positive emotions will enhance our relationships and thus build resources (e.g., strong relationships) on which we can draw in times of need. With what theory of relationships is this most consistent? a. self-expansion theory c. attachment theory b. broaden-and-build theory d. self-verification theory ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Accentuating the Positive: Capitalization TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Capitalization: Broaden-and-build theory MSC: Factual 34. Selena is proud of herself for getting an article published in her school newspaper and has called her boyfriend, Nick, to tell him the good news. Which of the following factors will most likely determine whether Selena benefits from her attempt at capitalization? a. the response she receives from Nick b. how much time passes between the event and telling Nick about it c. the level of intimacy in their relationship d. whether Nick also shares his own good news with Selena at the same time ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Accentuating the Positive: Capitalization TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Capitalization: Broaden-and-build theory MSC: Applied 35. Carl told his wife, Meena, that he got a raise at work. Meena (although happy for Carl) did not say much. What type of capitalization response is this? a. active-constructive c. passive-destructive b. active-destructive d. passive-constructive ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Accentuating the Positive: Capitalization TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Capitalization: Broaden-and-build theory: Passive-constructive responses MSC: Applied 36. Carl learns that Meena got a promotion. Carl said congratulations, but he then expressed his concern that this promotion might actually increase her workload. What kind of capitalization response is this? a. active-constructive c. passive-destructive b. active-destructive d. passive-constructive ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Accentuating the Positive: Capitalization TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Capitalization: Broaden-and-build theory: Active-destructive responses MSC: Applied 37. Shelly Gable and colleagues (2004) investigated the association between partners’ disclosures of positive life events and relationship satisfaction. Which of the following statements best describes the findings from this line of research? a. Active-constructive responses are positively related to relationship satisfaction. b. Passive-constructive responses are positively related to relationship satisfaction. c. Active-destructive responses to partners’ disclosures are negatively related to relationship satisfaction. d. Passive-destructive responses to partners’ disclosures are not related to relationship satisfaction. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Accentuating the Positive: Capitalization TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Capitalization: Broaden-and-build theory: Active-constructive responses MSC: Factual


38. Your partner just got a promotion at work and shares the news with you. Which of the following responses would be most likely to enhance your partner’s relationship satisfaction? a. “That’s nice.” b. “Does this mean you’re going to be working even longer hours?” c. “That’s good to know; now we can go on that vacation next summer.” d. “Wow, that’s fantastic! Let’s go out to dinner tonight to celebrate.” ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Accentuating the Positive: Capitalization TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Capitalization: Broaden-and-build theory: Active-constructive responses MSC: Applied 39. Passive-constructive capitalization responses are negatively associated with relationship satisfaction. Why might this be? a. They are invisible, so there is no benefit of this type of response. b. There is a problem with the reliability of the measure of passive-constructive responses. c. The passive aspect of these responses overwhelms the constructive nature of the comments. d. These responses focus only on the positive emotion that the discloser experienced and not enough on the positive nature of the good news. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Accentuating the Positive: Capitalization TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Capitalization: Broaden-and-build theory: Passive-constructive responses MSC: Conceptual 40. According to Gable and her colleagues, passive-constructive responses to capitalization attempts are associated with: a. greater relationship trust. c. lower relationship intimacy. b. greater relationship satisfaction. d. lower relationship trust. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Accentuating the Positive: Capitalization TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Capitalization: Broaden-and-build theory: Passive-constructive responses MSC: Factual 41. Gertrude just got a new job. Her boyfriend, Andre, responded by saying, “I really hope I can find a summer job. It is going to be hard this late in the semester.” What would you conclude about their relationship from this exchange? a. They are probably satisfied with their relationship. b. They are probably dissatisfied with their relationship. c. Andre is probably satisfied, and Gertrude is dissatisfied in the relationship. d. Gertrude is probably satisfied, and Andre is dissatisfied in the relationship. ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Accentuating the Positive: Capitalization TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Capitalization: Broaden-and-build theory: Passive-destructive responses MSC: Applied 42. Following a transgression, Juan feels angry, yet acts warmly to his partner. Juan’s feelings of anger are considered _________, whereas his acting warmly is considered _________. a. intrapersonal; interpersonal b. interpersonal; intrapersonal c. an example of silent forgiveness; an example of hollow forgiveness d. an example of hollow forgiveness; an example of silent forgiveness ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Responding to Betrayal: Forgiveness TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Forgiveness: Intrapersonal and interpersonal components MSC: Factual


43. Danny and Stella were in therapy following the revelation of Stella’s relationship with another man. Danny felt hurt, angry, and confused about his relationship and feelings for Stella. Stella was defensive about the affair and tried to hide the full extent of her relationship with the other man. What stage of forgiveness do you think this couple is experiencing? a. impact c. moving on b. meaning d. reconciliation ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Responding to Betrayal: Forgiveness TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Forgiveness: Stages of forgiveness: Impact MSC: Applied 44. Lisa discovered that her wife had lied about a bad investment that has cost them a good portion of their life savings. Still unhappy about the situation, Lisa is asking many questions about what happened. What stage of forgiveness do you think Lisa is experiencing? a. impact c. moving on b. meaning d. silent ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Responding to Betrayal: Forgiveness TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Forgiveness: Stages of forgiveness: Making meaning MSC: Applied 45. According to definitions of forgiveness given in the text, which of the following is required for a couple to experience forgiveness? a. immediate reconciliation with the transgressor b. a promise from the offender not to re-offend c. a decline in the partner’s motivation for revenge against the transgressor d. an increase in emotional distance from the offender ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Responding to Betrayal: Forgiveness TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Forgiveness MSC: Factual 46. According to the text, ________ describes the transformation that occurs when people’s motivation to seek revenge for hurtful actions diminishes and their motivation to pursue conciliatory courses of action increases. a. invisible support c. forgiveness b. intimacy d. capitalization ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Responding to Betrayal: Forgiveness TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Forgiveness MSC: Factual 47. Brad and Jing-Mei have been married for several years. Recently Brad discovered that Jing-Mei had a brief affair. Which of the following will NOT increase the likelihood that Brad will forgive Jing-Mei? a. Brad believes Jing-Mei is fully in control of her actions. b. Jing-Mei apologized and promised never to do it again. c. Brad is generally an amiable, easygoing person. d. Brad is extremely committed to Jing-Mei and their relationship. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Responding to Betrayal: Forgiveness TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Forgiveness MSC: Applied 48. In response to a blunder John made, John’s wife, Carineh, said, “You are so dumb, John.” John got angry, and Carineh quickly apologized. John told Carineh he forgave her even though he did not mean it because he was still angry with her. What type of forgiveness is John displaying? a. hollow c. silent


b. partial

d. intrapersonal

ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Responding to Betrayal: Forgiveness TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Forgiveness: Intrapersonal and interpersonal components: Silent versus hollow forgiveness MSC: Applied 49. In response to a blunder John made, John’s wife, Carineh, said, “You are so dumb, John.” John got angry, and Carineh quickly apologized. John forgave Carineh even though he didn’t tell her so. What type of forgiveness is John displaying? a. hollow c. silent b. partial d. interpersonal ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Responding to Betrayal: Forgiveness TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Forgiveness: Intrapersonal and interpersonal components: Silent versus hollow forgiveness MSC: Applied 50. Which of the following is NOT one of the four factors that determines whether an individual forgives the partner for a transgression? a. personality of the victim c. sexual orientation of the couple b. quality of the apology d. quality of the relationship ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Responding to Betrayal: Forgiveness TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Forgiveness: Intrapersonal and interpersonal components MSC: Factual 51. Ken is an agreeable person with a secure attachment style. He recently scheduled a date with his wife, Diane, but she never showed up. Diane offered a sincere apology to Ken for forgetting about their dinner date; however, Ken was still upset. What factor is most likely making it difficult for Ken to forgive Diane? a. personality of the victim c. qualities of the relationship b. qualities of the apology d. seriousness of the offense ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Responding to Betrayal: Forgiveness TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Forgiveness: Intrapersonal and interpersonal components MSC: Applied 52. Mila is an emotionally stable person, who has had a positive and committed relationship with her husband, Dwayne. However, she recently learned that Dwayne had an affair 6 months ago when she was out of town on a work trip. Although Dwayne apologized to Mila, expressing remorse, she is still extremely upset by the situation. What factor is most likely making it difficult for Mila to forgive Dwayne? a. personality of the victim c. qualities of the relationship b. qualities of the apology d. seriousness of the offense ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Responding to Betrayal: Forgiveness TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Forgiveness: Intrapersonal and interpersonal components MSC: Applied 53. Lloyd is an emotionally stable man, who has a secure relationship with his husband, Mario. One day, Mario tells Lloyd that Lloyd was being annoying by not doing the household duties, which made Lloyd upset. Mario apologized to Lloyd; however, Lloyd did not find Mario’s apology to be sincere. What factor is most likely making it difficult for Lloyd to forgive Mario? a. personality of the victim c. qualities of the relationship b. qualities of the apology d. seriousness of the offense ANS: B

DIF: Easy

REF: Responding to Betrayal: Forgiveness


TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Forgiveness: Intrapersonal and interpersonal components MSC: Applied 54. Maytal has an insecure attachment style and is married to her wife, Sally. Sally recently poked fun at Maytal for putting on a bit of weight in the past month, which hurt Maytal’s feelings. Sally apologized. While Maytal could tell Sally was sincere, Maytal was still upset. What factor is most likely making it difficult for Maytal to forgive Sally? a. personality of the victim c. qualities of the relationship b. qualities of the apology d. seriousness of the offense ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Responding to Betrayal: Forgiveness TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Forgiveness: Intrapersonal and interpersonal components MSC: Applied 55. Liam has adjusted to the revelation that his wife cheated on him a year ago. He recognizes that if he holds a grudge against her, it is going to affect their family negatively, so he decides to forgive her. What stage of forgiveness is Liam most likely experiencing? a. impact c. moving on b. meaning d. silent ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Responding to Betrayal: Forgiveness TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Forgiveness: Stages of forgiveness: Moving on MSC: Applied ESSAY 1. According to the intimacy process model, interpretive filters can influence perceptions of a partner’s behavior. Describe how interpretive filters can influence social support provision, capitalization, and forgiveness in relationships. ANS: Interpretive filters can affect how an individual chooses to respond to disclosures (i.e., perceptions of a partner’s behavior). Perhaps more important is the interpretive filter that might influence our partner’s response and our tendency to experience that response as validating, understanding, and caring. Social support provision: When support is offered, its effectiveness seems to depend not so much on whether the support was well intended but, rather, on whether it makes the partner feel capable, competent, and free from any obligation to reciprocate. Capitalization: How we perceive our partner’s response to our positive disclosures affects our relationship satisfaction; only responses that are perceived as active-constructive are linked to higher relationship intimacy. Forgiveness: Partners tend to adopt biased perspectives about the transgression; the victim perceives the transgression as “larger” than does the offender. If the offender apologizes, this increases the likelihood of forgiveness, but only if the victim perceives the apology as sincere enough. DIF: Difficult REF: How Communication Promotes Intimacy | Maintaining Intimacy TOP: How Communication Promotes Intimacy: Disclosure and responses: The intimacy process model: Interpretive filters | Maintaining Intimacy: Social support | Maintaining Intimacy: Capitalization: Broaden-and-build theory | Maintaining Intimacy: Forgiveness MSC: Conceptual 2. Describe the intimacy process model. ANS:


Researchers Reis and Shaver viewed the process of everyday exchanges between partners as contributing to, or interfering with, the development of intimacy. According to this model, an individual makes a disclosure to her or his partner, the partner perceives the disclosure and responds, and the response leads the individual to develop beliefs about herself or himself and the relationship. Appropriately timed disclosures that are emotional rather than factual and interpreted by, and responded to, positively (e.g., with understanding and validation) by the partner build a sense of trust, understanding, and intimacy. DIF: Easy REF: Disclosures and Responses: The Intimacy Process Model TOP: How Communication Promotes Intimacy: Disclosures and responses: The intimacy process model MSC: Factual 3. Anthony has been struggling with the decision to return to school to become an architect or to continue in his high-paying, but very dissatisfying, job. He decides to talk to his wife, Mei, about the problem. He tells her, “Mei, I know it would be tough financially, but I’m thinking about going back to school to become an architect. What do you think?” Provide an example of an empathic response that Mei could give Anthony. ANS: An example of what Mei could say that would reflect empathy is, “I know you’ve been feeling unhappy with your job, and I’m willing to support you in any way I can. Does the idea of going back to school worry you?” DIF: Easy REF: Disclosures and Responses: The Intimacy Process Model TOP: How Communication Promotes Intimacy: Disclosures and responses: The intimacy process model: Partner responsiveness MSC: Applied 4. According to Gable (2004), there are four basic types of capitalization responses. List the four types and discuss how each is related to relationship intimacy. ANS: The four types of responses are: (1) active-constructive, (2) passive-constructive, (3) active-destructive, and (4) passive-destructive. Active-constructive responses are associated with higher levels of intimacy in the relationship. In contrast, destructive responses (whether active or passive) are associated with lower levels of intimacy in the relationship. Interestingly, passive-constructive responses are also associated with lower levels of intimacy in the relationship. It seems that the passive part of these types of responses overshadows the constructive part. DIF: Medium REF: Accentuating the Positive: Capitalization TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Capitalization: Broaden-and-build theory MSC: Factual 5. Cassandra’s coworkers celebrate her birthday by taking her to a spa for a manicure and pedicure instead of working in the afternoon. She tells her wife, Patricia, all about the outing. What might Patricia say or do that would represent the (1) active-constructive; (2) active-destructive; and (3) passive-destructive capitalization responses to Cassandra’s disclosure? ANS: (1) Active-constructive: Patricia would be enthusiastic and happy for Cassandra, and she would say something to show that, such as “What a great day!” or “That sounds like a really nice thing for your colleagues to do.” (2) Active-destructive: Patricia would say something to undermine Cassandra’s enjoyment of the day, such as “You are going to be even more behind with your work now that you took the afternoon off.” (3) Passive-destructive: Patricia would say little and would appear uninterested in Cassandra’s good news.


DIF: Medium REF: Accentuating the Positive: Capitalization TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Capitalization: Broaden-and-build theory MSC: Applied 6. Brad and Jing-Mei have been married for several years. Recently Brad discovered that Jing-Mei had a brief affair. The text describes four factors that increase the likelihood of forgiveness following a relationship transgression. Which of these factors might argue for Brad’s forgiveness and which might argue against Brad’s forgiveness. ANS: First, Brad would be more likely to forgive Jing-Mei if he is generally an amiable, easygoing person; if he is emotionally stable, empathic, and agreeable; or if he has a secure attachment style. Second, Brad would be more likely to forgive Jing-Mei if she apologized and promised never to do it again—as long as he perceived the apology to be sincere. Third, Brad would be more likely to forgive Jing-Mei if he is extremely committed to her and their relationship or if he is dependent on the relationship and feels he has no good alternatives. Minor transgressions are more likely to be forgiven than more severe acts. Given that infidelity is a fairly severe transgression, this factor decreases the likelihood that Brad will forgive Jing-Mei. DIF: Medium REF: Responding to Betrayal: Forgiveness TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Forgiveness MSC: Applied 7. Compare and contrast silent forgiveness and hollow forgiveness, and discuss how they operate in the context of intimate relationships from an intra- and interpersonal level. ANS: Silent and hollow forgiveness are two ways in which forgiveness operates in intimate relationships. Silent forgiveness occurs at the intrapersonal level. A victim of a betrayal may begin to feel more charity and compassion for the partner, shedding feelings of anger and blame. This is called “silent forgiveness” because the victim may not communicate to the other that he or she has been forgiven. Contrastingly, hollow forgiveness occurs at the interpersonal level only. The victim may express and demonstrate feelings of forgiveness to the partner without experiencing an intrapersonal change. DIF: Easy REF: Responding to Betrayal: Forgiveness TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Forgiveness: Intrapersonal and interpersonal components: Silent versus hollow forgiveness MSC: Conceptual 8. Describe the three stages of forgiveness developed by Gordon and Baucom (1998). ANS: The three stages of forgiveness are: (1) impact stage, (2) meaning stage, and (3) moving-on stage. In the impact stage, partners learn of the transgression and recognize its effect on their relationship. Partners have strong emotional reactions, such as anger, hurt, and confusion. The transgressing partner may also experience strong emotional reactions but will likely engage in some form of damage control. In the meaning stage, the partner tries to work toward some understanding of what happened and why to gain a sense of control and predictability. In the moving-on stage, there is some restoration of trust and positive feelings; feelings of forgiveness could be expressed to the transgressing partner. Steps may be taken to restore the relationship; however, reconciliation is not necessarily a part of the forgiveness process. DIF: Easy REF: Responding to Betrayal: Forgiveness TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Forgiveness: Stages of forgiveness MSC: Factual


9. Meg and Jian have been married 10 years and both feel generally dissatisfied with their marriage. Although they still get along fine and spend lots of time together, both feel that their relationship and their lives, in general, are rather flat. From a self-expansion perspective, give two interpretations of what the problem might be. ANS: First, they have been together for quite some time, so the relatively automatic process of learning about each other and incorporating each other’s resources and identities, which is inherently exciting and satisfying, is no longer occurring. Second, they may not be engaging in shared expanding and novel activities together. Thus, they are no longer expanding the self, and the pleasure that results from self-expansion is not present to be associated with the relationship or with the partner. DIF: Difficult REF: Expanding the Self: Shared Activities TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Shared activities: Self-expansion model MSC: Applied 10. Your friend Humpreet asks you what she can do to put the “spice” back into her 2-year relationship with Tasha. She says the two of them get along fine, but the relationship seems to be routine compared with when they first started dating. From a self-expansion perspective, what suggestion(s) would you give Humpreet and why? ANS: At the beginning of their relationship, Humpreet and Tasha spent a lot of time learning about each other and incorporating each other’s resources and identities. These activities are inherently exciting and satisfying; now that they know each other, this incorporation is no longer occurring. Short-term and long-term studies have shown that engaging in novel activities with one’s partner increases relationship satisfaction. Therefore, I would suggest to Humpreet that she and Tasha may want to engage in expanding activities together so that the pleasure that results from self-expansion will be associated with the relationship or with the partner. These activities should be something that both Humpreet and Tasha would consider “exciting” (e.g., rock climbing) and not just pleasant (e.g., gardening). DIF: Medium REF: Overcoming Stress and Adversity: Social Support TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Shared activities: Self-expansion model MSC: Applied 11. How does the self-expansion model help us explain the deterioration of relationship satisfaction? ANS: In the early stages of a relationship, when romantic partners are getting to know each other, they pass through a stage of automatic self-expansion, learning about the other person, taking on aspects of each other’s identities, and sharing resources, activities, and ideas. This process of relatively automatic self-expansion is pleasurable and is associated with the excitement and enjoyment of developing a new relationship. These opportunities for automatic self-expansion decline as the relationship progresses. At this later stage in the development of the relationship, feelings may even out, producing fewer highs and lows. If the couple engages in shared, novel, exciting, and self-expanding activities together, their relationship satisfaction could be bolstered. However, if they do not work to keep their relationship new and exciting, they are likely to experience a decline in relationship quality because self-expanding opportunities have been lost. DIF: Medium REF: Overcoming Stress and Adversity: Social Support TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Shared activities: Self-expansion model MSC: Conceptual


12. Define invisible and visible support, and discuss which type may be more beneficial under certain conditions. ANS: Invisible support is support that is provided by a partner, which goes unrecognized by the recipient. This would most likely take the form of tangible support, such as taking the car in for servicing when needed, offering to bring a drink for a partner who is studying, or perhaps taking over household chores without bringing the support efforts to the attention of the recipient. Conversely, visible support is support that the recipient knows they have received (e.g., sitting down with a friend over coffee to listen about their stressful week). Invisible support may be more beneficial when individuals are experiencing a specific situational stressor. Visible support may come at a cost to the recipient, such as making him or her feel obligated to reciprocate the support or to undermining his or her feelings of competence to deal with the stressor. Thus, providing support that allows the recipient to marshal his or her own resources without undermining his or her ability to cope—invisible support—may be a more effective strategy than offering visible support. DIF: Easy REF: Overcoming Stress and Adversity: Social Support TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Social support: Visible versus invisible support MSC: Conceptual 13. You go on a local television show to promote your new research study on social support. The interviewer asks, “Why do you need to study social support? Isn’t it simple: Being supportive is better?” How do you respond to her comment, referring to specific research findings on support presented in the text? ANS: Although perceptions that others are available and supportive are beneficial, there are some counterintuitive findings. It appears that support received in the context of specific stressors can be detrimental to adjustment. For example, women in a weight-loss program were more likely to succeed if their husbands were told to be as uninvolved as possible, heart attack sufferers recover more slowly when they receive more support from their relationship partners, and law students who perceive more support than was provided by their partners tend to have poorer emotional adjustment in the days leading up to the bar exam. DIF: Medium REF: Overcoming Stress and Adversity: Social Support TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Social support: Visible versus invisible support MSC: Applied 14. Your partner is dealing with an upcoming important deadline at work and needs to spend most nights working on the project rather than watching TV with you. What is the best way for you to support him during this stressful time and why? ANS: Providing invisible support (e.g., taking over your partner’s household tasks) may be most beneficial because this type of support has been shown to be more beneficial than visible support (of which your partner would be aware) when the recipient is facing a specific situational stressor—such as your partner’s deadline. Providing invisible support is less likely to undermine your partner’s self-esteem; your partner might perceive that you do not think he is competent to deal with the work deadline. Thus, providing support that allows your partner to marshal his own resources, without undermining his ability to cope, by offering invisible support may be the best strategy. DIF: Medium REF: Overcoming Stress and Adversity: Social Support TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Social support: Visible versus invisible support MSC: Applied


15. Compare and contrast the processes of social support and capitalization and how they are related to relationship quality. ANS: Although similar in that each involves a process of self-disclosure by one partner to another, and interpretive filters are likely operating in both cases, capitalization involves the disclosure of good news or positive experiences, whereas social support involves the disclosure of distressing news or worries. Responses to capitalization attempts and bids for social support are both important for relationship satisfaction; a partner’s responses, characterized by interest, warmth, and caring, are positively related to relationship satisfaction. However, there may be situations in which social support is not seen as beneficial, such as in the context of specific stressors, and may undermine a recipient’s own sense of self-efficacy. As of yet, there is no evidence that active-constructive capitalization responses can be detrimental to relationships or to individuals. DIF: Difficult REF: Maintaining Intimacy TOP: Maintaining Intimacy: Social support: Visible versus invisible support | Maintaining Intimacy: Capitalization: Broaden-and-build theory MSC: Conceptual


CHAPTER 9: Sexual Intimacy 1. The Importance of Sex a. Satisfaction: Sexual and relationship b. Relationships without sex i. Involuntary celibacy ii. Virginity 2. The Course of Sexual Desire a. Changes in sexual desire and sexual frequency over time 3. Ingredients of a Healthy Sex Life a. Quantity b. Technique c. Responsiveness i. Good communication 4. The Functions of Sex in Intimate Relationships a. Consensual nonmonogamy i. Swinging ii. Open relationship iii. Polyamory b. Reasons for having sex i. Strengthening pairbonds 1. Sexual afterglow 2. Approach vs. avoidance motives ii. Compensating for relationship vulnerabilities 1. Negative affectivity 2. Attachment insecurity 3. “Make-up sex” iii. Physical health and well-being 5. Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex a. Finding time b. Household chores c. Pornography use i. Gender differences d. Negotiating differences i. Sexual coercion MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. Each partner’s evaluation of the sexual aspect of their relationship refers to their: a. sexual satisfaction. b. relationship satisfaction. c. sexual quality. d. relationship quality. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: The Importance of Sex TOP: The Importance of Sex: Satisfaction: Sexual and relationship MSC: Conceptual 2. José reports that he has a high degree of sexual satisfaction with his partner, Tim. Therefore, it is likely that José will also report having: a. a higher anxious attachment style than Tim. b. high relationship satisfaction. c. a low degree of intimacy.


d. low relationship satisfaction. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: The Importance of Sex TOP: The Importance of Sex: Satisfaction: Sexual and relationship MSC: Applied 3. Strong positive associations between sexual satisfaction and relationship satisfaction are influenced by all the following EXCEPT: a. personal beliefs. b. attachment style. c. gender. d. communication. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: The Importance of Sex TOP: The Importance of Sex: Satisfaction: Sexual and relationship MSC: Factual 4. Research, based on couples together for ______ years and _____ years, on average, continues to find a reliable association between initial levels of sexual satisfaction and changes in relationship satisfaction. a. 2; 10 b. 5; 20 c. 7; 25 d. 10; 30 ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: The Importance of Sex TOP: The Importance of Sex: Satisfaction: Sexual and relationship MSC: Factual 5. According to research on college students (average age, 21), the association between willingness to engage in a romantic relationship peaks at ____ sexual partners and declines at ______ sexual partners. a. 0 to 1; 23 to 30 b. 1 to 2; 9 to 11 c. 2 to 3; 5 to 8 d. 3 to 4; 12 to 14 ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Relationships Without Sex TOP: The Importance of Sex: Relationships without sex MSC: Factual 6. Your friend, Patti, confides in you that she and her partner, Patrick, are no longer having sex. She is unhappy with this but has decided to stay with him because they have been together for close to 5 years. Based on this, Patti is experiencing which of the following? a. relationship satisfaction b. involuntary celibacy c. asexuality d. sexual satisfaction ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: The Importance of Sex TOP: The Importance of Sex: Relationships without sex: Involuntary celibacy MSC: Applied 7. Changes in sexual frequency and desire are associated with all of the following EXCEPT: a. novelty in the bedroom. b. security. c. age. d. having children.


ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: The Course of Sexual Desire TOP: The Course of Sexual Desire: Changes in sexual desire and frequency over time MSC: Factual 8. Sexual frequency and satisfaction tend to peak in the ______ year of a relationship and decline markedly in the ______ year. a. first; second b. first; third c. second; fourth d. second; seventh ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: The Course of Sexual Desire TOP: The Course of Sexual Desire: Changes in sexual desire and frequency over time MSC: Factual 9. According to the National Poll on Healthy Aging, adults between the ages of _____ and _____ describe their sex life as satisfying. a. 30; 45 b. 45; 60 c. 60; 65 d. 65; 80 ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: The Course of Sexual Desire TOP: The Course of Sexual Desire: Changes in sexual desire and frequency over time MSC: Factual 10. Couples who were instructed to increase their sexual frequency reported being ______ at the end of the 90-day study. a. happier b. less happy c. less tired d. more satisfied ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Ingredients of a Healthy Sex Life TOP: Ingredients of a Healthy Sex Life: Quantity MSC: Factual 11. The Kama Sutra and other guides are designed to teach partners how to: a. please your partner sexually. b. get your partner to do more housework. c. raise children. d. engage in different conversations. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Ingredients of a Healthy Sex Life TOP: Ingredients of a Healthy Sex Life: Technique MSC: Factual 12. People who report greater sexual satisfaction and more regular orgasms are more likely to report engaging in which of the following, in addition to intercourse? a. mutual masturbation and oral sex b. oral sex for the female partner only c. oral sex for the male partner only d. male partner masturbation ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Ingredients of a Healthy Sex Life TOP: Ingredients of a Healthy Sex Life: Technique MSC: Factual


13. Men are more likely to report having engaged in which of the following sexual acts? a. giving or receiving a massage b. taking a shower or bath with their partners c. viewing pornography with their partners d. inviting another person into bed ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Ingredients of a Healthy Sex Life TOP: Ingredients of a Healthy Sex Life: Technique MSC: Factual 14. Men are less likely to report having engaged in which of the following sexual acts? a. trying anal stimulation b. inviting another person into bed c. trying a different sexual position d. talking about fantasies ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Ingredients of a Healthy Sex Life TOP: Ingredients of a Healthy Sex Life: Technique MSC: Factual 15. Women are more likely to report having engaged in which of the following sexual acts? a. going on a romantic getaway b. viewing pornography with their partners c. wearing sexy lingerie/underwear d. giving or receiving a massage ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Ingredients of a Healthy Sex Life TOP: Ingredients of a Healthy Sex Life: Technique MSC: Factual 16. Women are less likely to report having engaged in which of the following sexual acts? a. trying a new sexual position b. integrating food into sex c. having sexual contact in a public place d. inviting another person into bed ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Ingredients of a Healthy Sex Life TOP: Ingredients of a Healthy Sex Life: Technique MSC: Factual 17. Carl, a self-identified male, was discussing his most recent sexual encounter with his friends over drinks. He is more likely to report having engaged in which of the following sexual acts? a. anal intercourse b. vaginal intercourse c. performing oral sex d. receiving oral sex ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Ingredients of a Healthy Sex Life TOP: Ingredients of a Healthy Sex Life: Technique MSC: Applied 18. Linda, a self-identified female, was discussing her most recent sexual encounter with her friends over drinks. She is more likely to report having engaged in which of the following sexual acts? a. anal intercourse b. vaginal intercourse c. gentle kissing d. performing oral sex ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Ingredients of a Healthy Sex Life TOP: Ingredients of a Healthy Sex Life: Technique MSC: Applied


19. According to the chapter, _________ is a driving force of satisfying sex. a. responsiveness b. attractiveness c. vulnerability d. exclusivity ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Ingredients of a Healthy Sex Life TOP: Ingredients of a Healthy Sex Life: Responsiveness MSC: Applied 20. Scott and Vinny are in a committed romantic relationship with one another and have decided to engage in physical and emotional intimacy with other people outside of their relationship. This is referred to as: a. polyamory. b. swinging c. monogamy. d. nonmonogamy. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: The Functions of Sex in Intimate Relationships TOP: The Functions of Sex in Intimate Relationships: Consensual nonmonogamy MSC: Applied 21. _______ refers to the various ways in which partners arrange to experience sexual and/or emotional intimacy with multiple people. a. Swinging b. Polyamory c. Consensual nonmonogamy d. Consensual monogamy ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: The Functions of Sex in Intimate Relationships TOP: The Functions of Sex in Intimate Relationships: Consensual nonmonogamy MSC: Conceptual 22. ________ refers to the practice of couples temporarily exchanging partners for sex or including others in their sex life. a. Swinging b. An open relationship c. Polyamory d. Nonconsensual nonmonogamy ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: The Functions of Sex in Intimate Relationships TOP: The Functions of Sex in Intimate Relationships: Consensual nonmonogamy: Swinging MSC: Conceptual 23. _______ refers to the explicit agreement between two committed partners that each has the option of pursuing sexual or emotional connections with other people. a. Swinging b. An open relationship c. Polyamory d. Nonconsensual nonmonogamy ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: The Functions of Sex in Intimate Relationships TOP: The Functions of Sex in Intimate Relationships: Consensual nonmonogamy: Open relationship MSC: Conceptual 24. ____________ refers to the practice of engaging in ongoing emotional and sexual relationships with multiple people, with the knowledge and consent of all parties involved.


a. b. c. d.

Swinging An open relationship Nonconsensual nonmonogamy Polyamory

ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: The Functions of Sex in Intimate Relationships TOP: The Functions of Sex in Intimate Relationships: Consensual nonmonogamy: Polyamory MSC: Conceptual 25. Suzanne and Bob met recently and quickly became sexually active with each other. Suzanne reported that she wanted to have sex with Bob because she was curious about how he was in bed. What factor would be associated with Suzanne’s reason for having sex? a. expression b. self-esteem boost c. pleasure d. experience seeking ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: The Functions of Sex in Intimate Relationships TOP: The Functions of Sex in Intimate Relationships: Reasons for having sex MSC: Applied 26. Amy is concerned that her boyfriend Nick is cheating on her. In order to “save their relationship,” Amy starts engaging in sex with Nick more often. What factor would be associated with Amy’s reason for having sex? a. stress reduction b. revenge c. mate guarding d. self-esteem boost ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: The Functions of Sex in Intimate Relationships TOP: The Functions of Sex in Intimate Relationships: Reasons for having sex MSC: Applied 27. Charlie has not been getting along with his boyfriend Tony, so Charlie decides to have sex with someone else. What factor would be associated with Charlie’s reason for having sex? a. social status b. revenge c. pleasure d. expression ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: The Functions of Sex in Intimate Relationships TOP: The Functions of Sex in Intimate Relationships: Reasons for having sex MSC: Applied 28. Jalisa has really appreciated all that her partner Rich has done for her recently, so she decides to have sex with him randomly to show her appreciation. What factor would be associated with Jalisa’s reason for having sex? a. expression b. duty or pressure c. stress reduction d. physical desirability ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: The Functions of Sex in Intimate Relationships TOP: The Functions of Sex in Intimate Relationships: Reasons for having sex MSC: Applied


29. Based on research by Meston and Buss (2007), all of the following are themes for having sex EXCEPT: a. insecurity. b. boredom. c. emotional. d. physical. ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: The Functions of Sex in Intimate Relationships TOP: The Functions of Sex in Intimate Relationships: Reasons for having sex MSC: Factual 30. _________ refers to the lingering sense of elevated closeness and well-being after sex. a. Pair-bonding b. Sexual afterglow c. Sexual desire d. Approach motives ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: The Functions of Sex in Intimate Relationships TOP: The Functions of Sex in Intimate Relationships: Reasons for having sex: Strengthening pairbonds: Sexual afterglow MSC: Conceptual 31. Research has shown that sex has positive associations with health and well-being. These associations can be best observed in which of the following? a. The more physical intimacy partners reported engaging in together on a given day, the lower their experience of physical symptoms, such as headaches and insomnia. b. Men and women burn 2/3 the amount of calories during sex as they would doing 30 minutes of exercise on a treadmill. c. Cohabiting couples who were directed to kiss their partners more often reported decreased blood pressure, compared to those who did not increase their kissing. d. Engaging in frequent intercourse reduces one’s immune system, making them less susceptible to infection. ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: The Functions of Sex in Intimate Relationships TOP: The Functions of Sex in Intimate Relationships: Reasons for having sex: Physical health and well-being MSC: Factual 32. According to research on the sexual frequency among married couples in the United States between 1989 and 2014, men’s annual number of time having sex has _______ and women’s numbers have _________. a. increased; decreased b. decreased; decreased c. decreased; increased d. increased; decreased ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex TOP: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex MSC: Factual 33. Which of the following is NOT one of the reasons why couples are finding it hard to find time to have sex? a. increased work hours b. decreased vacation time c. increased time alone d. lack of sleep ANS: C

DIF: Easy

REF: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex


TOP: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex: Finding time

MSC: Factual

34. Women tend to spend _____ hour(s) on household chores for every ______ hour(s) spent by men. a. 2.5; 1 b. 1.6; 1 c. 1; 2.5 d. 1; 1.6 ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex TOP: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex: Finding time | Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex: Household chores MSC: Factual 35. Couples tend to have more sex when they divide the household chores based on: a. the time of day. b. an equal division of labor. c. the difficulty level of the chores. d. taking turns. ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex TOP: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex: Household chores MSC: Factual 36. Pornography is defined as any type of media featuring nudity or sexual behavior that is explicitly intended to cause: a. satisfaction. b. orgasm. c. sexual arousal. d. masturbation. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex TOP: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex: Pornography use MSC: Factual 37. Jordan is a straight man who watches pornography regularly. He is likely to report _________ with his partner. a. lower relationship satisfaction b. higher relationship satisfaction c. higher closeness d. lower closeness ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex TOP: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex: Pornography use MSC: Applied 38. Angela watches pornography regularly. She is likely to report ________ with her current partner. a. greater commitment b. less commitment c. less communication d. greater communication ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex TOP: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex: Pornography use MSC: Applied


39. Which of the following is true about how pornography may affect partners’ beliefs about acceptable behaviors within the relationship? a. Men exposed to pornography are more likely to view sex outside their relationship as acceptable and seek it themselves. b. Men exposed to pornography are more likely to view sex outside their relationship as acceptable and do not seek it themselves. c. Men exposed to pornography are more likely to view sex outside their relationship as unacceptable and do not seek it themselves. d. Men exposed to pornography are more likely to view sex outside their relationship as unacceptable and seek it themselves. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex TOP: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex: Pornography use MSC: Factual 40. Couples who report watching pornography together report all of the following EXCEPT: a. greater communication. b. greater closeness. c. enhanced intimacy. d. enhanced orgasms. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex TOP: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex: Pornography use MSC: Factual 41. Sexual ________ refers to using verbal strategies, physical means, or other manipulative tactics to pressure a partner into having unwanted sex. a. assault b. coercion c. violence d. abuse ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex TOP: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex: Negotiating differences MSC: Conceptual 42. Amber’s partner often uses “sweet talking” to try to get her to have sex with him. Which type of coercion is her partner using? a. Less forceful verbal: negative b. Less forceful verbal: positive c. Less forceful physical d. More forceful physical ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex TOP: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex: Negotiating differences MSC: Applied 43. Marco’s partner often nags him to have sex. Which type of coercion is his partner using? a. Less forceful verbal: negative b. Less forceful verbal: positive c. Less forceful verbal: neutral d. Less forceful physical ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex TOP: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex: Negotiating differences


MSC: Applied 44. Val’s partner is constantly talking about how much sex his friends are having. Which type of coercion is her partner using? a. Less forceful verbal: negative b. Less forceful verbal: positive c. Less forceful verbal: neutral d. Less forceful physical ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex TOP: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex: Negotiating differences MSC: Applied 45. Nathalie’s partner often gets extremely upset and yells whenever she refuses to have sex with him. Which type of coercion is her partner using? a. More forceful physical b. Less forceful verbal: positive c. More forceful verbal d. Less forceful physical ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex TOP: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex: Negotiating differences MSC: Applied 46. Threatening to break up the relationship to convince your partner to have sex is a form of what type of coercion? a. Less forceful verbal: neutral b. Less forceful verbal: positive c. Less forceful verbal: negative d. Less forceful physical ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex TOP: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex: Negotiating differences MSC: Factual 47. Nagging your partner to have sex is a form of what type of coercion? a. Less forceful verbal: neutral b. Less forceful verbal: positive c. Less forceful verbal: negative d. Less forceful physical ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex TOP: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex: Negotiating differences MSC: Factual 48. Having sex with someone when they are drunk and cannot consent is a form of what type of coercion? a. More forceful verbal b. Less forceful verbal: negative c. Less forceful physical d. More forceful physical ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex TOP: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex: Negotiating differences MSC: Factual


49. Women who have been pressured into having unwanted sex often feel _______ in their relationship. a. less committed b. less satisfied c. greater frustration d. greater commitment ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex TOP: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex: Negotiating differences MSC: Factual 50. James has been trying to increase the frequency of sex he and his partner Dana have. Which of the following is a positive approach he could try with her? a. sweet talking Dana into having sex b. communicating with Dana in a curt way about his needs c. criticizing the way Dana engages in sex d. reassuring Dana that he loves her ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex TOP: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex: Negotiating differences MSC: Applied ESSAY 1. According to data from the Pew Research Center, what factors contribute to making a marriage work? Are these results stable over time and similar for individuals across the lifespan? ANS: According to data from the Pew Research Center, participants rated having a happy sexual relationship with faithfulness (i.e., not having sex with anybody else) as more important than other domains, such as sharing household chores, shared interests, agreement on politics, etc. This pattern (importance of a happy sexual relationship) has been stable over time and has hardly changed between 1990 and 2007. These data are similar for younger and older adults. DIF: Easy MSC: Factual

REF: The Importance of Sex

TOP: The Importance of Sex

2. Describe the ways in which the associations between relationship quality and sexual satisfaction can be measured. ANS: Longitudinal research suggests that there is a bidirectional association between the quality of a relationship and sexual satisfaction; partners who start off in good relationships are less likely to report declines in their sexual satisfaction over time. Relatedly, partners who start off in good sexual relationships are less likely to report declines in their relationship satisfaction over time. DIF: Medium REF: The Importance of Sex TOP: The Importance of Sex: Satisfaction: Sexual and relationship MSC: Factual 3. Describe the trends associated with sexual desire, frequency of sex, and relationship length. ANS:


On average, couples have less sex as they get older, which is commonly associated with physical changes and changes to the relationship. For example, as relationship satisfaction declines, so does sexual desire and frequency. However, declines in sexual desire and frequency are not inevitable for all couples. DIF: Medium REF: The Course of Sexual Desire TOP: The Course of Sexual Desire: Changes in sexual desire and frequency over time MSC: Factual 4. Brad is convinced that having more sex with his partner, Linda, will increase the closeness they feel and make them both more satisfied in their relationship. Do you agree with Brad? Why or why not? ANS: Couples who have sex more frequently are more satisfied with their sex lives. Partners also report greater satisfaction when they report more time having sex. However, research suggests that there may be a point at which more sex is not associated with greater satisfaction. According to research by Muise et al. (2015), people who report having sex once a week are significantly more satisfied than those who report having sex less often (once or twice a month or less); however, they are just as satisfied as people who have sex more often (2 to 4 times per week). In short, more sex is not necessarily better. DIF: Medium REF: Ingredients of a Healthy Sex Life TOP: Ingredients of a Healthy Sex Life: Quantity

MSC: Applied

5. Describe what is meant by the term consensual nonmonogamy, including how it is decided upon, and the various forms it can take within a romantic relationship. ANS: Consensual nonmonogamy (CM) refers to the variety of ways in which partners arrange to experience sexual and/or emotional intimacy with multiple people. Engaging in CM is typically discussed between partners in advance (and in detail) prior to engaging in relations with other people. Several forms of CM exist, which include: (1) swinging, which is the practice of committed couples temporarily exchanging partners for sex or including others in their sex life, (2) open relationship, which is an agreement between two committed partners that each has the option of pursuing sexual or emotional connections with other people, and (3) polyamory, which is the practice of engaging in ongoing emotional and sexual relationships with multiple people. DIF: Medium REF: The Functions of Sex in Intimate Relationships TOP: The Functions of Sex in Intimate Relationships: Consensual nonmonogamy MSC: Conceptual 6. According to research by Meston and Buss (2007), people reported 237 different reasons for having sex. The textbook authors then organized participants’ responses into four broad themes with 13 specific factors. Please describe each of the four themes and give examples of factors associated with each theme. ANS: The four themes and associated factors include: (1) physical (e.g., stress reduction, pleasure, physical desirability, and experience seeking), (2) goal attainment (e.g., resources, social status, revenge, and utilitarian), (3) emotional (e.g., love and commitment and expression), and (4) insecurity (e.g., self-esteem boost, duty or pressure, and mate guarding). DIF: Medium REF: The Functions of Sex in Intimate Relationships TOP: The Functions of Sex in Intimate Relationships: Reasons for having sex MSC: Conceptual


7. Social psychologists describe two different motivations for engaging in relational behavior. List and define the types of motives, and then offer an example of each. Lastly, describe how motivations for engaging in sexual behavior are related to relationship satisfaction. ANS: Approach motives are those that produce rewards, whereas avoidance motives are those that avoid costs. According to research by Muise et al. (2013), partners who report having sex for avoidance reasons also report lower satisfaction. See p. 307 for examples relating to sex. DIF: Easy REF: The Functions of Sex in Intimate Relationships TOP: The Functions of Sex in Intimate Relationships: Reasons for having sex: Strengthening pairbonds: Approach vs. avoidance motives MSC: Conceptual 8. What are the ways in which healthy sex can serve as a protective factor for otherwise vulnerable relationships? ANS: Frequent sex enhances the connection between partners and counteracts negative affectivity. Additionally, sex may be meaningful to insecure partners looking for evidence that their relationship is safe; having a relational partner who is sensitive and responsive about sex can change a person’s attachment style. Lastly, sex may serve as a means of reassurance after a disagreement (i.e., “make-up sex”). DIF: Medium REF: The Functions of Sex in Intimate Relationships TOP: The Functions of Sex in Intimate Relationships: Compensating for relationship vulnerabilities MSC: Conceptual 9. Kali has been seeking therapy because she speculates that her husband, Robert, may have a pornography addiction. Based on what you learned in the text, what are three reasons for concern about Robert’s pornography usage. ANS: First, exposure to porn could reduce partners’ satisfaction with each other. Second, using pornography may reduce partners’ commitment to each other by drawing attention to alternatives outside the relationship. Third, extended pornography use may affect partners’ beliefs about what behaviors are acceptable in their own relationships. DIF: Easy REF: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex TOP: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex: Pornography use MSC: Applied 10. Sexual coercion has been characterized as having verbal or physical forms. Based on the recent study by Jeffrey and Barata (2017), list the types of verbal and physical forms of sexual coercion females identified and include an example of each. ANS:


Less forceful verbal positive sexual coercion involves complimenting attractiveness or sweet talking. Less forceful verbal negative sexual coercion involves threatening to break up, comparing sexual frequency to other couples, pointing out everything that he has done for her. Less forceful verbal neutral sexual coercion involves nagging, trying to convince, requesting a few small acts at a time. More forceful verbal sexual coercion involves becoming angry or yelling. Less forceful physical sexual coercion involves attempting to sexually arouse her by continuing to touch her, pressing his body into hers. Lastly, more forceful physical sexual coercion involves disregarding refusal, using physical pressure or force, taking advantage by having sex while a partner is drunk. DIF: Difficult REF: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex TOP: Obstacles: What Gets in the Way of Sex: Negotiating differences: Sexual coercion MSC: Factual


CHAPTER 10: Conflict 1. Why Do Lovers Disagree? a. Conflict i. Responses to conflict 2. The Landscape of Couple Conflict a. Social learning theory i. Social exchange theory b. Coding system c. Quantifying couple communication d. Structural model of marital interaction e. Meaning making during conflict i. Cognitive editing ii. Reactivity hypothesis iii. Talk table f. Broader patterns of conflict behavior i. Demand/withdraw pattern ii. Polarization 3. Consequences of Couple Conflict a. Mismanaged conflict as a cause of relationship distress b. Attachment theory MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. According to Kurt Lewin, “A definition of conflict begins with the recognition that participants in social interaction have ________.” a. personalities c. unique goals, needs, and preferences b. divergent perspectives d. competing needs ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Why Do Lovers Disagree? TOP: Why Do Lovers Disagree?: Conflict MSC: Factual 2. Conflict occurs when one partner pursues his/her _____ in such a way that it interferes with the other partner’s _____. a. goals; goals b. needs; needs c. goals; needs d. needs; goals ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Why Do Lovers Disagree? TOP: Why Do Lovers Disagree?: Conflict MSC: Factual 3. Relationship researchers recognize that disagreements between partners in intimate relationships are inevitable. Consequently, researchers assume that ________ is more consequential to their relationship than ________. a. whether couples disagree; what they disagree about b. what couples disagree about; whether they disagree c. what couples disagree about; how they disagree d. how couples disagree; what they disagree about ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Why Do Lovers Disagree? TOP: Why Do Lovers Disagree?: Conflict MSC: Conceptual


4. According to your text, which of the following topics is the source of the greatest number of disagreements reported by husbands and wives? a. chores c. money b. communication d. children ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Why Do Lovers Disagree? TOP: Why Do Lovers Disagree?: Conflict MSC: Factual 5. Based on observational data from couples’ disagreements, the three topics of disagreement are: a. intimacy, relatives, and money. b. money, work, and communication. c. children, chores, and communication. d. children, money, and intimacy. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Why Do Lovers Disagree? TOP: Why Do Lovers Disagree?: Conflict MSC: Factual 6. Jonathan and Gurmit have been married 10 years. What are they most likely to disagree about? a. intimacy and money c. children and intimacy b. money and communication d. children and communication ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Why Do Lovers Disagree? TOP: Why Do Lovers Disagree?: Conflict MSC: Applied 7. Nonso and Manj have been married 5 years. They are more likely to disagree about ________ than about ________. a. intimacy; money c. chores; intimacy b. money; communication d. communication; chores ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Why Do Lovers Disagree? TOP: Why Do Lovers Disagree?: Conflict MSC: Applied 8. In a videotaped discussion, a husband says, “I feel really uncomfortable whenever we discuss our sexual relationship.” How would you code the husband’s statement? a. self-disclosure c. positive solution b. disagreement d. criticism ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Behavioral Building Blocks of Conflict TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Coding system MSC: Applied 9. In a videotaped discussion, a husband says, “I feel really uncomfortable whenever we discuss our sexual relationship.” His wife responds, “I know this is difficult for you. What if we wrote down our thoughts first and then read them out loud to each other?” How would you code the wife’s statement? a. self-disclosure c. positive solution b. disagreement d. criticism ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Behavioral Building Blocks of Conflict TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Coding system MSC: Applied 10. When couples take turns speaking, each speaking turn needs to be coded not only for ________ but also for ________. a. verbal content; emotional tone b. emotional tone; affect c. verbal content; unconditional probability d. unconditional probability; conditional probability


ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Behavioral Building Blocks of Conflict TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Coding system MSC: Factual 11. Alex is designing a study to examine how couples’ behavior during conflict discussions predicts changes in relationship satisfaction. He is planning to measure the observed negative behavior skills that couples employ. Based on previous research, which additional observed variable would be most important for Alex to measure to obtain a more complete understanding of the effects of conflict behavior on relationship satisfaction? a. amount of cognitive editing c. displays of positive emotion b. degree of relationship commitment d. level of partner neuroticism ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Behavioral Building Blocks of Conflict TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Coding system MSC: Applied 12. A partner’s affect refers to his or her: a. emotional tone. b. behaviors. c. cognitions. d. environments. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Behavioral Building Blocks of Conflict TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Coding system MSC: Factual 13. In a videotaped discussion, a wife says, “I think that most of our arguments stem from a lack of trust.” How would you code the wife’s statement? a. problem description c. positive solution b. disagreement d. criticism ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Behavioral Building Blocks of Conflict TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Coding system MSC: Applied 14. In a videotaped discussion, a wife says, “I think that most of our arguments stem from our different religious backgrounds.” Her husband responds, “Yes, I think you’re right. Our perceptions and values vary a lot because of our beliefs.” How would you code the husband’s response? a. problem description c. positive solution b. agreement d. criticism ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Behavioral Building Blocks of Conflict TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Coding system MSC: Applied 15. In a videotaped discussion, Pilar says, “I think that most of our arguments stem from our different cultural backgrounds.” Her partner, Estrella, responds, “I don’t really think that’s the issue. I have always been supportive of your cultural traditions. I think most of our issues come down to a lack of communication.” How would you code Estrella’s response? a. problem description c. positive solution b. disagreement d. criticism ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Behavioral Building Blocks of Conflict TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Coding system MSC: Applied 16. In a videotaped discussion, Marco says, “I think that our conflicts arise because we don’t spend very much time together anymore.” His partner, Luigi, responds, “Are you serious? We have dinner together every night, but you’re the one always talking on the phone or getting distracted. You won’t just sit down for five minutes and actually talk to me.” How would you code Luigi’s response? a. problem description c. positive solution


b. self-disclosure

d. criticism

ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Behavioral Building Blocks of Conflict TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Coding system MSC: Applied 17. Which of the following responses is most reflective of a positive solution for someone who is upset with their partner’s lack of time at home? a. “You’ve got to be kidding me! You are never home to help me with anything. I do all the work while you go off and spend time with your friends.” b. “It seems as if we can’t stop arguing about all the little details. I just don’t understand what’s changed.” c. “I feel sad whenever these issues arise. I just don’t want to have to talk about them because they bring about so many negative memories of when we were in school.” d. “I also realize that’s an issue and I’ve decided to stop going every morning. I can limit it to just once a week and it will allow me to focus more on you and the kids.” ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Behavioral Building Blocks of Conflict TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Coding system MSC: Applied 18. In laboratory studies of observed marital behavior, unconditional probabilities capture the ________ of particular interaction events, while conditional probabilities capture the ________ of interaction events. a. pattern; sequence c. affect; rates b. affect; overt behaviors d. percentage; patterns ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Behavioral Building Blocks of Conflict TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Quantifying couple communication MSC: Factual 19. Nessim and Mariah participated in a study of couple communication. Nessim had 100 speaking turns and 33 of them were coded as criticism. His ________ for criticism was 33/100, or .33. a. conditional probability c. statistical probability b. unconditional probability d. behavioral probability ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: Behavioral Building Blocks of Conflict TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Quantifying couple communication MSC: Applied 20. Early research comparing happy and unhappy couples was designed to examine: a. how topics of disagreement differed. b. why partner perceptions differed. c. how partners’ communication patterns differed. d. how personality differences created disagreement. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Social Learning Theory and the Costs of Coercion TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Social learning theory MSC: Factual 21. What role does coercion play in relationships? a. Many individuals end relationships immediately if they sense their partner is coercive. b. While coercion may appease partners temporarily, it will likely lead to discontent. c. Coercion is a useful tool to resolve partners’ differences. d. Neither partner can be content when their relationship is coercive. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Social Learning Theory and the Costs of Coercion TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Social learning theory MSC: Factual


22. Coercion arises in relationships by _____ reinforcing the _____ behaviors of one’s partner. a. intentionally; desirable b. unintentionally; desirable c. unintentionally; undesirable d. intentionally; undesirable ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Social Learning Theory and the Costs of Coercion TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Social learning theory MSC: Conceptual 23. Women are more likely to cite _____ as a topic of disagreement, while men are more likely to cite _____ as a topic of disagreement. a. children; chores b. chores; children c. communication; work d. work; communication ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Social Learning Theory and the Costs of Coercion TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Social learning theory MSC: Factual 24. Which of the following is positively correlated with relationship dissatisfaction? a. problem solving b. unresolved conflict c. intimacy d. commitment ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Social Learning Theory and the Costs of Coercion TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Social learning theory MSC: Factual 25. When studying relationship conflict, social exchange theorists are more interested in examining _____ than _____. a. actual statements; partner’s perceptions of the situation b. partner’s perceptions of the situation; actual statements c. intimacy; commitment d. commitment; intimacy ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Social Learning Theory and the Costs of Coercion TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Social learning theory: Social exchange theory MSC: Factual 26. According to Gottman’s (1979) structural model of marital interaction, which is NOT true of unhappy couples compared to happy couples? Unhappy couples: a. show less positive behavior. b. show more reciprocity of negative behaviors. c. use more cognitive editing. d. have more predictable behavior patterns. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Disagreements in Happy and Unhappy Couples TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Structural model of marital interaction MSC: Conceptual


27. According to the textbook, couples can use a variety of strategies for conflict resolution. Strategies such as blaming one’s partner for the problem and delivering ultimatums are considered ________ strategies; looking for points of and working toward agreement are considered ________ strategies. a. constructive; destructive c. demand/withdraw; cognitive editing b. destructive; constructive d. cognitive editing; talk table ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Disagreements in Happy and Unhappy Couples TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Structural model of marital interaction MSC: Conceptual 28. Tiya and Randal are arguing. Tiya wants to be a supportive partner and to work through the issue. What strategy should Tiya use during the argument to solve their problem? a. summarize her own position and opinions b. recognize her own contribution to the issue c. recognize how the current issue is linked to past issues d. emphasize points of disagreement ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Disagreements in Happy and Unhappy Couples TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Structural model of marital interaction MSC: Applied 29. Cognitive editing occurs when a partner hears something ________ but responds in a ________ way. a. positive; neutral c. neutral or negative; positive b. positive; negative d. negative; neutral or positive ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Partner Perceptions of Behaviors During Arguments TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Meaning making during conflict: Cognitive editing MSC: Conceptual 30. When Sandy says something mean during an argument, Ali is upset but tries to respond to her concerns with warmth. What is this called? a. positive reciprocity c. cognitive editing b. negative reinforcement d. positive reinforcement ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Partner Perceptions of Behaviors During Arguments TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Meaning making during conflict: Cognitive editing MSC: Applied 31. How do happy and unhappy couples compare in their problem-solving communication? a. There is greater correspondence or linkage between daily events and daily satisfaction ratings for happy couples than for unhappy couples. b. Happy couples send messages that they intend to be positive, whereas unhappy couples send messages that they intend to be negative. c. In contrast to happy couples, unhappy couples tend to decode neutral messages negatively. d. Happy and unhappy couples are equally good at translating their own thoughts and feelings into a behavioral expression (encoding). ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Partner Perceptions of Behaviors During Arguments TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Meaning making during conflict: Reactivity hypothesis MSC: Conceptual


32. Samira and Adele are participating in a research study to examine how miscommunication contributes to marital conflict. During the study, Samira makes a statement and pushes a button indicating the intent of her message, from “super negative” to “super positive.” Following this, Adele then rates her perception of the message. What technique are Samira and Adele using to communicate? a. cognitive editing c. demand/withdraw b. talk table d. polarization ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Partner Perceptions of Behaviors During Arguments TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Meaning making during conflict: Talk table MSC: Applied 33. The technique used to understand sources of couple miscommunication through structured, problem-solving discussions is called: a. cognitive editing. c. demand/withdraw. b. talk table. d. polarization. ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Partner Perceptions of Behaviors During Arguments TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Meaning making during conflict: Talk table MSC: Factual 34. Research on the demand/withdraw pattern show that: a. when discussing the husband’s topic, wives demand and husbands withdraw. b. when discussing the wife’s topic, wives demand and husbands withdraw. c. a wife demand–husband withdraw pattern is more common than a wife withdraw–husband demand pattern but only among couples in distressed relationships. d. demand/withdraw behaviors arise from power dynamics rather than sex differences. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Broad Behavioral Patterns in Disagreements TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Broader patterns of conflict behavior: Demand/withdraw pattern MSC: Factual 35. Which of the following is true of the demand/withdraw interaction pattern? a. It tends to be self-perpetuating. b. It often arises when both partners prefer autonomy in the relationship. c. It often arises when both partners do not want a lot of change. d. It is only present in heterosexual relationships. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Broad Behavioral Patterns in Disagreements TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Broader patterns of conflict behavior: Demand/withdraw pattern MSC: Factual 36. A common interaction pattern in couples is called the demand/withdraw pattern. Which of the following is true about the research discussed in the text on demand/withdrawal in couples? a. Women tend to demand and men tend to withdraw when discussing a problem the woman has brought up, but men and women equally demand and withdraw when discussing a problem that the man has brought up. b. Men tend to demand and women tend to withdraw during conflict because men hold greater power in the relationship. c. The demand/withdraw cycle tends to end fairly quickly, and even distressed couples are able to exit from this type of interaction. d. The demand/withdraw pattern reflects a pattern of negative reciprocity whereby partners react to attacks from each other with increased hostility and blame.


ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Broad Behavioral Patterns in Disagreements TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Broader patterns of conflict behavior: Demand/withdraw pattern MSC: Factual 37. Avery continually yells at Sue in a heated conflict and is not able to calm down. Sue, feeling cold and indifferent, does not respond and eventually leaves the room. This type of communication is called: a. the reactivity hypothesis. c. the demand/withdraw pattern. b. the negative reciprocity cycle. d. stress spillover. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Broad Behavioral Patterns in Disagreements TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Broader patterns of conflict behavior: Demand/withdraw pattern MSC: Applied 38. The demand/withdraw pattern often leads couples to adopt _____ positions in their argument. a. similar b. reasonable c. aggressive d. polarized ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Broad Behavioral Patterns in Disagreements TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Broader patterns of conflict behavior: Polarization MSC: Factual 39. Delia loves to travel and loves exploring and being surprised about what is around the next corner. She does not like to plan ahead too much because she believes that you never know where you’ll be at the end of the day. Her partner, Sal, likes to plan ahead and learn where all the sights are and to book the best hotels based on their budget. This difference is the cause of much arguing, and, for their upcoming trip, Delia is trying to convince Sal to book a “last minute” surprise trip on a website where they would not even know their destination until the trip was booked. In contrast, Sal has developed a day-by-day plan for a trip to Italy. What best describes the situation in which Delia and Sal have found themselves? Delia and Sal: a. have polarized around the issue of planning. b. are engaging in negative reciprocity. c. probably have low levels of epinephrine as a result of their conflict. d. are positively reinforcing each other’s position in the conflict. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Broad Behavioral Patterns in Disagreements TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Broader patterns of conflict behavior: Polarization MSC: Applied 40. How well can researchers predict marital outcomes? a. with greater than 90 percent accuracy in specific samples b. with greater than 90 percent accuracy using the same procedures across diverse samples c. with 65 percent accuracy at best d. not accurately at all ANS: A DIF: Difficult TOP: Consequences of Couple Conflict

REF: Consequences of Couple Conflict MSC: Conceptual

41. Research supports which of the following associations between negative communication and emotional expression? a. Negative communication is negatively associated with marital satisfaction only when partners are also low in positive emotional expressions. b. Negative communication is negatively associated with marital satisfaction, particularly when it is accompanied by positive emotional expression.


c. Negative communication is positively associated with marital satisfaction, particularly when it is accompanied by positive emotional expression. d. Negative communication is positively associated with marital satisfaction in the absence of positive emotional expression. ANS: A DIF: Difficult TOP: Consequences of Couple Conflict

REF: Consequences of Couple Conflict MSC: Factual

42. The textbook describes a study where researchers collected blood samples from newlywed participants while they discussed an important problem in their marriage. The blood samples were then analyzed for the presence of stress hormones. What is the most important conclusion from this study? a. Although important, stress hormones were not as predictive of relationship status and quality 10 years later as were the negative behaviors partners displayed during these discussions. b. Stress hormones were far more predictive of relationship status and quality 10 years later compared to the negative behaviors partners displayed during these discussions. c. Observable features of conflict (e.g., negative statements, criticism) revealed all of the clues needed for predicting the status and quality of the relationship 10 years later. d. Because they are largely within our conscious awareness, biological responses to conflict (i.e., changes in hormone levels) are particularly useful in predicting the status and quality of the relationship 10 years later. ANS: B DIF: Difficult TOP: Consequences of Couple Conflict

REF: Consequences of Couple Conflict MSC: Conceptual

43. When relationship research is written about in the popular media, reporting tends to emphasize _____, whereas the empirical science focuses on _______. a. consistent results; provocative findings c. accuracy; reliability b. provocative findings; consistent results d. reliability; accuracy ANS: B DIF: Medium TOP: Consequences of Couple Conflict

REF: Consequences of Couple Conflict MSC: Conceptual

44. If a study is cross-validated, this means that: a. the data are reliable, but not valid. b. the same solutions will be found across different datasets. c. different outcomes have been found across different datasets. d. the data are valid, but not reliable. ANS: B DIF: Easy TOP: Consequences of Couple Conflict

REF: Consequences of Couple Conflict MSC: Factual

45. Which type of approach will be LEAST effective in eliciting change in one’s relationship? a. a negative, direct approach b. a negative, indirect approach c. a positive, direct approach d. a positive, indirect approach ANS: B DIF: Medium TOP: Consequences of Couple Conflict

REF: Consequences of Couple Conflict MSC: Factual

46. According to research, anger and poor problem-solving skills _____ levels of relationship satisfaction. a. predict higher c. predict both higher and lower b. predict lower d. have no association with ANS: C

DIF: Medium

REF: Consequences of Couple Conflict


TOP: Consequences of Couple Conflict

MSC: Factual

47. Which of the following statements about the relationship between mismanaged conflict and relationship satisfaction is accurate? a. Mismanaged conflict inevitably leads to lower relationship satisfaction. b. Relationship satisfaction only decreases among couples who do not constructively manage conflict. c. Poor problem-solving skills consistently predict lower levels of relationship satisfaction only when combined with high levels of positive affect. d. Negative skills have a negative effect on relationship satisfaction only when combined with low levels of positive affect. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Consequences of Couple Conflict TOP: Consequences of Couple Conflict: Mismanaged conflict as a cause of relationship distress MSC: Conceptual 48. Research on couple conflict from an attachment perspective has shown that: a. there is little evidence that early family relationships shape the manner in which intimate partners manage conflict. b. there are large differences between how individuals high in attachment anxiety manage conflict in intimate relationships compared to individuals high in attachment avoidance. c. secure individuals tend to be more adept at managing conflict in intimate relationships than insecure individuals. d. there are no observable differences among insecure individuals in how they manage conflict in intimate relationships. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Attachment Theory and Couple Conflict TOP: Consequences of Couple Conflict: Attachment theory MSC: Conceptual 49. Dr. Adams believes that how partners manage conflict is determined in part by their experiences in their families of origin when they were children. With what theory is this consistent? a. attachment theory c. attachment exchange theory b. social learning theory d. social ecological theory ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Attachment Theory and Couple Conflict TOP: Consequences of Couple Conflict: Attachment theory MSC: Applied 50. Attachment anxiety is characterized by negative views of _____, whereas attachment avoidance is characterized by negative views of ________. a. romantic partners; family members b. family members; romantic partners c. others; one’s self d. one’s self; others ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Attachment Theory and Couple Conflict TOP: Consequences of Couple Conflict: Attachment theory MSC: Conceptual 51. Adults whose mothers were neither attentive nor responsive to them throughout childhood are likely to: a. exhibit high levels of physiological arousal during arguments with their partners. b. develop greater problem-solving skills c. show positive emotion and less negative emotion. d. be willing to compromise in order to appease their partners. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Attachment Theory and Couple Conflict TOP: Consequences of Couple Conflict: Attachment theory MSC: Conceptual


52. When did psychologists begin to reject the idea that relationship dissolution was primarily due to the personality issues of one individual? a. 1880s b. 1930s c. 1970s d. 2000s ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Attachment Theory and Couple Conflict TOP: Consequences of Couple Conflict: Attachment theory MSC: Factual 53. Nuray sees most people as unreliable, unavailable, and uncaring. Nuray most likely has a(n) _____ attachment style and uses _____ conflict management strategies in her relationship. a. avoidant; good b. anxious; good c. avoidant; poor d. anxious; poor ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Attachment Theory and Couple Conflict TOP: Consequences of Couple Conflict: Attachment theory MSC: Applied 54. Oussama has a negative view of himself and obsesses over his relationship with his partner, Salma. Oussama most likely has a(n) _____ attachment style and uses _____ conflict management strategies in his relationship. a. avoidant; good b. anxious; good c. avoidant; poor d. anxious; poor ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Attachment Theory and Couple Conflict TOP: Consequences of Couple Conflict: Attachment theory MSC: Applied 55. Reagan believes that most people are trustworthy and does not feel threatened by his partner, Tanner. Reagan most likely has a(n) _____ attachment style and uses _____ conflict management strategies in his relationship. a. avoidant; good b. anxious; poor c. secure; good d. secure; poor ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Attachment Theory and Couple Conflict TOP: Consequences of Couple Conflict: Attachment theory MSC: Applied ESSAY 1. According to Kurt Lewin, conflict arises when one person pursues his or her goals in such a way that it interferes with the other person’s goals. According to the textbook authors, what are the two key implications of this definition for analysis of conflict in intimate relationships? ANS: First, the definition suggests that conflicts between people (or “conflicts of interest”) are inevitable, and that they are particularly likely when the two people are highly interdependent and in frequent contact. Second, Lewin’s definition suggests that responses to conflicts can vary. That is, intimate partners have some control over how to respond when their partners interfere with their goals.


DIF: Medium REF: Why Do Lovers Disagree? TOP: Why Do Lovers Disagree?: Conflict

MSC: Factual

2. What issues do men and women cite as the most common topics of disagreement in their relationships, and which topics may be harder to resolve? ANS: Men and women largely agree on the most common topics of disagreement. The most frequently cited topic is children, followed by chores, communication, leisure, work, money, habits, relatives, commitment, intimacy, friends, and personality. Researchers note that some topics of conflict will be harder to resolve than others. For example, issues regarding money, relatives, and closeness are seen as more difficult to resolve than conflicts about who does particular chores. However, overall researchers regard the way couples argue to be more indicative of relationship satisfaction than are the topics themselves. DIF: Easy REF: Why Do Lovers Disagree? TOP: Why Do Lovers Disagree?: Conflict

MSC: Factual

3. Imagine you are a researcher studying marital conflict. Married couples are videotaped in your lab while they discuss and try to resolve an important marital disagreement. You then code each speaking turn by both partners based on a coding system you have developed. Name four codes (or categories) to which you might assign the observed behaviors, and provide an example of each. ANS: [The answer should include four of the following six possible codes. Examples will vary.] Problem description: “I think our biggest problem is that we both feel like we are doing more chores than the other person.” Self-disclosure: “I feel frustrated when I feel like I’m the only one who cleans up around the house.” Agreement: “You’re right; chores are what we have the most trouble agreeing about.” Positive solution: “I’ve been thinking that maybe we could sit down, make a list of chores, and then split them up in a way that we’re both happy with.” Disagreement: “I don’t think so. It seems to me we mostly argue about the kids.” Criticism: “Are you serious? It’s obvious that I clean up around the house much more than you do. All you do is load the dishes into the dishwasher; you don’t even wash the pots and pans. I’m the one who keeps the rest of the house clean. And you’re such a slob, leaving your stuff lying around all the time so it takes me forever to tidy up before I vacuum.” DIF: Medium REF: Behavioral Building Blocks of Conflict TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Coding system MSC: Applied 4. Describe how coercion may develop in a romantic relationship, and explain what the implications are for relationship functioning over time. ANS: Coercion occurs in relationships when an individual unconsciously reinforces undesirable behaviors in their partner. For example, when an individual makes demands that the partner does not want to fulfill, that individual may continue to make demands until they are met. If the partner eventually gives in, that reinforces the demanding partner’s behavior, communicating that the demanding behavior will be successful in the future as well. While coercion may result in partners making decisions to satisfy their more immediate desires, it may ultimately lead to resentment. Coercion often perpetuates conflict over time, rather than resolves issues. DIF: Medium

REF: Social Learning Theory and the Costs of Coercion


TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Social learning theory MSC: Conceptual 5. Simon and his partner, Javed, are on their way home from a party. Javed is upset with Simon because he thinks Simon was flirting with another man at the party. Eventually, Simon notices that Javed is not talking and asks, “You’re awfully quiet. Is there something wrong?” Javed answers, “Yes, you are such a two-timing jerk—I saw you flirting with Andy in the kitchen!” Name and provide two examples of constructive conflict resolution strategies that Simon could use in response to Javed’s accusation. ANS: [Answers will vary and should be based on the strategies outlined in Table 10.1. The following are only a few possible answers.] Constructive: Any strategy/response that keeps the lines of communication open. Simon could: (1) recognize his own contribution to the problem: “I guess I did spend a lot of time alone with Andy”; (2) try to summarize Javed’s opinion/position: “It sounds like it really made you mad”; and (3) accept and acknowledge that what Javed has to say is important: “You sound really upset. Can we talk about this when we get home? I don’t feel like I can give you all my attention when I’m driving.” DIF: Difficult REF: Disagreements in Happy and Unhappy Couples TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Structural model of marital interaction MSC: Applied 6. Simon and his partner, Javed, are on their way home from a party. Javed is upset with Simon because he thinks Simon was flirting with another man at the party. Eventually, Simon notices that Javed is not talking and asks, “You’re awfully quiet, is there something wrong?” Javed answers, “Yes, you are such a two-timing jerk—I saw you flirting with Andy in the kitchen!” Name and provide two examples of destructive conflict resolution strategies that Simon could use in response to Javed’s accusation. ANS: [Answers will vary and should be based on the strategies outlined in Table 10.1. The following are only a few possible answers.] Destructive: Any strategy/response that closes off communication. Simon could: (1) blame Javed for the problem: “Well, if you had bothered to pay any attention to me at all, I wouldn’t have had to talk to Andy all night”; (2) assume he knows what Javed is thinking and feeling: “Oh, you’re just jealous because other men find me more attractive than they find you”; and (3) reject Javed’s view as invalid: “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.” DIF: Difficult REF: Disagreements in Happy and Unhappy Couples TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Structural model of marital interaction MSC: Applied 7. Describe how the interactions of unhappy couples (in comparison to happy couples) can be characterized according to Gottman’s structural model of marital interaction. ANS: First, unhappy couples engage in less positive behavior and more negative behavior than happy couples. Perhaps, more importantly, when communicating about disagreements, unhappy couples are ten times more likely to use a negative tone of voice as are happy couples. Second, unhappy couples tend to show more predictable patterns and structure in their conversations than do happy couples. It seems that unhappy couples get “stuck in a rut” when it comes to relationship disagreements. Finally, unhappy partners are more likely to reciprocate negative behaviors and to stay in longer cycles of this negative reciprocity than happy couples. Unhappy couples get stuck in these cycles by using destructive conflict resolution strategies; happy couples are able to exit these cycles by using constructive conflict resolution strategies.


DIF: Medium REF: Disagreements in Happy and Unhappy Couples TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Structural model of marital interaction MSC: Factual 8. Sam and Oshrey have been married 9 years and are generally unhappy in their relationship. Izzie and Bowin have been married 8 years and are generally happy in their relationship. Both couples participate in a diary study where every evening they record the events that have taken place in their relationship and rate their relationship satisfaction. Based on the reactivity hypothesis discussed in the text, what differences would you expect to see between Sam and Oshrey’s and Izzie and Bowin’s diaries? ANS: Because Sam and Oshrey are unhappy, we would expect to see greater correspondence or linkage between daily events and daily satisfaction ratings compared to Izzie and Bowin, who are happy. This would be the case whether the events are positive or negative. The reactivity hypothesis would suggest that Sam and Oshrey may be more sensitive to the tone of immediate events in their relationship—they might be “on guard” and ready to find meaning in the things their partner said and did, good and bad, as a way of gauging how the relationship is going. In contrast, because Izzie and Bowin feel pretty good about how their relationship is going already, their judgments of relationship quality do not fluctuate so much from day to day as a result of their verbal exchanges. DIF: Difficult REF: Partner Perceptions of Behaviors During Arguments TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Meaning making during conflict: Reactivity hypothesis MSC: Applied 9. One creative approach to studying how partners make sense of the behaviors they send and receive during a disagreement is the talk table. Imagine you are a researcher using this method, and Codruta and Sonia are a couple participating in your study. What instructions would you give to Codruta and Sonia about how to structure their problem-solving discussion? ANS: Codruta will begin the conversation and then will push a button that rates the intended impact of her message, ranging from “super negative” to “neutral” to “super positive.” Sonia will rate the actual impact of the message as she experiences it, using the same scale. Sonia will then generate a response, rate its intended impact, and deliver it to Codruta. Codruta will now be on the receiving end and will rate the actual impact of the message Sonia just delivered. Codruta will generate her own response and rate its intended impact. This pattern will continue throughout their conversation regarding a particular issue. Though Codruta and Sonia will be able to see each other, they will not be able to see each other’s ratings. DIF: Difficult REF: Partner Perceptions of Behaviors During Arguments TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Meaning making during conflict: Talk table MSC: Applied 10. Describe gender differences in the demand/withdraw pattern. ANS: When discussing difficulties that each perceives in their relationship, women tend to want more change than men do. This difference is exaggerated when women are given the opportunity to discuss an issue that is important to them. In such situations, women tend to do more of the demanding and men tend to do more of the withdrawing. When men choose the discussion topic, men and women are about equal in how much they demand and how much they withdraw. DIF: Easy REF: Broad Behavioral Patterns in Disagreements TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Broader patterns of conflict behavior: Demand/withdraw


pattern

MSC: Factual

11. How does Arthur Schopenhauer’s parable of porcupines relate to relationship disagreement? ANS: Schopenhauer discusses the need for warmth and closeness among porcupines. In his parable, he notes how coming close together satisfies the need for warmth, but the porcupines begin to feel the discomfort and pain from the other porcupines’ quills. This suffering causes them to pull apart. Eventually the porcupines keep a distance in which they are warm enough but not in pain. He relates this to the human experience of relationships. Individuals’ needs for intimacy may not be met entirely in order to minimize the costs of closeness. This example is related to the demand/withdraw pattern in couples’ disagreements. DIF: Difficult REF: Broad Behavioral Patterns in Disagreements TOP: The Landscape of Couple Conflict: Broader patterns of conflict behavior: Demand/withdraw pattern MSC: Conceptual 12. How accurately can relational scholars predict relationship outcomes? ANS: In some studies, psychologists have been able to predict relationship satisfaction with over 90 percent accuracy by examining couples’ communication. However, certain aspects about the individuals or the relationship may be more indicative of relationship satisfaction than their communication patterns. An issue with drawing conclusions from these data is that many of the studies are not cross-validated. Additionally, these predictions are made after the relationship outcomes are already known. Longitudinal studies predicting future relationship satisfaction have not yet been conducted. DIF: Medium REF: Consequences of Couple Conflict TOP: Consequences of Couple Conflict MSC: Factual 13. Describe the associations between stress hormones, negative behaviors, and relationship satisfaction. ANS: While negative behaviors in couples’ conversations were predictive of relationship satisfaction and status 10 years later, they were not as strong a predictor as were hormone levels. Higher levels of stress hormones, such as epinephrine, during a conversation regarding a particular topic, are predictive of divorce or an unhappy marriage. These findings suggest there are unobservable biological contributions to relationship satisfaction. DIF: Easy REF: Consequences of Couple Conflict TOP: Consequences of Couple Conflict MSC: Factual 14. Rivian’s mother was not affectionate to her as she grew up. She was inattentive to her needs and often neglected Rivian. As an adult, Rivian finds staying in a romantic relationship challenging. Her most recent relationship was marked by conflict and ended poorly. How might a psychologist explain Rivian’s relationship issues? ANS:


A psychologist would most likely infer that Rivian has an insecure attachment style. Her attachment may be characterized by anxiety or avoidance. If she has an anxious attachment style, conflict is likely to arise in a relationship because Rivian may be looking for approval and support. She may obsess about the relationship, assume the worst, and express feelings of anxiety or hostility to her partner. If she has an avoidant attachment style, she is unlikely to trust others. She may not invest in the relationship to minimize dependency on the other. When conflict arises, Rivian may avoid the conflict and distance herself from the relationship. DIF: Difficult REF: Attachment Theory and Couple Conflict TOP: Consequences of Couple Conflict: Attachment theory MSC: Applied 15. Discuss three different attachment styles and how they relate to relationship conflict. ANS: Based on the way caregivers interact with their children, children develop an internal working model of relationships, which is carried with them into adulthood. If their caregiver is sensitive and attentive to their needs, they are likely to develop a secure attachment style. Secure individuals are likely to be more confident in their relationship, believing others to be trustworthy. They are more likely to have good problem-solving skills and less likely to be threatened by conflict. Contrastingly, those whose caregivers were not attentive are more likely to develop insecure attachment styles: either anxious or avoidant. Individuals with the anxious attachment style may be looking for approval and support. Any conflict would then be perceived as a threat, causing them to double their efforts to keep the relationship. Individuals may obsess about the relationship, assume the worst, and express feelings of anxiety or hostility to their partner. Individuals with an avoidant attachment style are unlikely to trust others. They may not invest in the relationship to minimize dependency on the other. When conflict arises, they may avoid the conflict and distance themselves from the relationship. DIF: Medium REF: Attachment Theory and Couple Conflict TOP: Consequences of Couple Conflict: Attachment theory MSC: Factual


CHAPTER 11: Infidelity and Aggression 1. Infidelity a. Exclusivity: Negotiating and violating i. Sexual infidelity versus emotional infidelity 1. Role of sexual orientation b. How common is infidelity? i. Role of culture c. Biology and infidelity i. Extrapair mating ii. Genetic factors d. The progression toward infidelity i. Risky individuals 1. Sociosexuality ii. Risky relationships iii. Risky contexts iv. Role of individual vulnerabilities e. The aftermath i. Reactions to infidelity ii. Treatment techniques 2. Aggression a. Types of aggressive behavior and approaches i. Family sociology perspective ii. Advocacy perspective iii. Situational couple violence iv. Coercive controlling violence v. Violent resistance b. Situational couple violence i. Characteristics ii. Prevalence 1. Unilateral aggression 2. Bilateral aggression iii. Consequences 1. Ignoring the Problem c. Explaining situational couple violence i. Sociocultural perspective on aggression ii. Interpersonal perspective on aggression iii. Intraindividual perspective on aggression MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. Our most serious lies are told to ________ and not to our _________. a. friends; coworkers b. coworkers; friends c. closest companions; friends d. friends; closest-companions ANS: D MSC: Factual

DIF: Medium

REF: Infidelity

TOP: Infidelity

2. Which of the following is the most common reason people leave their romantic relationships? a. incompatible personalities b. unresolved conflicts


c. breaches of trust d. emotional distance ANS: C MSC: Factual

DIF: Easy

REF: Infidelity

TOP: Infidelity

3. ________ refers to a violation of an agreement between two people that they will share their intimate emotional and sexual lives exclusively with each other. a. An emotional affair b. Infidelity c. A sexual affair d. Fidelity ANS: B MSC: Conceptual

DIF: Easy

REF: Infidelity

TOP: Infidelity

4. ______ percent of individuals expect sexual and emotional exclusivity in their relationships. a. Fifty b. Seventy-five c. Eighty d. Ninety-five ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Negotiating and Violating Exclusivity TOP: Infidelity: Exclusivity: Negotiating and violating MSC: Factual 5. Uncertainty and suspicion about a partner’s faithfulness can eventually lead to: a. feelings of anger. b. a decrease in trust. c. increased closeness. d. relationship dissolution. ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Negotiating and Violating Exclusivity TOP: Infidelity: Exclusivity: Negotiating and violating MSC: Factual 6. When one partner spends a lot of time interacting with someone else without their primary partner, this could be interpreted as: a. sexual infidelity. b. boredom. c. emotional infidelity. d. relationship dissatisfaction. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Negotiating and Violating Exclusivity TOP: Infidelity: Exclusivity: Negotiating and violating: Sexual infidelity versus emotional infidelity MSC: Applied 7. All of the following are cues of emotional infidelity EXCEPT: a. watching a movie with someone other than one’s partner. b. hugging someone other than one’s partner. c. studying with one’s partner and another person. d. kissing another person other than one’s partner. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Negotiating and Violating Exclusivity TOP: Infidelity: Exclusivity: Negotiating and violating: Sexual infidelity versus emotional infidelity MSC: Conceptual 8. What plays an important role in how partners define monogamy in their relationship?


a. b. c. d.

gender roles sexual orientation attachment styles gender identity

ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Negotiating and Violating Exclusivity TOP: Infidelity: Exclusivity: Negotiating and violating: Sexual infidelity versus emotional infidelity: Role of sexual orientation MSC: Conceptual 9. Which of the following is NOT true about rates of infidelity? a. Estimates of infidelity are lower for men than for women. b. Roughly 25 to 30 percent of all people report being unfaithful. c. Estimates of infidelity are lower for women than for men. d. Roughly 45 percent of all men and women have been emotionally involved online with someone other than their partner. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: How Common Is Infidelity? TOP: Infidelity: How common is infidelity? MSC: Factual 10. Men are ______ times more likely to engage in online sexual infidelity online compared to women. a. two b. three c. four d. five ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: How Common Is Infidelity? TOP: Infidelity: How common is infidelity? MSC: Factual 11. Approximately ___ percent of people in gay and lesbian relationships have cheated on a past partner. a. 10 to 30 b. 20 to 40 c. 40 to 60 d. 60 to 80 ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: How Common Is Infidelity? TOP: Infidelity: How common is infidelity? MSC: Factual 12. Based on Frederick and Fales (2016) study, respondents MOST likely to report currently cheating on their romantic partners, having cheated previously on their current partners, or having cheated on past partners were: a. straight men. b. straight women. c. bisexual women. d. bisexual men. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: How Common Is Infidelity? TOP: Infidelity: How common is infidelity? MSC: Factual 13. Based on Frederick and Fales (2016), 25 percent of ________ reported having never cheated on their romantic partner. a. straight men b. straight women c. bisexual women d. bisexual men ANS: D

DIF: Medium

REF: How Common Is Infidelity?


TOP: Infidelity: How common is infidelity?

MSC: Factual

14. Relationship scientists commonly turn to which principle to explain infidelity? a. interdependence b. attachment c. evolutionary biology d. social exchange ANS: C DIF: Easy TOP: Infidelity: Biology and infidelity

REF: Does Biology Predispose Us to Being Unfaithful? MSC: Factual

15. According to research on twins in the United Kingdom, approximately ______ percent of the variability in infidelity is due to genetic factors. a. 30 b. 40 c. 50 d. 60 ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Does Biology Predispose Us to Being Unfaithful? TOP: Infidelity: Biology and infidelity: Genetic factors MSC: Factual 16. _________, a hormone involved in mating behavior, is associated with marital crises and threats to divorce. a. Dopamine b. Vasopressin c. Oxytocin d. Testosterone ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Does Biology Predispose Us to Being Unfaithful? TOP: Infidelity: Biology and infidelity: Genetic factors MSC: Factual 17. Dayanara is very willing to have sex with other people outside of her relationship with her partner. Based on this, which characteristic is mostly likely to predict her risk for infidelity? a. individual b. relationship c. context d. genetics ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Red Flags and the Progression Toward Infidelity TOP: Infidelity: The progression toward infidelity: Risky individuals MSC: Applied 18. Individual characteristics such as ______________ are likely to set the stage for infidelity. a. high sociosexuality b. low sociosexuality c. low commitment d. high commitment ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Red Flags and the Progression Toward Infidelity TOP: Infidelity: The progression toward infidelity: Risky individuals: Sociosexuality MSC: Factual 19. _____________ refers to an individual’s willingness to have sex with another person without being in a committed relationship. a. Infidelity


b. Celibacy c. Sociosexuality d. Religiosity ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Red Flags and the Progression Toward Infidelity TOP: Infidelity: The progression toward infidelity: Risky individuals: Sociosexuality MSC: Conceptual 20. Vince is extremely dissatisfied in his relationship and feels sexually disconnected from his partner. Based on this, which risk factor is mostly likely to predict his likelihood for infidelity? a. individual b. relationship c. context d. genetics ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Red Flags and the Progression Toward Infidelity TOP: Infidelity: The progression toward infidelity: Risky relationships MSC: Applied 21. Richie often stays late at the office to interact with his coworker, Anna. Based on this, which risk factor is mostly likely to predict his likelihood for infidelity? a. individual b. relationship c. context d. genetics ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Red Flags and the Progression Toward Infidelity TOP: Infidelity: The progression toward infidelity: Risky contexts MSC: Applied 22. Time spent away from one’s partner is considered a(n) __________ factor, which can set the stage for infidelity. a. individual b. relational c. context d. genetic ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Red Flags and the Progression Toward Infidelity TOP: Infidelity: The progression toward infidelity: Risky contexts MSC: Factual 23. Relationship characteristics, such as ______________, can set the stage for infidelity. a. low availability b. low level of warmth c. low sociosexuality d. low conflict ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Red Flags and the Progression Toward Infidelity TOP: Infidelity: The progression toward infidelity: Role of individual vulnerabilities MSC: Factual 24. Individual characteristics, such as ______________, can put an individual on the “slippery slope” for engaging in infidelity. a. feeling satisfied b. feeling neglected


c. having unmet needs d. growing secrecy ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Red Flags and the Progression Toward Infidelity TOP: Infidelity: The progression toward infidelity: Role of individual vulnerabilities MSC: Factual 25. Relationship characteristics, such as ______________, can put an individual on the “slippery slope” for engaging in infidelity. a. conflict avoidance b. low commitment c. ambivalence d. unmet need for sex ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Red Flags and the Progression Toward Infidelity TOP: Infidelity: The progression toward infidelity: Role of individual vulnerabilities MSC: Factual 26. Which of the following is an example of an individual characteristic that may lead a partner to “cross the line” to infidelity? a. uncertain future b. advances from others c. specific opportunities d. unmet need for closeness ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Red Flags and the Progression Toward Infidelity TOP: Infidelity: The progression toward infidelity: Role of individual vulnerabilities MSC: Factual 27. Which of the following is an example of relational characteristics that may lead a partner to “cross the line” related to infidelity? a. disengagement b. poor repair efforts c. unmet need for sex d. growing secrecy ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Red Flags and the Progression Toward Infidelity TOP: Infidelity: The progression toward infidelity: Role of individual vulnerabilities MSC: Factual 28. Sexual infidelity tends to be more upsetting than emotional infidelity for: a. bisexual men. b. straight men. c. bisexual women. d. straight women. ANS: B DIF: Easy TOP: Infidelity: The aftermath

REF: In the Aftermath of Infidelity MSC: Factual

29. Emotional infidelity tends to be more upsetting than emotional infidelity for: a. bisexual men. b. straight men. c. bisexual women. d. straight women. ANS: D

DIF: Easy

REF: In the Aftermath of Infidelity


TOP: Infidelity: The aftermath

MSC: Factual

30. Chyron’s partner recently cheated on him. He is likely to experience all of the following emotions EXCEPT: a. humiliation. b. rage. c. relief. d. worthlessness. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: In the Aftermath of Infidelity TOP: Infidelity: The aftermath: Reactions to infidelity MSC: Factual 31. Divorce rates in small clinical studies commonly exceed ________ percent for couples seeking treatment after infidelity. a. 15 b. 25 c. 35 d. 45 ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: In the Aftermath of Infidelity TOP: Infidelity: The aftermath: Treatment techniques MSC: Factual 32. Which group of individuals is MOST likely to report aggression in their romantic relationship? a. straight women b. straight men c. bisexual men d. bisexual women ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Types of Aggressive Behavior TOP: Aggression: Types of aggressive behavior and approaches MSC: Factual 33. Which group of individuals is LEAST likely to report aggression in their romantic relationship? a. lesbian women b. gay men c. bisexual men d. bisexual women ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Types of Aggressive Behavior TOP: Aggression: Types of aggressive behavior and approaches MSC: Factual 34. Following a violent altercation between Michael and Julia, Michael vows to change and begs Julia to stay in their relationship. Which phase does this represent in the cycle of violence? a. explosive, acute-battering b. coercion c. contrition d. tension-building ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Types of Aggressive Behavior TOP: Aggression: Types of aggressive behavior and approaches MSC: Applied 35. According to the _________ perspective, acts of aggression almost always involved men as perpetrators and women as victims.


a. b. c. d.

advocacy feminist family sociological attachment

ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Types of Aggressive Behavior TOP: Aggression: Types of aggressive behavior and approaches: Advocacy perspective MSC: Conceptual 36. Perpetrators of coercive controlling violence are sometimes referred to as: a. terrorists. b. victims. c. aggressors. d. batterers. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Types of Aggressive Behavior TOP: Aggression: Types of aggressive behavior and approaches: Coercive controlling violence MSC: Conceptual 37. People who are engaged in coercively controlling behaviors are likely to be diagnosed with which personality disorder? a. narcissistic b. antisocial c. histrionic d. schizotypal ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Types of Aggressive Behavior TOP: Aggression: Types of aggressive behavior and approaches: Coercive controlling violence MSC: Factual 38. ___________, in which an abused partner fights back, occur(s) in a small number of cases and is considered rare. a. Situational couple violence b. Coercive control violence c. Violent resistance d. Conflict tactics ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Types of Aggressive Behavior TOP: Aggression: Types of aggressive behavior and approaches: Violent resistance MSC: Factual 39. Situational couple violence is viewed as ________, whereas coercive controlling violence can be viewed as _______. a. proactive; reactive b. reactive; proactive c. interactive; reactive d. interactive; proactive ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Aggression TOP: Aggression: Types of aggressive behavior and approaches: Situational couple violence | Aggression: Types of aggressive behavior and approaches: Coercive controlling violence MSC: Conceptual 40. Couples whose aggression is severe and persistent begin their relationship with low: a. commitment.


b. satisfaction. c. passion. d. intimacy. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Characteristics of Situational Couple Violence TOP: Aggression: Situational couple violence: Characteristics MSC: Factual 41. Alissa’s partner Dov was recently aggressive toward her; however, she is willing to excuse his behavior. Based on this, they are likely to be in what type of relationship? a. casual b. dating c. committed d. married ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Characteristics of Situational Couple Violence TOP: Aggression: Situational couple violence: Characteristics MSC: Applied 42. Imagine you are a couples counselor, and a couple comes to your office for a counseling session. During the session, they both report having been aggressive to one another. This would be an example of: a. unilateral aggression. b. reciprocity. c. bilateral aggression. d. coercion. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Characteristics of Situational Couple Violence TOP: Aggression: Situational couple violence: Characteristics MSC: Applied 43. _________ refers to dating couples who are in turbulent on-again/off-again relationships. a. Friends with benefits b. Unilateral aggression c. Violent resistance d. Churning ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Characteristics of Situational Couple Violence TOP: Aggression: Situational couple violence: Prevalence MSC: Conceptual 44. In a study with 11,000 adults between the ages of 18 and 28, approximately ________ percent reported experiencing some type of physical aggression. a. 15 b. 25 c. 35 d. 45 ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Characteristics of Situational Couple Violence TOP: Aggression: Situational couple violence: Prevalence MSC: Conceptual 45. In countries where there is _________ for men and women, women are less likely to be victims of intimate partner violence. a. greater educational equality b. less economic equality c. less political equality d. gender inequality ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Explaining Situational Couple Violence TOP: Aggression: Explaining situational couple violence MSC: Factual


46. All of the following are considered factors that increase the chance for violence EXCEPT: a. family background. b. poor emotion regulation. c. substance use. d. social media. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Explaining Situational Couple Violence TOP: Aggression: Explaining situational couple violence MSC: Applied 47. Which of the following predicts a child’s use of aggression in intimate relationships in early adulthood? a. exposure to unskilled parenting b. attachment anxiety c. exposure to conflict resolution d. permissive parenting ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Explaining Situational Couple Violence TOP: Aggression: Explaining situational couple violence MSC: Factual 48. Individuals who adhere to a(n) ____________ perspective of aggression are likely to think about social and cultural factors as causes of aggression. a. intraindividual b. interpersonal c. sociocultural d. relational ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Explaining Situational Couple Violence TOP: Aggression: Explaining situational couple violence: Sociocultural perspective on aggression MSC: Applied 49. Individuals who adhere to a(n) ____________ perspective of aggression are likely to think about deficits in couple communication as a cause of aggression. a. intraindividual b. interpersonal c. sociocultural d. relational ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Explaining Situational Couple Violence TOP: Aggression: Explaining situational couple violence: Interpersonal perspective on aggression MSC: Applied 50. Individuals who adhere to a(n) ____________ perspective of aggression are likely to think about personal risk factors as causes of aggression. a. intraindividual b. interpersonal c. sociocultural d. relational ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Explaining Situational Couple Violence TOP: Aggression: Explaining situational couple violence: Intraindividual perspective on aggression MSC: Applied ESSAY 1. Describe the different behaviors that can be interpreted as cheating, according to Thompson and O’Sullivan (2016).


ANS: Based on a scale of 1 (not at all unfaithful) to a 7 (absolutely unfaithful), behaviors such as viewing pornography alone, masturbating alone, and admiring a waitress, are low on the scale. Behaviors such as having intercourse with, giving or receiving oral sex from, taking a shower with, or intimately caressing someone outside of the relationship have a high infidelity rating. Behaviors that are rated in the middle include receiving close emotional support from someone outside of the relationship, having a casual dinner with someone outside of the relationship, giving someone outside of the relationship a gift (rated at a 3), and explicitly sexting with someone outside of the relationship, creating a dating profile, and masturbating over a webcam with someone outside of the relationship (rated on 5.5). DIF: Difficult REF: Negotiating and Violating Exclusivity TOP: Infidelity: Exclusivity: Negotiating and violating MSC: Factual 2. Identify and define the different types of infidelity. ANS: The two types of infidelity are sexual infidelity and emotional infidelity. They can be differentiated based on how the individuals view violations of exclusivity. Sexual infidelity includes behaviors that lead to sex (e.g., taking a shower with someone, intimately caressing of one another, and intense kissing). Emotional infidelity arises when one’s partner spends a lot of time thinking about or interacting with another potential partner. DIF: Easy REF: Negotiating and Violating Exclusivity TOP: Infidelity: Exclusivity: Negotiating and violating: Sexual infidelity versus emotional infidelity MSC: Factual 3. Describe the ways in which researchers can obtain accurate estimates of infidelity. ANS: Researchers can obtain accurate estimates of infidelity by asking people how often they have cheated and how often they have been cheated on, and by using data collection methods that provide anonymity and encourage honest reporting, such as computer-administered interviews. DIF: Medium REF: How Common Is Infidelity? TOP: Infidelity: How common is infidelity?

MSC: Factual

4. Imagine you are asked to talk about gender differences as they pertain to rates of infidelity in your Close Relationships course. Based on what you read in this chapter, what data are you likely to include in your presentation? ANS: Men are 3 times more likely to engage in online sexual infidelity compared to women. Roughly 23 percent of men and 12 percent of women report having engaged in extramarital sex in their lifetime, and, in a given year, 4 percent of men and 2 percent of women will have sex with someone other than their partner. DIF: Difficult REF: How Common Is Infidelity? TOP: Infidelity: How common is infidelity?

MSC: Applied

5. Imagine you and your friend are debating the reasons why people cheat on their partners. Using principles of evolutionary biology, present and defend your perspective. ANS:


According to principles of evolutionary biology, people have engaged in extrapair mating because it provided our ancestors with a reproductive advantage. For men, mating with more females would increase fitness (i.e., number of offspring). For females, extrapair mating could increase fitness by improving the genetic quality and diversity of offspring. DIF: Easy REF: Does Biology Predispose Us to Being Unfaithful? TOP: Infidelity: Biology and infidelity MSC: Applied 6. Why do individuals have different reactions to infidelity? ANS: The nature of the betrayal matters; sexual infidelity tends to elicit greater anger, compared to emotional infidelity, which elicits greater hurt. Confessions reduce damage and are likely to encourage forgiveness. DIF: Medium REF: In the Aftermath of Infidelity TOP: Infidelity: The aftermath: Reactions to infidelity

MSC: Factual

7. List the two approaches to domestic violence and describe the types of domestic violence associated with each approach. ANS: The family sociology perspective to understanding violence discovered equal rates of aggression by women and men or greater rates of aggression by women compared to men. The advocacy perspective found that acts of aggression almost always involved men as perpetrators and women as victims. Situational couple violence includes tense verbal exchanges that escalate to the point where one or both members of a couple engage in some type of physical altercation. Coercive controlling violence includes aggression by one partner (typically the man) to dominate the other partner. DIF: Medium REF: Types of Aggressive Behavior TOP: Aggression: Types of aggressive behavior and approaches: Family sociology perspective | Aggression: Types of aggressive behavior and approaches: Advocacy perspective MSC: Factual 8. Describe the prevalence of situational couple violence in romantic relationships. ANS: More than half of engaged individuals report either husband-to-wife or wife-to-husband aggression in the year before marriage. Married couples reveal lower rates of aggression, due to rates of separation and divorce. Rates for dating couples are slightly lower than for newlyweds. Higher rates of aggression are observed for couples who are living together than for those who are married. Bisexual individuals report the highest risk for aggression compared to gay, lesbian, and straight individuals. DIF: Medium REF: Characteristics of Situational Couple Violence TOP: Aggression: Situational couple violence: Characteristics MSC: Conceptual 9. As a relationship scholar, you take an interpersonal perspective on aggression in romantic relationships. Describe what is meant by this perspective and discuss the factors you may take into consideration when examining situational violence. ANS:


The interpersonal perspective on aggression focuses on features within a romantic relationship that may spark violence, such as a passionate nature, a high degree of interdependence, and a tendency to engage in conflict. This perspective focuses on the moment-by-moment details of couples’ exchanges. For example, aggressive partners are harsh and critical, experience intense feelings, and reciprocate their partner’s negative behavior. In addition, aggressive partners see their partner’s negative behaviors as selfish and blameworthy. From an interpersonal perspective, communication deficits are extremely likely and are common when partners are stressed or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. DIF: Medium REF: Explaining Situational Couple Violence TOP: Aggression: Explaining situational couple violence: Interpersonal perspective on aggression MSC: Applied


CHAPTER 12: Interpreting Experience 1. Processing Information a. Beliefs versus values 2. Functions of Beliefs and Values a. Beliefs and values affect how we evaluate our relationships i. Ideal standards model b. Beliefs and values affect how we interpret relationship events i. Perceptual confirmation c. Beliefs and values affect how we behave in our relationships i. Behavioral confirmation 1. Self-fulfilling prophecy 3. Origins of Beliefs and Values a. Culture and society b. Mass media 4. Motivated Reasoning a. Enhancement: Believing the best about a relationship i. Enhancement motive ii. Enhancement bias b. Accuracy: Knowing and being known in a relationship i. Accuracy motive ii. Diagnosticity bias iii. Confirmation bias c. Justification: Being right in relationships i. Justification motive ii. Self-serving bias 5. Responding to Negative Experiences a. Accommodation b. Assimilation c. Ignoring or forgetting negative information i. Selective attention ii. Memory bias d. Minimizing the impact of negative information i. Positive attributions 1. Locus dimension 2. Stability dimension ii. Flexible standards iii. Social comparison 1. Upward social comparison 2. Downward social comparison 6. The Limits of Motivated Reasoning a. Ability: When we can and can’t protect our relationships b. Motive: When we need or don’t need to protect our relationships i. Commitment calibration hypothesis MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. A ________ is an idea or a theory about what the world is actually like; a ________ is an idea about what the world should be like. a. belief; value c. perception; belief b. value; belief d. perception; value ANS: A

DIF: Medium

REF: Processing Information


TOP: Processing Information: Beliefs versus values

MSC: Factual

2. Your friend Mat announces, “If two people truly love each other, they can overcome any obstacles that come their way.” Mat’s statement is an example of: a. an expectation. c. a belief. b. a value. d. the self-fulfilling prophecy. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Processing Information TOP: Processing Information: Beliefs versus values MSC: Applied 3. Your friend Daniel believes that satisfaction early in a relationship is the most important predictor of how long the relationship will last. Another friend, Shannon, argues that satisfaction early in a relationship has very little bearing on how long the relationship will last. Who is right? a. Daniel is correct. Couples who are highly satisfied stay together much longer than couples who are low in satisfaction early on. b. Shannon is correct. The relationship between how satisfied couples are early in the relationship and relationship longevity is very weak. c. Both are partly correct. Satisfaction strongly predicts longevity in couples who believe that destiny plays a big role in relationship success but satisfaction barely does so in couples who do not believe in the role of destiny. d. Neither is correct. Satisfaction early in the relationship does not predict relationship longevity at all. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Evaluating Our Relationships TOP: Functions of Beliefs and Values: Beliefs and values affect how we evaluate our relationships MSC: Applied 4. Samuel believes that relationships are either destined to succeed or destined to fail. This belief predicts which of the following relationship characteristics? a. conflict resolution c. relationship length b. partner intimacy d. relationship satisfaction ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Evaluating Our Relationships TOP: Functions of Beliefs and Values: Beliefs and values affect how we evaluate our relationships MSC: Applied 5. “If I get more than I expect, I will be happy, and if I get less than I expect, then I will be less happy.” This statement best illustrates which of the following theories? a. perceptual confirmation c. ideal standards model b. moderation model d. general lay theory ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Evaluating Our Relationships TOP: Functions of Beliefs and Values: Beliefs and values affect how we evaluate our relationships: Ideal standards model MSC: Applied 6. Who is likely to be more satisfied in his or her relationship? a. Danica, a female who believes romance is critical to relationship success and whose partner sends her flowers and writes poems for her b. Jose, a male who believes that couples who fight occasionally are happy and who never argues with his partner c. Harpreet, a female who believes honesty is crucial in a relationship and whose partner sends her flowers and writes poems for her d. Maxwell, a male who believes that couples should spend quality time together and who receives flowers from his partner


ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Evaluating Our Relationships TOP: Functions of Beliefs and Values: Beliefs and values affect how we evaluate our relationships: Ideal standards model MSC: Applied 7. Perceptual confirmation is a process in which: a. our beliefs shape our behavior toward others. b. we act to bring about the experiences we expect to happen. c. ambiguous experiences are perceived as being consistent with existing beliefs. d. we react negatively to conflict in relationships. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Interpreting Relationship Events TOP: Functions of Beliefs and Values: Beliefs and values affect how we interpret relationship events: Perceptual confirmation MSC: Factual 8. Sharon believes her new work colleague, Steve, may not like her very much. One day Sharon runs into Steve in the hall and they briefly chat until Steve says that he needs to get going because he has a busy day ahead of him. Sharon feels rejected by Steve and believes his departure is evidence of his dislike for her. Sharon’s response best illustrates the phenomenon of: a. downward social comparison. c. capitalization. b. perceptual confirmation. d. behavioral confirmation. ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Interpreting Relationship Events TOP: Functions of Beliefs and Values: Beliefs and values affect how we interpret relationship events: Perceptual confirmation MSC: Applied 9. Behavioral confirmation is a process in which: a. our beliefs shape our behavior toward others. b. we behave in ways that ensure we won’t be rejected. c. ambiguous experiences are perceived as being consistent with existing beliefs. d. we react negatively to conflict in relationships. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Behavior in Relationships TOP: Functions of Beliefs and Values: Beliefs and values affect how we behave in our relationships: Behavioral confirmation MSC: Factual 10. Lucas is high in self-esteem. He expects others will like him, so he behaves in ways that, in fact, elicit positive responses from others. This best illustrates: a. behavioral confirmation. c. perceptual confirmation. b. unrealistic expectations. d. stereotype accuracy. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Behavior in Relationships TOP: Functions of Beliefs and Values: Beliefs and values affect how we behave in our relationships: Behavioral confirmation MSC: Applied 11. Compared to women with low rejection sensitivity, women who feared rejection tend to behave more negatively when discussing difficult issues with their partners. This best illustrates: a. unrealistic expectations. c. stereotype accuracy. b. perceptual confirmation. d. self-fulfilling prophecy. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Behavior in Relationships TOP: Functions of Beliefs and Values: Beliefs and values affect how we behave in our relationships: Behavioral confirmation: Self-fulfilling prophecy MSC: Factual 12. Research regarding the origins of our beliefs and values about intimate relationships shows that: a. media influences are more important than cultural influences.


b. personality traits are more important influences than cultures and the media. c. cultural influences are more important than media influences. d. cultural and media influences both play an important role. ANS: D DIF: Easy TOP: Origins of Beliefs and Values

REF: Origins of Beliefs and Values MSC: Factual

13. ________ refers to the collected beliefs and values of a society. a. Culture c. Amae b. Norms d. Homogeneity ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Culture and Society TOP: Origins of Beliefs and Values: Culture and society MSC: Factual 14. Cultural differences in beliefs about relationships may help explain: a. why collectivistic and individualistic cultures differ in the value placed on romantic love in marriage. b. large differences in divorce rates across countries. c. differences in relationship quality across countries. d. cross-cultural differences in feelings of love and fulfillment. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Culture and Society TOP: Origins of Beliefs and Values: Culture and society MSC: Conceptual 15. What can you conclude about the research that compares relationship satisfaction in arranged marriages and partner-selected marriages? Compared to partner-selected marriages, couples in arranged marriages: a. report lower satisfaction. b. report greater satisfaction. c. initially report lower levels of satisfaction but report greater satisfaction over time. d. initially report similar levels of satisfaction but report greater satisfaction over time. ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Culture and Society TOP: Origins of Beliefs and Values: Culture and society MSC: Factual 16. Jaspreet and Imara are friends living in the same town in India. Both are getting married this summer, Jaspreet, to a neighbor’s son who was selected for her by her family and Imara, to a young man she met in one of her university classes. Based on research comparing happiness in arranged marriages and partner-selected marriages, who would you predict will have higher marital satisfaction? a. Imara, because she was able to choose her partner b. Jaspreet, because arranged marriages are culturally accepted in India c. Jaspreet initially, but her satisfaction will decline over time and eventually Imara will be more satisfied d. Imara initially, but Jaspreet’s satisfaction will increase over time and in the end she will be more satisfied than Imara ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Culture and Society TOP: Origins of Beliefs and Values: Culture and society MSC: Applied 17. The way in which relationships are portrayed in the media affects: a. relationship satisfaction. b. cultural values. c. relationship longevity. d. relationship behavior. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Mass Media TOP: Origins of Beliefs and Values: Mass media

MSC: Factual


18. Jennie is 14 years old. Because her parents work long hours, she often watches shows on television with sexual and violent content that she knows her parents would not approve of. Based on how media exposure affects beliefs about relationships, what would you predict about Jennie’s behavior? a. Jennie will become sexually active later than her same-age peers who watch less sexual and violent content on television. b. There will be no difference between when Jennie becomes sexually active compared to her peers who watch less sexual and violent content on television. c. Jennie will likely report engaging in levels of sexual behavior similar to those of 16- or 17-year-old girls. d. Jennie will likely report engaging in levels of sexual behavior similar to those of the adults she watches on television. ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Mass Media TOP: Origins of Beliefs and Values: Mass media

MSC: Applied

19. Which of the following statements is TRUE about the effect of media messages on our standards and beliefs about intimate relationships? a. The effects of watching sexually violent films tend to fade within a few hours. b. Educating people about the effects of media messages has no effect on their resistance to such messages. c. Adolescents exposed to sexual behaviors on television subsequently delay sexual behavior themselves. d. Men exposed to pictures of nude centerfolds subsequently report less love for their wives. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Mass Media TOP: Origins of Beliefs and Values: Mass media

MSC: Factual

20. Which of the following statements is FALSE about the effect of media messages on our standards and beliefs about intimate relationships? a. The effects of watching sexually violent films tend to fade within a few hours. b. Educating people about the effects of media messages affects their resistance to such messages. c. Adolescents exposed to sexual behaviors on television are more likely to begin having sex within the next year. d. Men exposed to pictures of nude centerfolds subsequently report less love for their wives. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Mass Media TOP: Origins of Beliefs and Values: Mass media

MSC: Factual

21. A ________ is a tendency to process information to protect a particular point of view; a ________ is a drive to reach a specific goal. a. motive; bias c. justification; motive b. motive; justification d. bias; motive ANS: D DIF: Easy TOP: Motivated Reasoning

REF: Motivated Reasoning MSC: Factual

22. Bjorn perceives his partner’s intentions in a conflict very differently than they are perceived by outside observers. These differing perceptions can best be explained by: a. motivated reasoning. c. diagnosticity bias. b. motivated inaccuracy. d. self-serving bias. ANS: A DIF: Medium TOP: Motivated Reasoning

REF: Motivated Reasoning MSC: Applied


23. The text describes several mechanisms of motivated reasoning in relationships. Something that all of these techniques have in common is that they: a. require direct communication between partners to be effective. b. allow partners’ initially positive views of their relationships to accommodate new information and experiences. c. require partners to fool themselves into believing things that are not true. d. support interpretations that have positive consequences for the individual engaging in motivated reasoning. ANS: D DIF: Difficult TOP: Motivated Reasoning

REF: Motivated Reasoning MSC: Conceptual

24. Research on biases of individuals who are happy in their relationships shows that: a. individuals tend to pay extra attention to the negative elements of their relationships. b. individuals often view partners’ qualities more negatively than partners view themselves. c. individuals believe that their relationships have more positive attributes and fewer negative attributes than the relationships of others. d. individuals tend to underestimate the length of their relationships. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Enhancement: Believing the Best TOP: Motivated Reasoning: Enhancement: Believing the best about a relationship MSC: Factual 25. Greg and Stacey have recently started dating. Who is LEAST likely to accurately predict how long their relationship will last? a. Stacey c. Emily, who is Stacey’s best friend b. Joey, who is Greg’s best friend d. Greg’s mom ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Enhancement: Believing the Best TOP: Motivated Reasoning: Enhancement: Believing the best about a relationship MSC: Applied 26. How are predictions about the future of a relationship and later relationship outcomes related? a. Partners in a relationship are more accurate about whether it will continue compared to their parents’ predictions. b. Overly optimistic views about the outcome of a dating relationship predict subsequent relationship problems. c. Partners have access to information about their relationships that might help them make better predictions about outcomes, but they do not seem to use it. d. Relationship partners are overly optimistic about all dating relationships, not just their own. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Enhancement: Believing the Best TOP: Motivated Reasoning: Enhancement: Believing the best about a relationship MSC: Conceptual 27. Which description below reflects an enhancement bias in a relationship? a. Bob sees himself as being more confident than his partner, Beth, sees him. b. Bob sees Beth in the best possible light. c. Beth sees herself as being more confident than her partner, Bob. d. Beth sees her relationship with Bob as improving over time. ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Enhancement: Believing the Best TOP: Motivated Reasoning: Enhancement: Believing the best about a relationship: Enhancement bias MSC: Applied


28. In a study by MacDonald and Ross (1999), friends, parents, and students were asked to predict how long the student’s romantic relationship would last. Who was the LEAST accurate about the likelihood of the student’s relationship lasting, and why? a. Parents were the least accurate about the likelihood of the student’s relationship lasting because they knew the least about the relationship. b. Friends were the least accurate because they tend to see their own relationships as superior to the student’s relationship. c. Students were least accurate because they were in a deliberative mind-set. d. Students were the least accurate because they may have an enhancement bias. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Enhancement: Believing the Best TOP: Motivated Reasoning: Enhancement: Believing the best about a relationship: Enhancement bias MSC: Conceptual 29. The ________ motive suggests a preference for information that supports positive views of the partner and the relationship. The ________ motive suggests a preference for information that reflects important qualities in a partner or a relationship. The ________ motive suggests a preference for information that supports a positive view of the self, even if it hurts the relationship. a. prosocial; accuracy; adaptive b. perceptual confirmation; diagnosticity; egocentric c. enhancement; accuracy; justification d. accommodative; evidential; justification ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Enhancement: Believing the Best | Accuracy: Knowing and Being Known | Justification: Being Right TOP: Motivated Reasoning: Enhancement: Believing the best about a relationship | Motivated Reasoning: Accuracy: Knowing and being known in a relationship | Motivated Reasoning: Justification: Being right in relationships MSC: Factual 30. Thao is trying to decide whether to ask Sue out. What information processing bias will be most likely operating when he makes his decision? a. enhancement bias c. justification bias b. confirmation bias d. accuracy bias ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Accuracy: Knowing and Being Known TOP: Motivated Reasoning: Accuracy: Knowing and being known in a relationship MSC: Applied 31. Your friend Hugo recently met Jimena in his social psychology class and would like to ask her out on a date. Hugo spends a lot of time describing to you in great detail the latest interactions he has had with Jimena, trying to analyze whether she would be receptive to an overture. Which of the following best describes Hugo’s behavior? a. enhancement bias c. diagnosticity bias b. accuracy bias d. self-serving bias ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Accuracy: Knowing and Being Known TOP: Motivated Reasoning: Accuracy: Knowing and being known in a relationship: Diagnosticity bias MSC: Applied 32. Denise has always believed that she isn’t a great singer. After a night singing karaoke with friends, her boyfriend, Sean, casually comments that she is a pretty good singer. Which of the following is accurate? a. According to the confirmation bias, Denise should feel more satisfied with her relationship. b. According to the enhancement bias, Denise should feel more satisfied with her relationship.


c. According to the confirmation bias, Denise should feel less satisfied with her relationship. d. According to the confirmation bias, this won’t affect Denise’s feelings about the relationship because the comment isn’t about her personality. ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Accuracy: Knowing and Being Known TOP: Motivated Reasoning: Accuracy: Knowing and being known in a relationship: Confirmation bias MSC: Applied 33. What is one explanation for the self-serving bias? a. It allows people to see each other accurately. b. It gives people an excuse for their bad behavior in relationships. c. It helps people see the best in each other. d. It helps people make relationship decisions based on accurate information. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Justification: Being Right TOP: Motivated Reasoning: Justification: Being right in relationships: Self-serving bias MSC: Conceptual 34. ________ occurs when existing knowledge structures change to integrate new information. ________ occurs when new information is integrated with existing knowledge without changing the existing knowledge structures. a. Assimilation; Accommodation b. Cognitive editing; Motivated reasoning c. Motivated reasoning; Cognitive editing d. Accommodation; Assimilation ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Responding to Negative Experiences TOP: Responding to Negative Experiences: Accommodation | Responding to Negative Experiences: Assimilation MSC: Factual 35. You are constantly amazed that your friend Parminder seems unaware of the negative behaviors of her boyfriend, Sam. You notice that Sam has a tendency to tease Parminder in a mean-spirited way in front of her friends. What might explain this phenomenon? a. self-serving bias c. empathy accuracy model b. selective attention d. diagnosticity bias ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Ignoring or Forgetting Negative Information TOP: Responding to Negative Experiences: Ignoring or forgetting negative information: Selective attention MSC: Applied 36. A study that followed men for 40 years and asked them to rate their marital satisfaction at regular intervals found the usual gradual decline in satisfaction over time. However, in a retrospective account after 40 years, the men reported that their marriages had been very satisfying in the beginning, grew gradually less satisfying in the middle years, and then became more satisfying again in recent years (a U-shaped curve). Their memories of how their satisfaction changed were ________ with the actual satisfaction data collected over the course of their lives due to a ________. a. consistent; confirmation bias c. inconsistent; memory bias b. consistent; memory bias d. inconsistent; confirmation bias ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Ignoring or Forgetting Negative Information TOP: Responding to Negative Experiences: Ignoring or forgetting negative information: Memory bias MSC: Applied


37. Samantha and Carmine, like many couples, have experienced declining satisfaction over the years. However, Samantha is quite adamant that their relationship is “the best it’s ever been!” How is this possible? a. Samantha has an enhancement bias. b. Samantha has positive expectancy biases. c. Samantha has a memory bias. d. Samantha makes positive attributions. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Ignoring or Forgetting Negative Information TOP: Responding to Negative Experiences: Ignoring or forgetting negative information: Memory bias MSC: Applied 38. In couples’ relationships, memory biases: a. are likely to increase over time. b. are a relationship-enhancing strategy. c. are based on an accuracy motivation. d. only occur in married couples. ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Ignoring or Forgetting Negative Information TOP: Responding to Negative Experiences: Ignoring or forgetting negative information: Memory bias MSC: Factual 39. Selective attention and memory bias serve to ________, whereas adaptive attributions and flexible standards serve to ________. a. create distress; promote satisfaction b. keep negative information out of awareness; minimize the impact of negative information c. promote accuracy; interfere with enhancement d. make information processing implicit; make information processing explicit ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: Ignoring or Forgetting Negative Information | Minimizing the Impact of Negative Information TOP: Responding to Negative Experiences: Ignoring or forgetting negative information | Responding to Negative Experiences: Minimizing the impact of negative information MSC: Factual 40. The explanations an individual makes about a partner’s behavior are: a. flexible standards. c. refutations. b. attributions. d. accommodations. ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Minimizing the Impact of Negative Information TOP: Responding to Negative Experiences: Minimizing the impact of negative information: Positive attributions MSC: Factual 41. Jack and Kate are unhappy in their relationship. Robbie and Sawyer are happy in their relationship. One night, Jack and Robbie find themselves sitting at a restaurant waiting for their very late partners to arrive for dinner. According to research on attributions in relationships, Jack is likely to think ________, and Robbie is likely to think ________. a. “she is unorganized and lost track of time”; “she is rather inconsiderate” b. “she likely got tied up at the office”; “she must have gotten lost on the way here” c. “she doesn’t care about our family”; “she is probably having trouble finding parking” d. “she must have hit heavy traffic”; “she always was a little forgetful” ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Minimizing the Impact of Negative Information TOP: Responding to Negative Experiences: Minimizing the impact of negative information: Positive attributions MSC: Applied


42. ________ refers to whether the cause of behavior is something about the person or something about circumstances; ________ refers to whether the cause of the behavior is something that is likely to persist over time or is temporary. a. Locus; stability c. Stability; locus b. Intentionality; stability d. Locus; intentionality ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Minimizing the Impact of Negative Information TOP: Responding to Negative Experiences: Minimizing the impact of negative information: Positive attributions MSC: Factual 43. Tom and Amrita have been fighting a lot and are thinking of breaking up. After a particularly bad fight, Tom decides to pick up some flowers for Amrita on his way home. Amrita thinks that Tom is bringing her flowers because he is feeling guilty about the fight and not because he is sorry. What kind of attribution is she making? a. an external, nonintentional attribution b. an external, stable attribution c. an internal, stable attribution d. an internal, temporary attribution ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Minimizing the Impact of Negative Information TOP: Responding to Negative Experiences: Minimizing the impact of negative information: Positive attributions MSC: Applied 44. Jasmine’s partner comes home from work with a bouquet of flowers for her. Jasmine thinks, “Sarah hardly ever brings me flowers. She’s so cheap; they must have been on sale.” Because Jasmine is ________, we can conclude that she and Sarah are in a ________ relationship. a. giving Sarah credit for positive behaviors and likely excusing her negative ones; satisfied b. giving Sarah credit for positive behaviors and likely excusing her negative ones; distressed c. finding external reasons for Sarah’s positive behaviors and likely excusing her negative ones; satisfied d. finding external reasons for Sarah’s positive behaviors and likely blaming her for negative ones; distressed ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Minimizing the Impact of Negative Information TOP: Responding to Negative Experiences: Minimizing the impact of negative information: Positive attributions MSC: Applied 45. Unhappy people tend to make attributions about their partner’s behavior that are ________ and ________ for negative behaviors. a. internal; stable c. nonblaming; temporary b. external; temporary d. blaming; external ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Minimizing the Impact of Negative Information TOP: Responding to Negative Experiences: Minimizing the impact of negative information: Positive attributions MSC: Factual 46. Even after Bill Clinton had an affair with Monica Lewinsky, Hillary Clinton did not seek to divorce him. What kind of information processing may have led to her decision to stay? a. attributions that discounted the undesirable aspects of his actions and emphasized his positive qualities b. selective attention, which overlooked his negative behavior c. attributions that put Monica Lewinsky in a favorable light and thus allowed Hillary Clinton to preserve a positive view of her husband d. attributions that assumed that Bill’s behavior was motivated by malicious intent, thus


allowing Hillary to forgive him ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Minimizing the Impact of Negative Information TOP: Responding to Negative Experiences: Minimizing the impact of negative information: Positive attributions MSC: Applied 47. When you were in high school, your friend Janise said that a romantic partner with a sense of humor was critical to a lasting relationship. At your 5-year reunion, you meet her husband, and he seems to be a nice person but quite deficient in the humor department. Having just taken a course on close relationships, you recognize that this is an example of ________. a. compartmentalization c. flexible standards b. sentiment override d. memory bias ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Minimizing the Impact of Negative Information TOP: Responding to Negative Experiences: Minimizing the impact of negative information: Flexible standards MSC: Applied 48. ________ involve comparisons with others who are doing worse than we are; ________ involve comparisons with others who are doing better than we are. a. Adaptive attributions; protective attributions b. Upward social comparisons; downward social comparisons c. Protective attributions; stable attributions d. Downward social comparisons; upward social comparisons ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Minimizing the Impact of Negative Information TOP: Responding to Negative Experiences: Minimizing the impact of negative information: Social comparison MSC: Factual 49. People who _________, as opposed to _______, can feel more encouraged in their intimate relationships. a. make downward social comparisons; upward social comparisons b. show enhancement bias; diagnosticity bias c. make upward social comparisons; downward social comparisons d. show diagnosticity bias; enhancement bias ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Minimizing the Impact of Negative Information TOP: Responding to Negative Experiences: Minimizing the impact of negative information: Social comparison MSC: Applied 50. We would expect relationship partners who make ________ comparisons to be happier than those who make ________ comparisons. a. upward; downward c. social; relational b. downward; upward d. downward; social ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Minimizing the Impact of Negative Information TOP: Responding to Negative Experiences: Minimizing the impact of negative information: Social comparison MSC: Conceptual 51. When is a spouse LEAST likely to make adaptive attributions about her or his partner’s negative behavior? a. when the couple is experiencing more stress than usual b. when there are no external explanations for the behavior c. in the absence of strong negative emotions d. when commitment is high and there is no threat to the relationship ANS: A

DIF: Easy

REF: The Ability to Protect the Relationship


TOP: The Limits of Motivated Reasoning: Ability: When we can and can’t protect our relationships MSC: Conceptual 52. According to the commitment calibration hypothesis, people who are in ______ marriages rated dating service photos of attractive alternate partners as significantly _________attractive compared to ratings of ______ married individuals. a. happy; less; unhappily b. happy; more; happily c. unhappy; more; unhappily d. unhappy; less; happily ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: The Motive to Protect the Relationship TOP: The Limits of Motivated Reasoning: Motive: When we need or don’t need to protect our relationships: Commitment calibration hypothesis MSC: Conceptual 53. John has been married 10 years but is very unhappy with his relationship. There is an attractive female coworker, Leila, at his office. According to the commitment calibration hypothesis, in which of the following situations is John most likely to DOWNPLAY his perception of Leila’s attractiveness? a. John’s wife decides she can no longer be married to him and files for a divorce. b. John decides he can no longer be married to his wife and files for a divorce. c. John frequently needs to consult with Leila on various business projects. d. John learns that Leila finds him attractive and that she wants to have an affair with him. ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: The Motive to Protect the Relationship TOP: The Limits of Motivated Reasoning: Motive: When we need or don’t need to protect our relationships: Commitment calibration hypothesis MSC: Applied ESSAY 1. Researchers have distinguished between two dimensions of relationship knowledge: (1) beliefs versus values; and (2) general versus specific knowledge. Define beliefs and values, and then offer examples of a general belief and a general value about relationships. ANS: Beliefs are ideas or theories about what the world is actually like, whereas values are ideas about what a person wants the world to look like. An example of a general belief about relationships is: “Relationships must be conflict-free to be successful.” An example of a general value about relationships is, “I want a relationship where my partner and I don’t argue.” DIF: Easy REF: Processing Information TOP: Processing Information: Beliefs versus values

MSC: Conceptual

2. Explain and give examples of three ways in which people’s thoughts about relationships can affect what they experience in their relationships. ANS: First, our ideas about relationships shape our reactions to events within the relationship. Second, ideas about relationships can lead to perceptual confirmation, so that people interpret ambiguous events in ways that are consistent with their prior expectations. Third, ideas about relationships can lead to behavioral confirmation, so that people with particular ideas about relationships act in ways that turn those ideas into reality. DIF: Easy REF: Functions of Beliefs and Values TOP: Functions of Beliefs and Values MSC: Conceptual


3. Nayanna says, “I want a relationship that sweeps me off my feet.” According to the ideal standards model, how might this impact Nayanna’s satisfaction in her current relationship? ANS: The ideal standards model states that the amount of discrepancy between values for relationships in general and perceptions of the current relationship in particular determines whether an individual will be satisfied. Therefore, if Nayanna is in an intensely passionate relationship, she should be relatively satisfied. However, the greater the discrepancy between Nayanna’s ideal relationship and her perception of her current relationship, the less satisfied Nayanna will be with the relationship and the more distressed and anxious she will feel. DIF: Medium REF: Evaluating Our Relationships TOP: Functions of Beliefs and Values: Beliefs and values affect how we evaluate our relationships: Ideal standards model MSC: Applied 4. Contrast perceptual and behavioral confirmation, and indicate how each can affect relationship experiences. ANS: Perceptual confirmation occurs when we interpret ambiguous events in ways that are consistent with our prior expectations. That is, if we expect that people will behave in a certain way, we are more likely to perceive that they have behaved in that way. For people who have negative beliefs or expectations, perceptual confirmation leads to negative interpretations of otherwise ambiguous events. In contrast, behavioral confirmation suggests that our beliefs and expectations can also shape the way in which we experience the world by affecting our behavior toward others. In a self-fulfilling prophecy, people with particular ideas about relationships act in ways that turn those ideas into reality. For example, someone who expects people to like her will behave more positively when she meets someone new and, consequently, will be liked by the stranger. DIF: Medium REF: Interpreting Relationship Events | Behavior in Relationships TOP: Functions of Beliefs and Values: Beliefs and values affect how we interpret relationship events: Perceptual confirmation | Functions of Beliefs and Values: Beliefs and values affect how we behave in our relationships: Behavioral confirmation MSC: Conceptual 5. When considering factors that determine people’s beliefs and values about relationships, why is it important to distinguish between influences that are more distant from the individual and influences that are specific to the individual? ANS: Influences that are more removed from the individual (e.g., culture, the media) are likely to affect entire populations in the same way and could help account for differences between populations. In contrast, influences that are specific to the individual (e.g., family history, personal experiences) are likely to help account for differences between individuals within a population. DIF: Easy REF: Origins of Beliefs and Values TOP: Origins of Beliefs and Values MSC: Conceptual 6. Jaspreet and Imara are friends living in the same town in India. Both are getting married this summer, Jaspreet to a neighbor’s son who was selected for her by her family and Imara to a young man she met in one of her university classes. Based on research comparing happiness in arranged marriages and partner-selected marriages, what would you predict about Jaspreet’s and Imara’s marital satisfaction? ANS:


As we might expect from a Western perspective, initially Imara will have higher marital satisfaction. However, her satisfaction may decrease over time, whereas Jaspreet’s may increase, and in the end she will be more satisfied than Imara. DIF: Medium REF: Origins of Beliefs and Values TOP: Origins of Beliefs and Values: Culture and society

MSC: Applied

7. You have been asked to participate in a radio show about how the media affect our beliefs about ourselves and our relationships. One of the other participants comments that, because of the pervasiveness of media, people are bombarded by unhealthy messages they can do little about. How do you respond? ANS: There is encouraging research showing that educating people about the effects of media messages has substantial effects on their resistance to being persuaded by such messages. Furthermore, because of the vast array of media from which to choose, people can largely select the messages to which they are exposed. Finally, people can think about what they read and watch and can reject negative messages if they have a basis for doing so. DIF: Easy MSC: Applied

REF: Mass Media

TOP: Origins of Beliefs and Values: Mass media

8. Selim believes that his partner, Amira, is warm, generous, and funny. Amira does not see herself in such a positive light. Considering the confirmation and self-enhancement motives, what prediction would you make about their relationship, and why? ANS: Confirmation: Amira wants to be seen accurately, so she may feel uncomfortable with this disconfirming feedback and seek reassurance that Selim sees her as she sees herself. Given the inconsistencies between Selim’s view of Amira and her view of herself, she may feel less satisfied with her relationship. Self-enhancement: We seek to be seen in positive ways by our partners, and we want to be loved and understood despite our flaws. Thus Amira might feel happier in her relationship to the extent that Selim appears to see her in positively biased ways. DIF: Medium REF: Enhancement: Believing the Best | Accuracy: Knowing and Being Known TOP: Motivated Reasoning: Enhancement: Believing the best about a relationship | Motivated Reasoning: Accuracy: Knowing and being known in a relationship MSC: Applied 9. Compare the confirmation and enhancement biases. ANS: Confirmation is a desire for information that is consistent with what is already known about the partner and the relationship, even when perceptions are negative. The desire for consistent feedback about the self and partner occurs even when the inconsistent feedback is positive. For example, if a couple is told that they have excellent problem-solving skills, but that is counter to their beliefs about their relationship, they will actively reject the assessment and behave in ways to try to restore their original negative perceptions. This behavior suggests that inconsistent feedback (even when positive) is potentially unsettling and relationally unsatisfying. In contrast, enhancement bias suggests that people are motivated to attend to, and to prefer, information that supports and strengthens positive beliefs about a relationship, and they even exaggerate their positive views of the partner and of the relationship out of proportion when compared with an outside observer’s ratings. These inaccurate and positively biased views are associated with greater relationship satisfaction.


DIF: Medium REF: Enhancement: Believing the Best | Accuracy: Knowing and Being Known TOP: Motivated Reasoning: Enhancement: Believing the best about a relationship | Motivated Reasoning: Accuracy: Knowing and being known in a relationship MSC: Conceptual 10. Kia is very unhappy in her relationship with Denny. She describes Denny as unreliable and mean, and she belittles his intelligence. What is most likely operating in her views of Denny? Why might Kia be processing information about Denny in ways that contribute to her unhappiness in the relationship? ANS: Kia might be processing information about Denny in ways that contribute to disappointment due to the justification motive: she wishes to feel she is moral and reasonable. If Kia were to view Denny positively, then it would raise the possibility that any problems in the relationship are her fault. However, if she believes Denny is unreliable and mean, then it relieves her of any responsibility for the failure of the relationship, and she can continue to view herself as a moral and reasonable person. DIF: Medium REF: Justification: Being Right TOP: Motivated Reasoning: Justification: Being right in relationships: Justification motive MSC: Applied 11. Explain assimilation and accommodation, and provide a relationship example of each. ANS: Assimilation occurs when new information is integrated with existing knowledge without changing the existing beliefs. For example, a husband’s making dinner fits with the partner’s belief that her husband is a kind and supportive person. Accommodation occurs when existing beliefs change to integrate new information. For example, a husband learns about his wife’s affair, which changes his belief that she is a trustworthy and faithful wife. DIF: Easy REF: Responding to Negative Experiences TOP: Responding to Negative Experiences: Accommodation | Responding to Negative Experiences: Assimilation MSC: Conceptual 12. Long-term married partners tend to retrospectively report a U-shaped change in their marital satisfaction, that is, looking back, they believe their relationships started out great, worsened somewhat over time, and then improved more recently. On the other hand, research demonstrates that marital satisfaction generally shows a linear decline over time. How can we explain this apparent discrepancy? ANS: Retrospective memories are inaccurate and systematically biased. Because the memory process is flexible, it allows people to remember the past in ways that justify current feelings about the relationship and to forget information that might threaten those feelings. Thus, most people fail to remember that their relationship satisfaction has declined over time and, instead, view their relationships as having improved recently, which fits with their views that their relationships are growing and improving and likely to continue to do so in the future. These biases help people maintain their existing positive feelings about being in their relationships and to prevent threatening information (e.g., our relationship is deteriorating) from entering awareness. DIF: Difficult REF: Ignoring or Forgetting Negative Information TOP: Responding to Negative Experiences: Ignoring or forgetting negative information: Memory bias MSC: Conceptual


13. You and your partner are at a party and your partner says something that embarrasses you. Define and provide examples of two kinds of attributions that you might make about your partner’s behavior: (1) stable/internal; and (2) temporary/internal. ANS: (1) Stable/Internal: “My partner said something embarrassing about me because he is mean-spirited”; (2) temporary/internal: “My partner said something embarrassing about me because he is in a bad mood.” DIF: Medium REF: Minimizing the Impact of Negative Information TOP: Responding to Negative Experiences: Minimizing the impact of negative information: Positive attributions MSC: Applied 14. You have just returned from a long business trip, and your partner is late coming to meet you at the airport. Define and provide examples of two kinds of attributions that you might make about your partner’s behavior: (1) stable/external; and (2) temporary/external. ANS: (1) Stable/External: “My partner is late picking me up because the bus connection has always been and always will be terrible”; (2) temporary/external: “My partner is late picking me up because the bus happened to get stuck in traffic today.” DIF: Medium REF: Minimizing the Impact of Negative Information TOP: Responding to Negative Experiences: Minimizing the impact of negative information: Positive attributions MSC: Applied 15. What are downward social comparisons? Under what conditions are people particularly likely to engage in downward social comparisons, and why? ANS: Downward social comparisons compare one’s own relationship and life with others’ relationships that are perceived as being worse. People are particularly likely to engage in downward social comparisons when they feel that their relationships are threatened. For example, dating college students were asked to list qualities that came to mind when they thought about their own relationships and when they thought about others’ relationships; half the students were told nothing further (no-threat condition), but half were told that college students’ relationships are more likely to end and are less satisfying than other types of relationships (threat condition). Consistent with the threat hypothesis, students in the threat condition were much more likely to describe their relationships as superior to others’ relationships than did students in the no-threat condition. Thus, to continue to feel positive about their relationships when faced with evidence of potential flaws, the students compared their relationships to the ones with even worse flaws. DIF: Easy REF: Minimizing the Impact of Negative Information TOP: Responding to Negative Experiences: Minimizing the impact of negative information: Social comparison: Downward social comparison MSC: Conceptual 16. Is integration of positive and negative perceptions of the partner good or bad for a relationship? ANS:


When people are able to integrate the positive and negative perceptions of their partners, they are happier than people who participate in less integration. However, in a 1-year follow-up study of couples who demonstrated high integration, breakup rates were higher in couples who had more integrative organization of partner perceptions at the beginning of the study. Thus, integrated perceptions may be beneficial for the relationship in the short term but may lead to dissolution in the long term possibly because, although the person is able to acknowledge both the positive and negative qualities of the partner, the negative qualities of the partner remain unchanged. Over time these negative perceptions can become more prominent and harder to ignore. As negative qualities continue to surface, assimilation eventually may give way to accommodation, and generally positive views of the partner may become negative. DIF: Medium REF: The Ability to Protect the Relationship TOP: The Limits of Motivated Reasoning: Ability: When we can and can’t protect our relationships MSC: Conceptual 17. In the chapter on motivated reasoning, your textbook authors review a number of ways in which partners who feel positive about their relationships can protect those positive feelings from negative information. Given the strategies at their disposal, why do people fail to continue to feel positively about their relationships regardless of specific experiences and observations? That is, why—from this perspective—does satisfaction decline? ANS: If people did assimilate all of the negative information, then everyone who felt positive about their relationships would continue to feel that way regardless of specific experiences and observations. Because it is difficult to maintain such positive feelings over time, there must come a time when the techniques discussed in the textbook fail, that is, when assimilation ends and accommodation begins. Because the techniques take work, assimilation may stop when people lack the ability to do the work (e.g., severe negative behavior by a spouse or repeated negative behavior) or when they lack the motivation to do the work (e.g., they are less invested in the relationship or the relationship is not going well). DIF: Easy REF: The Motive to Protect the Relationship TOP: The Limits of Motivated Reasoning: Motive: When we need or don’t need to protect our relationships MSC: Factual 18. Define and explain the commitment calibration hypothesis. ANS: The commitment calibration hypothesis states that the motive to protect a relationship is influenced by the way partners feel about their relationship and the nature of the threat to the relationship. Thus, threats to a relationship should lead to activity to protect the relationship only if the threat is calibrated to the level of relationship commitment. For example, if people are in very satisfying, secure relationships, low threats to the relationship (e.g., viewing photos of attractive people) should not motivate behaviors, such as derogating alternatives to protect the view of the relationship. However, even happy, secure people will engage in behavior designed to protect their views of their relationship if the threat level increases (e.g., an attractive person flirts with one’s romantic partner). If people are less happy or less secure in their relationship, even lower threats to the relationship should activate behavior, such as derogating alternatives. DIF: Easy REF: The Motive to Protect the Relationship TOP: The Limits of Motivated Reasoning: Motive: When we need or don’t need to protect our relationships: Commitment calibration hypothesis MSC: Factual


CHAPTER 13: Stress and Context 1. Mapping the Context of Intimate Relationships a. Context b. Stressors and resources i. Proximal context versus distal context c. Chronic conditions and acute events 2. Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships a. Demands of stress b. Physiological effects i. Sympathetic adrenal medullary (SAM) system ii. Hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis iii. Fight-or-flight response c. Behavioral and cognitive effects of stress d. Stress spillover and stress crossover e. The benefits of stress i. Noticing stress ii. Building resilience 3. Social Networks: The Ties That Bind a. Describing social networks i. Psychological versus interactive networks ii. Network composition iii. Network overlap b. Advantages of social networks i. Social capital c. Challenges of social networks i. Substitutability 4. Socioeconomic Status a. Do the poor value marriage less? b. Relationship challenges in low-income communities c. Helping low-income couples MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. ________ can be defined as everything that affects a relationship outside of the couple and their interactions. a. Culture c. Stressors b. Historical era d. Context ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Mapping the Context of Intimate Relationships TOP: Mapping the Context of Intimate Relationships: Context MSC: Factual 2. Stressor is to ________ as resource is to ________. a. support from family; having a job b. losing a job; having a child c. close extended family; satisfactory income d. losing a job; satisfactory income ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Stressors and Resources TOP: Mapping the Context of Intimate Relationships: Stressors and resources MSC: Conceptual


3. Sarita is extremely close to her older sister, Magdalena, and spends hours talking to her sister on the phone about every aspect of her life, including her marriage. Sarita’s husband is not as thrilled about Sarita’s close relationship with her sister because Magdalena does not think that he is good enough for Sarita and takes every opportunity to let him know it. In this situation, Sarita’s relationship with her sister would be considered: a. a resource for Sarita and her husband. b. a resource for Sarita but not for her husband. c. a stressor for Sarita and her husband. d. a stressor for Sarita but not for her husband. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Stressors and Resources TOP: Mapping the Context of Intimate Relationships: Stressors and resources MSC: Applied 4. Xavier and Juanita both work full-time at low-wage jobs to pay the rent on their apartment. While they are at work, Juanita’s mother cares for their 18-month-old son. In this scenario, the low wages represent a ________, and Juanita’s mother’s care represents a ________. a. resource; resource c. stressor; stressor b. resource; stressor d. stressor; resource ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Stressors and Resources TOP: Mapping the Context of Intimate Relationships: Stressors and resources MSC: Applied 5. What is TRUE with regard to Bronfenbrenner’s social ecological model applied to the context of relationships? a. The effects of proximal factors on a relationship are affected by distal factors. b. Distal elements rarely affect proximal influences in relationships. c. Distal, proximal, and meso-empirical contexts all interconnect to affect relationships. d. Children are largely sheltered from contextual influences, because parents serve as a buffer between the environment and the child. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Stressors and Resources TOP: Mapping the Context of Intimate Relationships: Stressors and resources: Proximal context versus distal context MSC: Factual 6. Which of the following statements about Bronfenbrenner’s social ecological model is FALSE? a. The effects of proximal factors on a relationship are affected by distal factors. b. Distal factors are not likely affected by proximal factors in relationships. c. Distal and proximal factors interconnect to affect relationships. d. The direct effects of proximal and distal factors on relationships are equally large. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Stressors and Resources TOP: Mapping the Context of Intimate Relationships: Stressors and resources: Proximal context versus distal context MSC: Factual 7. Distal is to ________ as proximal is to ________. a. support from family; cultural context b. the wife’s mood; divorce laws c. the quality of the school system; household income d. the husband’s work hours; economic conditions ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Stressors and Resources TOP: Mapping the Context of Intimate Relationships: Stressors and resources: Proximal context versus distal context MSC: Conceptual


8. According to Bronfenbrenner’s social ecological theory, which of the following elements is most distal in context for a couple living in Chicago? a. the couple’s overall working conditions b. a spouse’s relationship with family and friends c. the availability of affordable daycare d. the couple’s cultural background and gender norms ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Stressors and Resources TOP: Mapping the Context of Intimate Relationships: Stressors and resources: Proximal context versus distal context MSC: Applied 9. Research on chronic and acute stressors shows that: a. both are associated with negative relationship outcomes, and there appears to be little to differentiate the kinds of outcomes that result from each type of stressor. b. only chronic stressors are associated with negative relationship outcomes, so it is important to differentiate the kinds of outcomes that result from each type of stressor. c. only acute stressors are associated with negative relationship outcomes, so it is important to differentiate the kinds of outcomes that result from each type of stressor. d. both are associated with negative relationship outcomes, but the kinds of outcomes that result from each type of stressor differ. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Chronic Conditions and Acute Events TOP: Mapping the Context of Intimate Relationships: Chronic conditions and acute events MSC: Factual 10. Belinda and Roy rent an apartment in a somewhat run-down area of town. They have a few friends, but their immediate families live in another state. They barely manage to pay their bills each month; Roy has a steady job but no health benefits, and Belinda stays home to care for their two young boys. While playing in the park, one of the boys falls from the swings and breaks his arm. Belinda knows that paying for the emergency care and follow-up doctor visits is going to put their family into a difficult financial position. According to Hill’s (1949) ABC-X model of family stress, what do you predict will happen? a. The family is used to chronic hardship, and this new stressor will have little effect on the marriage. b. The new financial burden will simply add to their stress load and will have the same effect as it would on any family. c. There will be an interaction between the acute and chronic stressors, making it even harder for the couple to cope with the new financial burden and their son’s broken arm. d. The son’s broken arm and new financial burden are unpredictable (uncontrollable) stressors and thus will have less of an effect on the couple’s relationship. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Chronic Conditions and Acute Events TOP: Mapping the Context of Intimate Relationships: Chronic conditions and acute events MSC: Applied 11. Cutrona and colleagues (2003) studied the effect of neighborhoods on African American couples’ marriages. What best describes their findings? a. The affluence of neighborhoods had less effect on marital satisfaction than acute stressors. b. Couples in affluent and economically disadvantaged neighborhoods had similar levels of marital satisfaction. c. Couples in affluent neighborhoods had lower marital satisfaction than couples in the economically disadvantaged neighborhoods because social networks in the disadvantaged neighborhoods had a higher density. d. The chronic stress of living in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods had chronic negative effects on marital satisfaction.


ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Chronic Conditions and Acute Events TOP: Mapping the Context of Intimate Relationships: Chronic conditions and acute events MSC: Factual 12. Cohan and Cole (2002) studied the effects of Hurricane Hugo on births, divorces, and marriages by examining the rates in the 14 years prior to the hurricane and the 8 years following. What did they find? a. They found increases in birth and marriage rates and declines in divorce rates; people were more likely to increase levels of commitment following the hurricane. b. They found increases in birth, marriage, and divorce rates; people evaluated their commitments, leading some to increase their levels of involvement and others to end their relationships. c. They found increases in birth, marriage, and divorce rates, which appeared to be permanent compared to counties that were not affected by the hurricane. d. They found increases in birth and marriage rates and declines in divorce rates, but the rates became comparable within a few years to rates in counties unaffected by the hurricane. ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: Chronic Conditions and Acute Events TOP: Mapping the Context of Intimate Relationships: Chronic conditions and acute events MSC: Factual 13. Miko has been married to his wife for 1 year. What is Miko likely to identify as the main stressor in his relationship? a. making financial decisions c. frequency of sexual relations b. balancing his job and marriage d. in-laws ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: The Demands of Stress TOP: Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships: Demands of stress MSC: Applied 14. Annie has been married to her husband for 1 year. What is Annie likely to identify as the main stressor in her relationship? a. debt brought into marriage c. frequency of sexual relations b. communication with her spouse d. in-laws ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: The Demands of Stress TOP: Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships: Demands of stress MSC: Applied 15. Stress external to a relationship can affect stress internal to the relationship. Specifically, external stressors: a. affect couples’ daily experiences and the chronic conditions of their lives. b. lower a couple’s capacity to deal with problems effectively. c. lead to negative and positive emotions. d. affect when couples interact with each other and the reason for their interaction. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: The Demands of Stress TOP: Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships: Demands of stress MSC: Factual 16. Mia and Georges have been married for 2 years. Georges works long hours in a high paying job so that they can afford their home, while Mia spends her time taking care of their newborn son and completing the household chores. Because of their schedules, they do not spend a lot of time together. What attribute of their relationship is a powerful predictor of divorce? a. lack of shared leisure time


b. their newborn son c. the frequency of sexual relations d. the neighborhood in which they live ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: The Demands of Stress TOP: Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships: Demands of stress MSC: Applied 17. What is NOT one of the responses of the body to stress? a. dilation of pupils b. increased heart rate c. dilation of blood vessels d. inhibition of stomach and intestinal activity ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Physiological Effects of Stress TOP: Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships: Physiological effects MSC: Factual 18. Upon walking into class, you realize you forgot that you had an exam. Your heart starts racing and you immediately start to have a pain in your stomach. Which bodily system or axis has been active in response to your stress? a. hypothalamic pituitary adrenocortical axis b. hippocampal pituitary adrenocortical axis c. sympathetic adrenal medullary system d. parasympathetic adrenal medullary system ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Physiological Effects of Stress TOP: Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships: Physiological effects: Sympathetic adrenal medullary (SAM) system MSC: Applied 19. What is a negative consequence of the fight-or-flight response? a. It reduces memory for important details. b. It causes the heart rate to slow. c. It only occurs when the stress is unexpected and uncontrollable. d. It weakens one’s ability to do complex and deliberative tasks. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Behavioral and Cognitive Effects of Stress TOP: Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships: Behavioral and cognitive effects of stress MSC: Conceptual 20. In a study to learn more about how arousal affects cognition and behavior, you ask couples experiencing stress to complete a series of cognitive tasks. How are the couples likely to perform on the tasks? a. They are likely to do well on simple reflexive tasks, but poorly on complex deliberative tasks. b. They are likely to do well on both simple reflexive tasks and complex deliberative tasks. c. They are likely to do poorly on both simple reflexive tasks and complex deliberative tasks. d. They are likely to do poorly on simple reflexive tasks, but well on complex deliberative tasks. ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Behavioral and Cognitive Effects of Stress TOP: Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships: Behavioral and cognitive effects of stress MSC: Applied 21. How does an experience of acute stress and physical arousal affect memory about the details of the event?


a. Memory is enhanced for all details of the experience. b. Memory of central details of the experience is enhanced but not memory for peripheral details. c. Memory of all details is impaired by the hormones that flood the body. d. Memory of the central details is impaired because of trauma, and memory for peripheral details remains intact. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Behavioral and Cognitive Effects of Stress TOP: Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships: Behavioral and cognitive effects of stress MSC: Factual 22. As described in the text, “tunnel vision” occurs when: a. individuals examine information that is subconscious or “below-the-surface.” b. people experience the fight-or-flight response and have a better memory for the salient details of the threat but a poor memory for peripheral details. c. people are highly focused on a task because they are physiologically aroused. d. the pupils of the eye dilate during the fight-or-flight response. ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Behavioral and Cognitive Effects of Stress TOP: Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships: Behavioral and cognitive effects of stress MSC: Factual 23. Demont was fired at work, and, before he had the chance to tell his wife, Laticia, she began talking about her difficult day managing her coworkers. Feeling frustrated, Demont snapped at Laticia, “Why does everything always have to be about you? Don’t you even care what is going on with me?” What phenomenon does Demont’s outburst reflect? a. fight or flight c. tunnel vision b. stress projection d. stress pileup ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Behavioral and Cognitive Effects of Stress TOP: Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships: Behavioral and cognitive effects of stress MSC: Applied 24. Jacko criticizes Irma’s cooking. Given the research on how stress affects explanations for partner behavior, what is most true? a. If they are experiencing a lot of external stress, Irma will be more likely to blame external events for Jacko’s comment. b. If Irma is experiencing a lot of stress, she will be more likely to blame herself for Jacko’s comment. c. If they are experiencing a lot of external stress, Irma will be more likely to excuse Jacko’s comment because of his bad day at work. d. If they are experiencing a lot of external stress, Irma will be more likely to blame Jacko for his comment. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Behavioral and Cognitive Effects of Stress TOP: Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships: Behavioral and cognitive effects of stress MSC: Applied 25. Some stressors affect both partners at the same time, such as being physically separated. Which of the following findings about long-distance relationships is accurate? a. Although there are exceptions, research has shown that absence does make the heart grow fonder. b. Couples living apart can preserve their positive beliefs about the relationship without having to deal with the irritations that can arise through daily contact. c. Although it can be challenging to maintain a long-distance relationship, once couples are


reunited they report higher levels of satisfaction. d. There is no research support for the idea that absence makes the heart grow fonder; physical distance between partners is a significant source of stress for relationships. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Stress Spillover and Stress Crossover TOP: Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships: Stress spillover and stress crossover MSC: Conceptual 26. Joe’s job is very stressful. When he comes home, he often feels grouchy, and he yells at his dog. Joe’s wife, Karen, gets upset wondering what Joe will be like when he comes home at the end of the workday. She worries that she is starting to get a bit depressed by this. His dog is also starting to ignore him. This situation is an example of: a. stress crossover. b. stress spillover. c. stress crossover and stress spillover. d. stressor salience and stress crossover. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Stress Spillover and Stress Crossover TOP: Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships: Stress spillover and stress crossover MSC: Applied 27. Joe’s job is very stressful. When he comes home, he often feels grouchy, and he yells at his dog. Joe’s wife, Karen, gets upset wondering what Joe will be like when he comes home at the end of the workday. She worries that she is starting to get a bit depressed by this. His dog is also starting to ignore him. Joe’s grouchiness at home and the effects on his relationship with his wife and dog would be considered an example of: a. stress crossover. c. stressor salience. b. stress spillover. d. stress pileup. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Stress Spillover and Stress Crossover TOP: Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships: Stress spillover and stress crossover MSC: Applied 28. Joe’s job is very stressful. When he comes home, he often feels grouchy, and he yells at his dog. Joe’s wife, Karen, gets upset wondering what Joe will be like when he comes home at the end of the workday. She worries that she is starting to get a bit depressed by this. His dog is also starting to ignore him. Karen’s worries about Joe would be considered an example of: a. stress crossover. c. stressor salience. b. stress spillover. d. stress pileup. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Stress Spillover and Stress Crossover TOP: Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships: Stress spillover and stress crossover MSC: Applied 29. Stress spillover is to ________ as stress crossover is to ________. a. intraindividual; interpersonal b. interpersonal; intraindividual c. satisfaction; problem solving d. external stress; relationship problems ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Stress Spillover and Stress Crossover TOP: Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships: Stress spillover and stress crossover MSC: Conceptual 30. What appears to be true about stress, stressor salience, and the health of the relationship?


a. Salient stressors are detrimental to relationship satisfaction. b. High levels of stress are more noticeable, and partners are able to recognize that relationship problems are due to the stress. c. When stress is severe, it is more salient, and partners tend to assume that relationship problems are due to the stress. d. As relationships develop, stress becomes more salient, as in the case of parenthood. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Stress Spillover and Stress Crossover TOP: Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships: Stress spillover and stress crossover MSC: Factual 31. Chris has had a bad day at work—lots of complaints from customers and her boss gave her a deadline that she knows she will be unable to meet. When she gets home that night, she is in a bad mood and feels distant from her partner, Pat. Pat senses Chris’ coolness and begins to wonder if there is trouble in their relationship. Chris’ behavior that evening is an example of ________, and Pat’s reaction is an example of ________. a. stress spillover; stress crossover b. stressor salience; perceptual confirmation c. stress crossover; stress spillover d. chronic stress; acute stress ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Stress Spillover and Stress Crossover TOP: Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships: Stress spillover and stress crossover MSC: Applied 32. _____ were an ideal group for studying stress spillover because the link between work stress and home stress could be considered unidirectional (from work to home). a. Legal associates b. Mechanical engineers c. Air traffic controllers d. Elementary school teachers ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Stress Spillover and Stress Crossover TOP: Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships: Stress spillover and stress crossover MSC: Factual 33. Maina is conducting a daily diary study of how students’ school stress affects their relationships with parents. ________ is the association between stress and the student’s behavior at home, and ________ is the association between stress and the parents’ behavior at home. a. Stress spillover; stress crossover b. Stress crossover; stress spillover c. Stressor salience; negative reciprocity d. Negative reciprocity; stress spillover ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Stress Spillover and Stress Crossover TOP: Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships: Stress spillover and stress crossover MSC: Applied 34. Wives are likely to experience _____ stress crossover when their marriages are_____. a. less; most satisfying b. more; most satisfying c. more; least satisfying d. less; least satisfying ANS: B

DIF: Easy

REF: Stress Spillover and Stress Crossover


TOP: Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships: Stress spillover and stress crossover MSC: Factual 35. Can stress ever be good for relationships? a. Yes, if it is acute stress. b. No, because the physiological effects of stress have immediate, powerful, and usually invisible effects. c. No, because stress tends to “pile up” and depletes couples’ resources for dealing with it. d. Yes, especially when couples have the resources and skills to meet the challenge successfully. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: The Benefits of Stress TOP: Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships: The benefits of stress MSC: Factual 36. The negative effects of stress on relationships can be offset by: a. effective problem-solving skills and mutual support. b. ending the relationship and starting over again. c. increasing intimacy and commitment to the relationship. d. ample financial resources, even when the couple has poor problem-solving skills. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: The Benefits of Stress TOP: Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships: The benefits of stress MSC: Factual 37. According to research described in the text, what happens to the effects of external stress on intimate relationships when the source of the stress becomes more noticeable? a. The more obvious the external sources of stress in relationships, the more important it is that partners have sufficient resources to deal with the stress effectively. b. The more salient the external sources of moderate stress in relationships, the less they affect feelings about the relationship. c. The more salient the external sources of stress in relationships, the more negatively those sources of stress affect the relationship. d. The more salient the external sources of stress in relationships, the more likely partners are to notice the internal sources of stress in the relationship (e.g., incompatible communication styles, conflicts). ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: The Benefits of Stress TOP: Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships: The benefits of stress: Noticing stress MSC: Factual 38. In a study of couples where one partner was studying for the New York State bar exam, how did the stress crossover effect change in the 4 weeks immediately preceding the exam date? a. It did not change; the stress crossover effects were consistent throughout the 4-week study period. b. The stress crossover effect became stronger; the closer the exam date, the more the stress the examinee experienced, and the worse the partner’s moods became. c. There was a U-shaped change in the stress crossover effect; at the beginning and at the end of the 4-week study, there was a strong crossover effect of the examinee’s distress and the partner’s mood but a weaker effect in the middle 2 weeks. d. The stress crossover effect became weaker—the closer to the exam date, the less the examinee’s stress affected the partner’s mood. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: The Benefits of Stress TOP: Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships: The benefits of stress: Noticing stress


MSC: Factual 39. Lucian and Andrea have been married for 15 years. Which group of individuals is Lucian most likely to regard as closest to him? a. Andrea’s family members b. Andrea’s friends c. friends from college d. coworkers ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Describing Social Networks TOP: Social Networks: The Ties That Bind: Describing social networks MSC: Applied 40. Which of the following couples is most likely to separate? a. Miriam and Nav, who spend time with the same group of friends but do not enjoy each other’s families b. Lila and Mark, who spend time with the same group of friends and enjoy each other’s families c. Uma and Sora, who spend time with different friend groups but enjoy each other’s families d. Lauren and Alejandro, who spend time with different friend groups and do not enjoy each other’s families ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Describing Social Networks TOP: Social Networks: The Ties That Bind: Describing social networks MSC: Applied 41. Dr. Okiro is studying social networks. One participant, Mandy, has described several individuals in her network: Sue, a casual acquaintance at work; Manuel, her best friend; and Gustavo, her cousin who lives in Venezuela but with whom she chats regularly on her computer. Which statement is correct? a. Sue and Manuel are part of Mandy’s psychological network and interactive network. b. Manuel is part of Mandy’s psychological network but not her interactive network. c. Gustavo and Manuel are part of Mandy’s interactive network and her psychological network. d. Sue and Gustavo are part of Mandy’s interactive network and her psychological network. ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Describing Social Networks TOP: Social Networks: The Ties That Bind: Describing social networks: Psychological versus interactive networks MSC: Applied 42. ________ is likely a member of Antonio’s psychological network, and ________ is likely a member of Antonio’s interactive network. a. His hairdresser; his mother c. His hairdresser; his doctor b. His mother; his hairdresser d. His doctor; his best friend ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Describing Social Networks TOP: Social Networks: The Ties That Bind: Describing social networks: Psychological versus interactive networks MSC: Applied 43. Penelope has been dating Umberto throughout college. How did Penelope most likely meet Umberto? a. at their church group b. at a house party or bar c. in a class they took together d. by being introduced to him by a friend ANS: D

DIF: Difficult

REF: Advantages of Social Networks for Couples


TOP: Social Networks: The Ties That Bind: Advantages of social networks MSC: Applied 44. What is social capital? a. the benefits that people get from their relationships with others b. the number of individuals in people’s social networks c. the primary members of an individual’s psychological network d. the costs that are incurred by social networks ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Advantages of Social Networks for Couples TOP: Social Networks: The Ties That Bind: Advantages of social networks: Social capital MSC: Factual 45. Social networks can benefit and harm intimate relationships. What is one way in which social networks do NOT affect intimate relationships? a. Social networks enable people to meet potential partners. b. Social networks provide a context of people who can help in times of need. c. Social networks can be damaging to relationships, particularly when partners’ networks do not overlap much. d. Shared networks provide barriers that can prevent people from leaving good but not bad relationships. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Advantages of Social Networks for Couples | Challenges of Social Networks TOP: Social Networks: The Ties That Bind: Advantages of social networks | Social Networks: The Ties That Bind: Challenges of social networks MSC: Factual 46. Whose relationship is most likely to end? a. Sally and Melinda’s, because they have high social network overlap b. Greg and Sander’s, because they have high network density c. DeAnda and Kevin’s, because they have high substitutability in their social network d. Greer and Tameca’s, because they have low substitutability in their social network ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Challenges of Social Networks TOP: Social Networks: The Ties That Bind: Challenges of social networks MSC: Applied 47. Whose relationship is LEAST likely to end? a. Sally and Melinda’s, because they have low social network overlap b. Greg and Sander’s, because they have high network density c. DeAnda and Kevin’s, because they have high substitutability in their social network d. Greer and Tameca’s, because they have low substitutability in their social network ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Challenges of Social Networks TOP: Social Networks: The Ties That Bind: Challenges of social networks MSC: Applied 48. Which of the following statements is TRUE about how social networks can challenge relationships? a. Social networks can negatively affect relationships via factors such as substitutability but do not directly negatively affect relationships. b. Social networks are positively associated with relationship stability when partners spend a lot of time with friends or relatives. c. When partners have independent networks, close ties with others can do more harm than good to the relationship. d. When partners have independent networks, they are able to build space between themselves,


which serves as a healthy outlet, thereby strengthening the relationship. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Challenges of Social Networks TOP: Social Networks: The Ties That Bind: Challenges of social networks MSC: Factual 49. After census data revealed that Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee were among the states with the highest divorce rates, various political figures were pressed to explain the finding. What is the best explanation for the divorce rates being higher in these conservative states? a. People who marry in these states have more unrealistic expectations about marriage, leading to inevitable disappointment and distress. b. Prior to this census, relationship education was not widely available to couples in these states, leading to greater rates of dissolution. c. The overall quality of life in these states is poorer compared to other states, making marriage challenging. d. Young people in these states were rebelling against conservative beliefs and did not value the institution of marriage as much as young people in other states. ANS: C DIF: Medium TOP: Socioeconomic Status

REF: Socioeconomic Status MSC: Factual

50. What role does neighborhood context play in the association between relationship duration and the likelihood of marital dissolution? a. Marital dissolution is not associated with the type of neighborhood in which a married couple lives. b. Marital dissolution tends to happen earlier in marriage for people who live in low-income neighborhoods than those who live in more affluent neighborhoods. c. People who live in affluent neighborhoods rarely divorce, even after 15 years of marriage. d. Because people in middle-income neighborhoods are likely to be dual-career couples, they are more likely to divorce than people who live in low-income neighborhoods. ANS: B DIF: Medium TOP: Socioeconomic Status

REF: Socioeconomic Status MSC: Factual

51. Socioeconomic status has many effects on relationships. What is NOT one of them? a. Women who have less than a high school education are less likely to marry than women who have more education. b. Low-income spouses experience more marital stress than do moderate- or high-income spouses. c. Low-income couples are four times more likely to have their first child prior to marriage. d. Marriages in less affluent neighborhoods end earlier than marriages in more affluent neighborhoods. ANS: A DIF: Medium TOP: Socioeconomic Status

REF: Socioeconomic Status MSC: Factual

52. Over the past four decades, attitudes toward marriage have _______, while attitudes toward alternative family forms have become_______ acceptable. a. not changed; more b. declined; more c. increased; more d. not changed; less ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Do the Poor Value Marriage Less? TOP: Socioeconomic Status: Do the poor value marriage less? MSC: Conceptual


53. According to the chapter, which of the following is NOT a reason low-income couples experience more difficulties in maintaining enduring relationships? a. They may experience personal challenges due to having less education. b. They live in contexts which tend to be marked by greater social disorder. c. They tend to have jobs that force them to work outside “normal” working hours. d. They do not value marriage as an institution. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Do the Poor Value Marriage Less? | Relationship Challenges in Low-Income Communities TOP: Socioeconomic Status: Do the poor value marriage less? | Socioeconomic Status: Relationship challenges in low-income communities MSC: Factual 54. When are efforts to improve the lives of low-income couples most likely to succeed? a. when they focus on relationship education, such as communication skill building b. when they focus on instilling values of relationships c. when they provide free childcare to the couple d. when they acknowledge the challenges couples face ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Helping Low-Income Couples TOP: Socioeconomic Status: Helping low-income couples MSC: Conceptual 55. What has helped improve relationship quality among low-income couples? a. antipoverty programs that offer job training or cash assistance b. antipoverty programs that provide job training rather than cash assistance c. programs that directly address relationship problems, rather than those that attempt to make life easier d. providing free childcare to parents to ease the burden of parenting ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Helping Low-Income Couples TOP: Socioeconomic Status: Helping low-income couples MSC: Conceptual ESSAY 1. Compare the distal and proximal context, and provide an example of a stressor from each context. ANS: The elements of a couple’s context that are far removed from them make up the distal context, and the elements of a couple’s context that are parts of the couple’s immediate environment make up the proximal context. For example, living in a small home, having few financial resources, working long hours, and having difficulties in child rearing are part of the proximal context—or the day-to-day context of the couple’s environment. Factors, such as the poor economic climate, lack of federal funding for daycare, and a cultural tendency for noninvolvement of the extended family in child rearing, would all be somewhat removed from the couple’s immediate context, and, therefore, these would all be distal factors. DIF: Medium REF: Stressors and Resources TOP: Mapping the Context of Intimate Relationships: Stressors and resources: Proximal context versus distal context MSC: Conceptual 2. As a relationship researcher at a major university, you have received a request from a television news show to take part in a panel discussing the effects of a devastating earthquake that has affected several communities where the residents vary in their socioeconomic status. Given what you know about the effects of acute and chronic stressors on relationships, what points will you make in the discussion?


ANS: First, in terms of trends, it is likely that there will be increases in births, divorces, and marriages in the first few years following the earthquake. Acute stressors, such as the earthquake, seem to prompt people to evaluate the level of commitment and the quality of their relationships and either to end dissatisfying relationships or to increase commitment in relationships by marrying or having children. Second, stress is associated with negative outcomes for a couple’s relationships. Third, the nature of the effect on relationships may vary depending on preexisting levels of chronic stress. For couples who are already living in less affluent communities or who are coping with other chronic stressors, it is likely that this new stressor—dealing with the earthquake—will exhaust already depleted resources. Thus, the impact of the earthquake is likely to be much greater for couples who already have a lower socioeconomic status or who are already coping with chronic stressors than for couples who have more resources to deal with the disaster. DIF: Medium REF: Chronic Conditions and Acute Events TOP: Mapping the Context of Intimate Relationships: Chronic conditions and acute events MSC: Applied 3. According to Hill’s ABC-X model of stress, how do acute stressors affect families who are already experiencing chronic stress? ANS: Chronic and acute stressors are not simply additive; they interact in their effect on relationships. For example, an acute stressor, such as an unexpected bill for a family that already has financial difficulties, is far more difficult to cope with compared to the acute stressor of an unexpected bill for a family that is financially comfortable. DIF: Easy REF: Chronic Conditions and Acute Events TOP: Mapping the Context of Intimate Relationships: Chronic conditions and acute events MSC: Factual 4. What is the fight-or-flight response? ANS: The fight-or-flight response is a physiological response of the body to acute stressors. Two systems are activated: the sympathetic adrenal medullary system, which triggers the adrenal gland to release epinephrine and other hormones into the bloodstream; and the hypothalamic pituitary adrenocortical axis, which causes other steroids, such as hydrocortisone, to be released. The hormones cause immediate physiological reactions, such as increased heart rate, pupil dilation, constriction of blood vessels, inhibition of the digestive system, activation of the sweat glands, relaxation of the lungs, and more effective nutrient processing. DIF: Medium REF: Physiological Effects of Stress TOP: Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships: Physiological effects: Fight-or-flight response MSC: Factual 5. Neff and Karney (2004) conducted a study where they contacted newlyweds every 6 months for the first 3 years of marriage. At every contact, spouses were asked to imagine what they would think if their partners acted in an insensitive way (e.g., failing to listen, acting cool or distant). Spouses were also asked to describe the sorts of stresses they had experienced outside the relationship since the last assessment. What was the main implication of this study? ANS:


Neff and Karney found that, over time, the explanation for a partner’s behavior varied in relation to the stress that was being experienced. Couples with low levels of relationship stress, on average, avoided blaming their partners for their negative behaviors, excusing them as the product of demands external to the relationship (such as stress). Yet when outside stress was high, these same couples were more likely to blame their partners for their negative behaviors. In other words, couples’ abilities to see the broader context of a partner’s behavior is diminished under just those circumstances when it is most needed: when couples experience external stressors. DIF: Medium REF: Behavioral and Cognitive Effects of Stress TOP: Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships: Behavioral and cognitive effects of stress MSC: Conceptual 6. Compare the effects of stress spillover and stress crossover on relationships, providing an example of each. ANS: Stress spillover refers to stress effects within an individual, and stress crossover refers to stressors affecting one individual that are transmitted to others. In other words, stress spillover occurs when an individual goes home at the end of the workday, but is still thinking about work and feeling stressed about it at home. Stress crossover arises when this individual’s work-related stress begins to affect their partner at home. DIF: Easy REF: Stress Spillover and Stress Crossover TOP: Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships: Stress spillover and stress crossover MSC: Conceptual 7. Brenda is having serious problems at work: she is having difficulty keeping up with the workload (she has to bring some of her work home), her co-workers are difficult to work with, and her boss is considering firing her because of poor sales. As a result, Brenda also has difficulty paying the bills at home, she feels even more irritable than normal when she sees her husband leave the toilet seat up, and she doesn’t have much time to spend with him outside of work. Which of the concepts discussed in the chapter about the impact of stress on relationships best describes Brenda’s situation? Explain your choice. ANS: Stress spillover best describes Brenda’s situation. Stress spillover refers to effects within individuals; the effects of stressors in one domain of someone’s life are transmitted to other domains. In Brenda’s case, difficulties at work are affecting her at home. DIF: Medium REF: Stress Spillover and Stress Crossover TOP: Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships: Stress spillover and stress crossover MSC: Applied 8. Tyler and Andrea recently bought a new home and are expecting their first child. Money is tight, and Tyler has been working 60 hours a week to cover the cost of the mortgage and to save for the baby’s arrival. Often exhausted and stressed at the end of the day, Tyler has been more moody and argumentative than usual. Consequently, Andrea is becoming less satisfied in her relationship. Which of the concepts discussed in the chapter about the impact of stress on relationships best describes Andrea’s situation? Explain your choice. ANS:


Stress crossover best describes Andrea’s situation. Stress crossover refers to effects between individuals—whenever stress, experienced by one partner in a relationship, affects the outcomes and functioning of the other partner. In Andrea’s case, Tyler’s stress at work has spilled over into his home life and has crossed over to Andrea. (We might also note that Andrea and Tyler are likely in a satisfied marriage—one study showed that the effects of stress crossover are strongest for wives in the most satisfying marriages.) DIF: Medium REF: Stress Spillover and Stress Crossover TOP: Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships: Stress spillover and stress crossover MSC: Applied 9. You are writing an article for your school’s online zine about long-distance relationships. The title is “Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder, or Does It?” Based on the research on stress and close relationships, what points will you make in your article? ANS: Although conventional wisdom would have it that separation makes partners value each other, and the little time they have together, even more than partners who see each other regularly, the research literature does not support this idea. Physical distance is a significant source of stress for partners. It reduces opportunities for interaction, which may limit opportunities for disappointment and conflict, but it also restricts opportunities to increase closeness and intimacy. Distance increases the costs in the relationship; it requires greater effort to interact either in person or via electronic communication. The partner may be unavailable for support in times of need, and it can be difficult to provide the kinds of tangible support that might be required. There are also added pressures of each partner interacting with others outside the relationship, which may create opportunities for jealousy and infidelity. Despite these barriers, individuals in long-distance relationships report similar levels of relationship satisfaction and stability compared to couples who live close to each other. Researchers explain this finding suggesting less satisfied couples will separate when faced with distance separation, whereas those who choose to bear the distance separation are likely to be highly committed. DIF: Difficult REF: Stress Spillover and Stress Crossover TOP: Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships: Stress spillover and stress crossover MSC: Applied 10. Imagine you are a couple’s therapist working with a couple who is experiencing significant distress outside of their relationship. For example, one partner describes a long commute, long working hours, and a difficult working relationship with his boss, whereas the other partner is juggling work and caring for a family member’s chronic health condition. Based on the information presented in the chapter, what is a goal that you might have for this couple? ANS: Various researchers have identified that, as an external stressor increases, people are better able to recognize it, and therefore separate it from their relationship. Noticing the source as external to the relationship can prevent their stress and bad mood from spilling over and crossing over into their relationship. Thus, a goal with this couple would be to assess the degree to which they are aware of how their external circumstances are affecting them (e.g., how these stressful experiences translate into bad moods and their difficulty interacting as a couple) and help them increase their awareness of how external forces are affecting their relationship. This awareness will help them externalize the marital difficulties regarding the stressful experiences at work and caring for the chronically ill family member rather than blaming the relationship or the relationship partner for the problems. DIF: Medium REF: The Benefits of Stress TOP: Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships: The benefits of stress: Noticing stress MSC: Applied


11. Why is it important to understand the role of stressor awareness in stress spillover and crossover when counseling couples who are experiencing relationship difficulties? ANS: Stressful experiences that are completely external to the relationship can affect partners’ experiences within the relationship, even if partners are unaware that they are being affected in this way. Being aware of how external stressors may affect relationships is a first step toward weakening the spillover and crossover effects. Although such awareness may not always be enough to resolve relationship difficulties, especially during high levels of stress, understanding the context of the relationship may at least begin to help couples appreciate, and then correct for, the context of each other’s behaviors. DIF: Easy REF: The Benefits of Stress TOP: Stress: When Bad Things Happen to Good Relationships: The benefits of stress: Noticing stress MSC: Factual 12. Define network composition and overlap, and discuss how each attribute is associated with relationship outcomes. ANS: Network composition involves the kinds of relationships and connections that make up an individual’s social network. Most individuals regard their family members and those of their spouse to be their closest connections. These individuals tend to turn to family members in times of stress. Research shows that individuals who have a diverse network composition are also likely to be healthy because they can draw upon different resources to fill their needs. Network overlap is the degree to which partners in a relationship consider the same individuals part of their social networks. The greater the network overlap for a couple, the happier and more stable their relationship will be. DIF: Easy REF: Describing Social Networks TOP: Social Networks: The Ties That Bind: Describing social networks: Network composition | Social Networks: The Ties That Bind: Describing social networks: Network overlap MSC: Factual 13. You have recently been appointed to a committee charged with allocating federal funds to strengthen romantic relationships. One of the committee members is arguing that relationship education to strengthen values for low socioeconomic couples is the best use of the funds. Based on what you read in the chapter, how would you respond to your colleague about the lack of values as the heart of relationship dissolution? ANS: Low-income couples are at higher risk for marital dissolution and distress, but the reason for that risk may not be a lack of values. Some argue that a devaluation of the institution of marriage is the cause of marital breakdown in lower socioeconomic status couples, but the evidence suggests that attitudes toward marriage have remained highly positive over time generally and that poorer people view marriage more positively than do wealthier people. Thus, helping couples have more positive attitudes about marriage does not seem to be a good use of federal funds, given that this does not appear to be a factor in low socioeconomic status couples’ decisions whether to marry. DIF: Difficult REF: Do the Poor Value Marriage Less? TOP: Socioeconomic Status: Do the poor value marriage less? MSC: Applied 14. You have recently been appointed to a task force charged with allocating federal funds to strengthen marriages among low-income families. Each member of the task force has been asked to provide suggestions for how to best use these funds. What suggestions will you make?


ANS: Low-income couples are at higher risk for marital dissolution and distress for a variety of reasons. They often have many personal challenges (e.g., they tend to have less education than do individuals with higher incomes), the contexts in which they live tend to be marked by greater social disorder, and they tend to have jobs that force them to work nonstandard hours. Because of the unique challenges that low-income couples face, there is no easy solution for improving their relationships. However, it seems evident that, first, efforts to improve the lives of low-income couples will be most effective if those efforts acknowledge the real challenges that low-income couples face. For example, programs that administer skills-based relationship education to low-income couples would likely be more effective if programs used examples that were relevant to these couples’ lives rather than examples developed for middle-class, college-educated couples. Second, programs that improve the quality of the lives of low-income individuals are likely to improve their relationships as well. For example, in Norway, government subsidies for families who elected to stay home with their young children rather than use government-run daycare services resulted in a significant drop in divorce rates among the eligible couples. DIF: Difficult REF: Helping Low-Income Couples TOP: Socioeconomic Status: Helping low-income couples

MSC: Applied

15. Discuss the benefits and disadvantages of social networks for intimate relationships. ANS: Social networks provide the following advantages: (1) opportunities to meet potential partners; (2) social capital—resources or benefits that individuals derive from their relationships with others, such as tangible or emotional support; and (3) incentives for staying in intimate relationships and barriers for leaving them (which is an advantage only if the relationship is of reasonable quality). Social networks have the following disadvantages: (1) lack of approval or support from the social network, which can negatively affect the relationship; (2) if there is high substitutability in the social network, there may be increased opportunities for infidelity and a reduction of dependence on the relationship, leading to relationship dissolution; and (3) social networks can create barriers for leaving relationships that are unsatisfying or dysfunctional. DIF: Easy REF: Advantages of Social Networks for Couples | Challenges of Social Networks TOP: Social Networks: The Ties That Bind: Advantages of social networks | Social Networks: The Ties That Bind: Challenges of social networks MSC: Factual


CHAPTER 14: Relationships Across the Lifespan 1. Born into Intimacy: How Adult Relationships Influence Children a. Do children understand adult interactions? b. Why are relationships between adults so important to children? i. Desensitization versus sensitization 2. The Expanding Social World of Childhood a. Sibling relationships i. Differential parental treatment ii. Theory of mind 1. False belief test b. Children’s friendships i. Defining features ii. Developing empathy 1. Shared imaginative play iii. Setting the stage for intimacy 3. Adolescence and Initial Steps into Intimacy a. How teenagers think about intimate relationships b. Adolescents’ experiences of intimate relationships c. A preview of coming attractions? 4. Major Transitions in Intimate Relationships during Adulthood a. Cohabitation i. Selection effect b. Marriage and parenthood c. Divorce and remarriage 5. Intimate Relationships in Later Life a. Varieties of intimacy for older adults b. The quality of intimacy in later life i. Socioemotional selectivity theory c. Widowhood MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. Research on how adults’ relationships affect children shows that: a. children cannot appreciate the complexity of interactions between adults. b. young children have trouble recognizing whether a conflict has been resolved successfully, but older children do not. c. the effects of being exposed to parental conflict disappear when the quality of parent-child interactions is taken into account. d. children’s models of intimacy develop through observing adult relationships around them. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Born into Intimacy: How Adult Relationships Influence Children TOP: Born into Intimacy: How Adult Relationships Influence Children MSC: Factual 2. Compared to children whose parents have a harmonious relationship, children exposed to parental discord are likely to experience: a. panic attacks and psychotic episodes. b. social marginalization and discrimination. c. difficulties in their relationships with peers. d. low academic achievement in adolescence. ANS: C

DIF: Medium

REF: Do Children Understand Adult Interactions?


TOP: Born into Intimacy: How Adult Relationships Influence Children: Do children understand adult interactions? MSC: Factual 3. Carlos and Angela have a 6-year-old child named Rosita. They occasionally fight with each other in front of Rosita. Given what you know about children as witnesses of their parents’ relationship, what is true? a. Rosita is still too young to understand or to be affected by the conflict between her parents. b. Rosita can recognize whether Carlos and Angela resolve their conflicts, even if her parents try to mask the conflict with positive affect. c. Carlos and Angela can protect Rosita by maintaining a positive emotional tone during their conflicts. d. The more Rosita is exposed to conflicts between Carlos and Angela, the less she will be affected by them. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Do Children Understand Adult Interactions? TOP: Born into Intimacy: How Adult Relationships Influence Children: Do children understand adult interactions? MSC: Applied 4. Ursula hears her parents arguing regularly. The more she hears her parents argue, the more she becomes upset. Ursula’s behavior can be attributed to which of the following? a. developing false beliefs b. developing apathy c. becoming sensitized d. becoming desensitized ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: The Impact of Adult Conflict on Children TOP: Born into Intimacy: How Adult Relationships Influence Children: Why are relationships between adults so important to children?: Desensitization versus sensitization MSC: Applied 5. After hearing her parents argue over and over again, Emma became accustomed to their bickering. Emma’s behavior can be attributed to: a. theory of mind. c. desensitization. b. false belief. d. sensitization. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: The Impact of Adult Conflict on Children TOP: Born into Intimacy: How Adult Relationships Influence Children: Why are relationships between adults so important to children?: Desensitization versus sensitization MSC: Conceptual 6. The textbook describes a study where 2-year-olds played in a room and were exposed either once or twice to research assistants having an argument. A control group of children did not witness the research assistants arguing. The researchers then assessed the children’s aggressive behaviors when they were alone. The main finding of the study was that children become ________. The children who heard the research assistants arguing twice were ________ aggressive themselves than the children who heard the research assistants arguing only once. a. less reactive the more they are exposed to conflict; less b. increasingly reactive the more they are exposed to conflict; more c. desensitized to hearing adults arguing; less d. desensitized to hearing adults arguing; more ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: The Impact of Adult Conflict on Children TOP: Born into Intimacy: How Adult Relationships Influence Children: Why are relationships between adults so important to children?: Desensitization versus sensitization MSC: Factual


7. Habituation is to ________ as reactivity is to ________. a. sensitization; desensitization b. false beliefs; theory of mind c. desensitization; sensitization d. theory of mind; false beliefs ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: The Impact of Adult Conflict on Children TOP: Born into Intimacy: How Adult Relationships Influence Children: Why are relationships between adults so important to children?: Desensitization versus sensitization MSC: Conceptual 8. When elementary schoolchildren are asked to describe the different relationships in their lives, they mention conflict more often in their relationships with: a. parents. c. friends. b. siblings. d. teachers. ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Sibling Relationships TOP: The Expanding Social World of Childhood: Sibling relationships MSC: Factual 9. “Sibling rivalry is the result of competition for parental resources.” With which theory is this statement most consistent? a. natural selection c. attachment theory b. theory of mind d. social learning theory ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Sibling Relationships TOP: The Expanding Social World of Childhood: Sibling relationships MSC: Conceptual 10. Which of the following statements about research on differential parental treatment is accurate? a. Differential parental treatment is associated with problems between siblings. b. Differential parental treatment is associated with problems only when it is perceived by all siblings. c. Very young children don’t seem to be sensitive to differential parental treatment. d. Differential parental treatment is associated with problems between siblings only when it is perceived as unfair. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Sibling Relationships TOP: The Expanding Social World of Childhood: Sibling relationships: Differential parental treatment MSC: Factual 11. Infants are most likely to be distressed when their mothers are unresponsive to _____ for a few moments because they are paying attention to a _____. a. them; picture book b. them; life-size baby doll c. their siblings; picture book d. their siblings; life-size baby doll ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Sibling Relationships TOP: The Expanding Social World of Childhood: Sibling relationships: Differential parental treatment MSC: Conceptual 12. Which of the following is NOT true about the development of children’s theories of mind? a. Developing theories of mind is a prerequisite for empathizing with other people.


b. Children generally do not develop theories of mind until they are 6 years old. c. Children with siblings develop theories of mind more quickly than children without siblings. d. Sibling conflict is positively associated with children’s ability to adopt another person’s perspective. ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: Sibling Relationships TOP: The Expanding Social World of Childhood: Sibling relationships: Theory of mind MSC: Factual 13. Why do children with older siblings develop theory of mind more quickly than children without siblings? a. Children without siblings do not need to compete for their parents’ resources. b. Children without siblings develop all cognitive abilities more slowly. c. Children with older siblings often take on the responsibility of teaching empathy to younger siblings. d. Children with older siblings need to reason with and understand their siblings to interact with them successfully. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Sibling Relationships TOP: The Expanding Social World of Childhood: Sibling relationships: Theory of mind MSC: Conceptual 14. Bianca is told that Sally put her marble in a basket. When Sally left, Anne moved the marble into a box. Bianca is asked, “When Sally comes back, where will she look for her marble?” Bianca answers saying she will look in the basket. Bianca’s answer indicates that she: a. cannot empathize with Anne. c. doesn’t know where the marble is. b. has developed theory of mind. d. probably doesn’t have older siblings. ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Sibling Relationships TOP: The Expanding Social World of Childhood: Sibling relationships: Theory of mind: False belief test MSC: Applied 15. The false belief test is used to determine whether children have: a. false beliefs about their parents’ relationship. b. false beliefs about their own popularity. c. the ability to distinguish between the emotional tone of a conflict and whether the conflict was resolved. d. theories of mind. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Sibling Relationships TOP: The Expanding Social World of Childhood: Sibling relationships: Theory of mind: False belief test MSC: Factual 16. A(n) ________ is often the developing child’s first relationship with someone who is not a relative or caregiver. a. friendship c. intimate relationship b. sibling relationship d. attachment ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Childhood Friendships TOP: The Expanding Social World of Childhood: Children’s friendships MSC: Factual 17. With respect to children’s friendships: a. longitudinal research shows that children classified as popular derive more benefits from


their popularity than from their reciprocal friendships. b. hostility between childhood friends predicts hostile romantic relationships in young adulthood, but this effect disappears when parent-child hostility is controlled. c. without shared imaginative play, children are unlikely to develop empathy. d. an individual’s strong bond with a problematic or difficult friend can reinforce their own negative behaviors. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Childhood Friendships TOP: The Expanding Social World of Childhood: Children’s friendships MSC: Factual 18. Which of the following is a defining feature of friendships? a. equal status c. affection b. respect d. conflict ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Childhood Friendships TOP: The Expanding Social World of Childhood: Children’s friendships: Defining features MSC: Factual 19. Laurita’s friend, Guiliana, comes over after school to play on Wednesdays. Laurita’s parents notice that her demeanor and style of play differ greatly when she is with Giuliana, compared to when she plays with her younger sister, Pilar. What have her parents most likely observed? a. Laurita is more likely to interact with Pilar in coercive ways than when she is with Giuliana. b. Laurita is more likely to interact with Giuliana in coercive ways than when she is with Pilar. c. Laurita is more likely to engage in shared imaginative play with Pilar than with Giuliana. d. Laurita is more likely to engage in shared imaginative play with Giuliana than with Pilar. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Childhood Friendships TOP: The Expanding Social World of Childhood: Children’s friendships MSC: Applied 20. Why are differences in opinion between siblings more likely to result in aggression compared to differences among friends? a. Friends are more likely to respect each other because of their similar interests, and thus, disagree in polite ways. b. Siblings often interact in private spaces while friends interact in public spaces, where conflict is less acceptable. c. There is less reason for siblings to make compromises because the relationship is involuntary and unlikely to end. d. Siblings are competing for resources from the same source, thus, there is usually more at stake in comparison with friendships. ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Childhood Friendships TOP: The Expanding Social World of Childhood: Children’s friendships MSC: Conceptual 21. Which of the following is NOT one of the three characterizations of childhood friendships that play a role in developing intimacy in adulthood? a. popularity b. size c. composition d. quality ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Childhood Friendships TOP: The Expanding Social World of Childhood: Children’s friendships


MSC: Factual 22. Brehnan and Saeth have spent the afternoon on the beach building a fort out of driftwood and pretending they were knights on a mission to rescue a princess (Saeth’s 6-month-old sister). Brehnan and Saeth have been engaged in: a. shared imaginative play. c. hierarchical play. b. behavioral reciprocity. d. attachment behavior. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Childhood Friendships TOP: The Expanding Social World of Childhood: Children’s friendships: Developing empathy: Shared imaginative play MSC: Applied 23. Which of the following 11-year-olds is most likely to be dating by the time she is 15 years old? a. Lana, who has mostly female friends who are also 11 years old b. Heidi, who has a mix of male and female friends who are also 11 years old c. Sinae, who has mostly female friends who are all older than she is d. Ashleigh, who has a mix of male and female friends, who are all older than she is ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Childhood Friendships TOP: The Expanding Social World of Childhood: Children’s friendships: Setting the stage for intimacy MSC: Applied 24. According to the World Health Organization, adolescence is the period between the ages of: a. 9 and 18. c. 13 and 19. b. 10 and 19. d. 13 and 24. ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Adolescence and Initial Steps into Intimacy TOP: Adolescence and Initial Steps into Intimacy MSC: Factual 25. At ages 11 to 12, _____ percent of adolescents report having dated compared to _____ percent by age 15 to 16. a. 15; 29 c. 29; 54 b. 8; 54 d. 8; 73 ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: How Teenagers Think about Intimate Relationships TOP: Adolescence and Initial Steps into Intimacy: How teenagers think about intimate relationships MSC: Factual 26. Gigi is a teenager who had sex for the first time with her boyfriend when she was 16 years old. What is Gigi most likely to report as her primary reason for having sex? a. She felt forced to do it. b. She wanted to know what it would feel like. c. All of her friends were doing it. d. She thought it would make her boyfriend love her more. ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: How Teenagers Think about Intimate Relationships TOP: Adolescence and Initial Steps into Intimacy: How teenagers think about intimate relationships MSC: Applied 27. Which of the following couples are most likely to have the longest lasting relationship? a. Jeremy and Kate, Caucasian teenagers b. Graciela and Luis, Hispanic teenagers c. Timothy and Tiana, African American teenagers


d. Duke and Ellen, Asian American teenagers ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: How Teenagers Think about Intimate Relationships TOP: Adolescence and Initial Steps into Intimacy: How teenagers think about intimate relationships MSC: Applied 28. When adolescents were asked to write down with whom they had been in a relationship in the past year, comparisons of the lists across individuals found that, more than half the time, students: a. lied about with whom they had been romantically involved to gain social approval. b. disagreed about whether they had been in a relationship with each other. c. knew about the romantic relationships of their peers. d. were unaware of the romantic relationships of their peers. ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: How Teenagers Think about Intimate Relationships TOP: Adolescence and Initial Steps into Intimacy: How teenagers think about intimate relationships MSC: Factual 29. Which of the following accurately describes how adolescents think about intimate relationships? a. Children as young as 6 years old can clearly distinguish between intimate relationships and cross-sex friendships. b. Adolescents’ ability to recognize different types of close relationships varies considerably by age. c. Adolescents’ understanding of intimacy grows more sophisticated as they get older. d. Older teens are more likely to value social approval and support in a potential partner than younger teens are. ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: How Teenagers Think about Intimate Relationships TOP: Adolescence and Initial Steps into Intimacy: How teenagers think about intimate relationships MSC: Factual 30. When asked to describe what qualities he would value in an intimate partner, Jamil mentions self-disclosure and companionship. Jamil is most likely ________ years old. a. 11 c. 18 b. 21 d. 30 ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: How Teenagers Think about Intimate Relationships TOP: Adolescence and Initial Steps into Intimacy: How teenagers think about intimate relationships MSC: Applied 31. Which of the following statements about adolescents’ beliefs about intimate relationships is FALSE? a. On surveys, adolescents report having relatively conservative views about sex, with the majority believing that sex should occur only within a serious romantic relationship. b. Adolescents believe that everyone should have an intimate relationship, and boys generally express the same desires for relationships as do girls. c. Culture plays a powerful role in shaping beliefs about and experiences in intimate relationships. d. There appears to be more variability in adolescents’ ideas about intimate relationships than in their desire for them. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: How Teenagers Think about Intimate Relationships


TOP: Adolescence and Initial Steps into Intimacy: How teenagers think about intimate relationships MSC: Factual 32. In contrast to adults’ intimate relationships, adolescents’ intimate relationships are: a. more emotionally intense. b. more secure. c. more fragile. d. more interdependent. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: The First Time TOP: Adolescence and Initial Steps into Intimacy: Adolescents’ experiences of intimate relationships MSC: Factual 33. The Minnesota Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children has followed 267 first-time mothers and their babies from 1975 to the present. The child participants have been observed interacting with their mothers, childhood friends, and boyfriends or girlfriends. What did this study show? a. There is considerable continuity in individuals’ relationships from infancy through childhood and into adolescence. b. Adolescence is a period of change, when existing models of relationships can be reshaped by new experiences. c. There is a strong continuity in the kinds of relationships these children experienced in different stages of development. d. Adolescents in committed intimate relationships are more likely to use contraceptives. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: A Preview of Coming Attractions TOP: Adolescence and Initial Steps into Intimacy: A preview of coming attractions? MSC: Factual 34. As an infant, Clarisse participated in a study where she was observed interacting with her mother. Researchers coded her mother’s behavior during these interactions as involved and supportive. Now 16 years old, Clarisse has a boyfriend named Iain. Based on research about adolescents’ intimate relationships discussed in the text, what would you expect about Clarisse’s relationship with Iain? a. Clarisse is likely to have a supportive and satisfying relationship with Iain. b. If Iain breaks up with her, Clarisse will experience her first onset of major depression. c. Clarisse is likely to experience aggression in her relationship with Iain. d. If Iain isn’t as supportive as her mother used to be, Clarisse will be unhappy in her relationship. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: A Preview of Coming Attractions TOP: Adolescence and Initial Steps into Intimacy: A preview of coming attractions? MSC: Applied 35. Mina and Soof are cohabiting. Based on research by Casper and Sayer (2000), they are mostly likely to fall into which of the following categories? a. precursor to marriage c. in a trial marriage b. coresidential daters d. in a substitute marriage ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Cohabitation TOP: Major Transitions in Intimate Relationships during Adulthood: Cohabitation MSC: Applied 36. Cohabitation refers to: a. two unrelated people sharing a household. b. two unmarried people sharing a household. c. two unmarried partners sharing a household.


d. multiple couples sharing a household. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Cohabitation TOP: Major Transitions in Intimate Relationships during Adulthood: Cohabitation MSC: Factual 37. Compared to noncohabiting couples, couples who cohabit: a. tend to be less traditional. b. experience higher relationship quality. c. are less likely to get divorced when they later marry. d. may be partly responsible for the high divorce rate in Western countries. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Cohabitation TOP: Major Transitions in Intimate Relationships during Adulthood: Cohabitation MSC: Factual 38. Which of the following statements about cohabitation is FALSE? a. Most couples who live together do not go on to marry. b. Most couples who cohabit consider living together a substitute for marriage. c. In 2016, 18 million couples were cohabiting in the United States. d. Couples who cohabit before marriage are at higher risk for divorce than those who do not. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Cohabitation TOP: Major Transitions in Intimate Relationships during Adulthood: Cohabitation MSC: Factual 39. Couples who cohabit before marriage report lower marital satisfaction and a higher risk of divorce than those who get married without living together first. This is partly due to a: a. cohabitation effect: couples who live together before getting married have more barriers to ending the relationship, so some couples end up marrying who otherwise would have broken up. b. time effect: couples who live together before getting married have more problems communicating. c. selection effect: couples who live together before getting married tend to be less traditional and more accepting of divorce. d. momentum effect: couples who live together first have been together longer before marriage so they are further along on the dissatisfaction “slide.” ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Cohabitation TOP: Major Transitions in Intimate Relationships during Adulthood: Cohabitation: Selection effect MSC: Factual 40. The transition to parenthood is associated with: a. a return to a more egalitarian lifestyle for most couples. b. a decline in marital satisfaction similar to the decline experienced by childless couples. c. a decline in marital satisfaction that is steeper than the decline experienced by childless couples. d. an increased risk for divorce. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Marriage and Parenthood TOP: Major Transitions in Intimate Relationships during Adulthood: Marriage and parenthood MSC: Factual


41. Lilian and Ninad have been married for 23 years and have just sent their youngest child off to college. Despite their gradual decline in marital satisfaction, they feel as though they have “conquered” parenting together. Lilian and Ninad are most likely to: a. experience an immediate increase in marital satisfaction. b. experience an immediate decrease in life satisfaction. c. separate now that their youngest child has left home. d. begin disclosing their past affairs throughout the relationship. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Marriage and Parenthood TOP: Major Transitions in Intimate Relationships during Adulthood: Marriage and parenthood MSC: Applied 42. Alexandre and Dale have been married for 23 years and just sent their youngest child off to college. Over time, their marital satisfaction declined considerably—to the point where they would avoid speaking with each other. Alexandre and Dale are most likely to: a. experience an immediate increase in marital satisfaction. b. experience an immediate decrease in life satisfaction. c. separate now that their youngest child has left home. d. begin disclosing their past affairs throughout the relationship. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Marriage and Parenthood TOP: Major Transitions in Intimate Relationships during Adulthood: Marriage and parenthood MSC: Applied 43. Despite experiencing marital dissatisfaction and divorce, what is one reason why people might choose to remarry? a. They don’t see themselves as responsible for the dissolution of the first marriage. b. They are optimistic because research indicates second marriages are happier than first marriages. c. They often blame their younger selves for their impulsive decision to marry, but believe they have become wiser. d. They attribute the failed marriage to external circumstances that have nothing to do with the institution of marriage itself. ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Divorce and Remarriage TOP: Major Transitions in Intimate Relationships during Adulthood: Divorce and remarriage MSC: Conceptual 44. Which couple has the highest likelihood of divorcing? a. Julio and Cassie, both of whom have children from their previous marriages b. Iko and Elijah, who have married for the second time but have no children c. Carson and Autumn, who are in their first marriage and have two sons d. Zoe and LeMarcus, who are in their first marriage and have no children ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Divorce and Remarriage TOP: Major Transitions in Intimate Relationships during Adulthood: Divorce and remarriage MSC: Applied 45. What percentage of first marriages in the United States is expected to end in divorce or permanent separation? a. 35 percent c. 50 percent b. 45 percent d. 55 percent ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Divorce and Remarriage TOP: Major Transitions in Intimate Relationships during Adulthood: Divorce and remarriage


MSC: Factual 46. Amato and Previti (2003) found that divorced individuals described a number of reasons their marriages ended. What was NOT one of those reasons? a. infidelity c. lack of communication b. boredom d. growing apart ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Divorce and Remarriage TOP: Major Transitions in Intimate Relationships during Adulthood: Divorce and remarriage MSC: Factual 47. Tara and Aidan recently divorced after 9 years of marriage. What reason are they most likely to give for the divorce? a. infidelity c. lack of communication b. boredom d. growing apart ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Divorce and Remarriage TOP: Major Transitions in Intimate Relationships during Adulthood: Divorce and remarriage MSC: Applied 48. Compared to the general population, in which _____ percent of adults are widowed, _____ percent of adults age 65 and older are widowed. a. 10; 61 b. 8; 49 c. 6; 32 d. 4; 55 ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Varieties of Intimacy for Older Adults TOP: Intimate Relationships in Later Life: Varieties of intimacy for older adults MSC: Factual 49. What does research show about variability in the relationships of older adults? a. Rates of marriage differ between men and women; women are more likely to remarry after losing a spouse through death or divorce. b. People who have spent more time being married tend to be healthier and wealthier than those who have spent less time being married. c. Older adults continue to seek intimacy; those who find a new romantic partner are more likely to cohabit than to marry. d. Women tend to die younger than men do, leading more older men to live alone. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Varieties of Intimacy for Older Adults TOP: Intimate Relationships in Later Life: Varieties of intimacy for older adults MSC: Conceptual 50. What does research show about sexuality in older adults? a. Sexual desire fades to insignificance in the later years of life. b. The proportion of sexually active adults declines with age. c. Women are less likely to be sexually active than men, even when comparing only those men and women who remain in intimate relationships. d. The majority of older men and women who are sexually active report having sex three or four times a month. ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: The Quality of Intimacy in Later Life TOP: Intimate Relationships in Later Life: The quality of intimacy in later life MSC: Factual


51. What is true about Alzheimer’s disease and relationships? a. The need for companionship and intimacy declines as cognitive abilities deteriorate. b. Committed, healthy relationships can slow the cognitive decline caused by Alzheimer’s disease. c. Following the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, even the most committed of relationships dissolve. d. Although cognitive abilities deteriorate, the ability for love and intimacy persists. ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: The Quality of Intimacy in Later Life TOP: Intimate Relationships in Later Life: The quality of intimacy in later life MSC: Factual 52. Socioemotional selectivity theory suggests that older adults: a. seek out circumstances and relationships that promote positive emotions and actively avoid circumstances and relationships that lead to negative emotions. b. become less sensitive to their emotional experiences over time. c. experience physiological responses that are more intense than those of younger people when thinking about emotionally charged times in their lives. d. become less sensitive to the highs and lows in their relationships. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: The Quality of Intimacy in Later Life TOP: Intimate Relationships in Later Life: The quality of intimacy in later life: Socioemotional selectivity theory MSC: Factual 53. Research supports the idea that older couples become emotional “experts” who are able to choose strategies that promote positive feelings in their relationships, ________ when they are talking about difficult problems. In that situation, older couples approach the discussions ________ younger couples do. a. except; in much the same way as c. even; in much the same way as b. except; with less positivity than d. even; with more positivity than ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: The Quality of Intimacy in Later Life TOP: Intimate Relationships in Later Life: The quality of intimacy in later life: Socioemotional selectivity theory MSC: Factual 54. Which of the following statements about losing a spouse or partner in later life is FALSE? a. For couples who have spent most of their lives together, the death of one partner does predict an increased risk that the other partner will die also in the next few months. b. Adjusting to the loss is easier when the relationship was satisfying than when the relationship was unsatisfying. c. Losing a partner in later life is a significant risk for depression. d. Adjusting to the loss is easier when the death was expected compared to when the death came suddenly. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Widowhood TOP: Intimate Relationships in Later Life: Widowhood

MSC: Factual

55. The consequences of loss of a spouse are different for men and for women. Men tend to _____ whereas women tend to _____. a. be at increased risk for falling into poverty; suffer greater loneliness b. be more depressed; suffer greater loneliness c. be at increased risk for falling into poverty; be more depressed d. suffer greater loneliness; be at increased risk for falling into poverty


ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Widowhood TOP: Intimate Relationships in Later Life: Widowhood

MSC: Factual

ESSAY 1. You have been asked to take part in a radio program about how parental relationships affect children. One of the other participants claims, “When parents argue, it doesn’t matter whether they hide it from their children or not. Kids don’t understand the complexity of adults’ emotions anyway.” How do you respond? ANS: Even young children are very sensitive to the quality of the interactions between the adults around them. Children exposed to discord/overt hostility between their parents are more likely than children whose parents have a more harmonious relationship to experience depression, behavioral problems in school, and difficulties in their own relationships with peers. Children are also negatively affected by parents who are disengaged or withdrawn from each other. Furthermore, children are sensitive not only to the presence of conflict but also to how the conflict ends, even if their parents try to mask the conflict with positive affect. A pleasant resolution mitigates the distress of being exposed to the conflict itself, whereas an angry or a withdrawn ending to the conflict worsens the effects of negativity during the conflict. It would be ideal if children were never aware of their parents’ conflicts. To the extent that they are, however, parents should strive to reach a positive resolution to conflict. DIF: Easy REF: Do Children Understand Adult Interactions? TOP: Born into Intimacy: How Adult Relationships Influence Children: Do children understand adult interactions? MSC: Applied 2. Susan is studying childhood development in college and is eager to try out what she is learning with her own children, Mac and Ceilidh. Two-and-a-half-year-old Mac listens intently as his mother tells a story about Joe and Sam. Joe has a toy truck, which he puts into a box and then leaves the room. While he is gone, Sam takes the truck out of Joe’s box and puts it into his own pail. Susan asks Mac, “When Joe comes back into the room, where will he look for his truck?” Mac replies, “In Sam’s pail.” Six-year-old Ceilidh is listening and says, “Don’t be silly! Joe will look for the truck in the box.” Explain why Mac’s and Ceilidh’s answers differ. ANS: Mac hasn’t yet developed a theory of mind and cannot distinguish between his own knowledge and Joe’s knowledge. Ceilidh, on the other hand, has developed a theory of mind and understands that Joe has different information than she does and thus correctly predicts that Joe will look in his own box. DIF: Difficult REF: Sibling Relationships TOP: The Expanding Social World of Childhood: Sibling relationships: Theory of mind: False belief test MSC: Applied 3. Describe the defining features of friendships. ANS: (1) Friendships are voluntary. We choose to start and end friendships; enduring friendships reflect an active decision to keep the friendships going. (2) Friendships involve reciprocity. A friendship exists only when two individuals acknowledge and affirm their relationship to each other. (3) Relationships involve equal status. Children tend to form their first friendships with other children their own age and are likely to interact as equals. DIF: Easy

REF: Childhood Friendships


TOP: The Expanding Social World of Childhood: Children’s friendships: Defining features MSC: Factual 4. Explain how shared imaginative play in children’s friendships is linked to the development of empathy. ANS: Because friendships are voluntary and reciprocal, they provide a unique motivation for empathy that is absent from most other relationships children experience. Because friends have chosen, and care about, each other, they are especially motivated to acknowledge each other’s desires, resolve conflicts effectively, and recognize the impact of their own behaviors on each other’s feelings. One way this understanding emerges is through shared imaginative play. When children create and inhabit a fantasy world together, they must reach a consensus about the rules of their new world. By developing and sharing assumptions about their pretend worlds, children begin to develop the capacity to understand their peers’ assumptions about the real world. DIF: Easy REF: Childhood Friendships TOP: The Expanding Social World of Childhood: Children’s friendships: Developing empathy: Shared imaginative play MSC: Factual 5. The size of a child’s friendship network has what effect on the child’s later intimate relationships? ANS: In general, a larger friendship network is associated with a better outcome. Children who have more opposite-sex friends in childhood and early adolescence have longer and more involved intimate relationships in later adolescence. Not all is positive, however; children who are popular tend to enter romantic relationships earlier and that can have some negative consequences (in particular, earlier romantic relationship involvement leads to earlier sexual activity). Overall, however, it is better to be popular than to be rejected. DIF: Difficult REF: Childhood Friendships | The First Time TOP: The Expanding Social World of Childhood: Children’s friendships: Setting the stage for intimacy | Adolescence and Initial Steps into Intimacy: Adolescents’ experiences of intimate relationships MSC: Factual 6. How do adolescent romantic relationships differ from adult romantic relationships? ANS: While adolescents’ romantic relationships are emotionally similar to those of adults, there are significant differences. Adults tend to be more dependent on each other than adolescents are because most adolescents do not live with one another, share property, or raise children together; the nature of adolescent relationships is much simpler. The purpose of an adolescent couple meeting is primarily to enjoy each other’s company, whereas adult partners may have a much wider variety of reasons. While adolescents can focus on the emotions of the relationship, there is less at stake to protect than in an adult relationship. Therefore, adolescent relationships are more fragile. DIF: Medium REF: The First Time TOP: Adolescence and Initial Steps into Intimacy: Adolescents’ experiences of intimate relationships MSC: Conceptual 7. You are out to lunch with some friends, and the conversation turns to the topic of sexual activity in adolescence. Your friend’s opinion is that, for teenagers, “anything goes.” Based on what you read in the chapter, how would you respond to your friend? ANS:


While some teens do have sex, 50 percent report having sex for the first time with someone they were dating. Not only were they dating their partner, but they knew their partners well and felt regard for them. The most common reason teens reported for having sex was to make their partner love them more. Thus, teens do not appear simply to be interested in having sex with anyone. DIF: Medium REF: The First Time TOP: Adolescence and Initial Steps into Intimacy: Adolescents’ experiences of intimate relationships MSC: Applied 8. Explain the transition from same-sex friendships during childhood to romantic relationships in adolescence. ANS: Initial romantic relationships emerge gradually. Childhood is characterized mostly by same-sex friendships. Young adolescents begin to cross the invisible boundaries between boys and girls, socializing more frequently in mixed-sex groups. These groups then set the stage for couples to notice each other, develop mutual attraction, and eventually pair off. DIF: Easy REF: The First Time TOP: Adolescence and Initial Steps into Intimacy: Adolescents’ experiences of intimate relationships MSC: Conceptual 9. Describe four distinct groups of cohabiting couples. ANS: (1) Precursor to marriage (46 percent): These couples are usually engaged or about to be engaged, and they are living together as a step toward getting married. (2) Coresidential daters (29 percent): These couples are romantically involved but have no plans to marry and are not even sure that their relationships are permanent. These couples move in together for a variety of reasons, including financial convenience, which has little to do with making a serious investment in the relationship. (3) Living together as a trial marriage (15 percent): These couples are not engaged and have no specific plans to become engaged but are open to the idea and hope that living together will help them evaluate whether marriage would be worth pursuing. (4) Substitute marriage (10 percent): These couples have no intention of getting engaged or married but nevertheless believe their relationships are permanent. DIF: Medium REF: Cohabitation TOP: Major Transitions in Intimate Relationships during Adulthood: Cohabitation MSC: Factual 10. You attend your partner’s family reunion, where you meet a branch of the family for the first time. Zuzana and Eric have been living together 29 years (they never married) and have two children, ages 28 and 23. Their older daughter, Rosalind, and her fiancé recently moved in together and plan to get married in the next couple of years. Their younger daughter, Fiamma, moved in with her boyfriend last week—they thought it was silly to pay rent in two places when they spend most of their time together anyway. In terms of the groups of cohabiting couples described in your textbook, what types are Zuzana and Eric, Rosalind and her fiancé, and Fiamma and her boyfriend? ANS:


Zuzana and Eric view cohabitation as a substitute marriage (as do about 10 percent of cohabiting couples). They have no intention of getting engaged or married but nevertheless believe their relationship is permanent. Rosalind and her fiancé view cohabitation as a precursor to marriage (as do about 46 percent of cohabiting couples). Like Rosalind and her fiancé, these couples are usually engaged (or about to be engaged) and are living together as a step toward getting married. Fiamma and her boyfriend are coresidential daters (as are about 29 percent of cohabiting couples). Like Fiamma and her boyfriend, these couples move in together for a variety of reasons (including financial convenience) that have little to do with a serious investment in the relationship. These couples are romantically involved but have no plans to marry and are not even sure that their relationships are permanent. DIF: Medium REF: Cohabitation TOP: Major Transitions in Intimate Relationships during Adulthood: Cohabitation MSC: Applied 11. Describe how parenthood influences one’s relationships, particularly with regard to how parenthood influences marital satisfaction. ANS: After the birth of their first child, spouses’ marital satisfaction shows a steeper decline than that of spouses who did not have a child. However, this decline is even greater among parents who were not expecting or planning to have a child. Additionally, those who have children are significantly less likely to divorce. While children take energy and time away from intimacy, they are a strong motivation for parents to stay together. When children eventually grow up and leave home, some parents experience an immediate improvement in marital satisfaction, while those who were least satisfied may choose to end the relationship. DIF: Medium REF: Marriage and Parenthood TOP: Major Transitions in Intimate Relationships during Adulthood: Marriage and parenthood MSC: Conceptual 12. Nearly 80 percent of people who have been divorced remarry, generally fairly quickly. Explain why remarriages are significantly more likely to dissolve than are first marriages. ANS: First, people who have divorced bring to their new marriages the same vulnerabilities that contributed to the problems in their first marriages. People who marry and divorce multiple times, for example, score relatively high on measures of impulsivity and neuroticism. To the extent these are fairly stable traits, people who possess them will likely find all their relationships more challenging. Second, people who have already been divorced may be more willing to consider ending the relationship when problems arise. The experience of divorce seems to change people’s attitudes, and those who end their marriages typically become more accepting of divorce than those who stay married. Finally, remarriages may simply be harder to maintain than first marriages, especially when they involve stepchildren. The presence of children from prior relationships raises difficult issues about how to allocate time and resources. Among remarriages, those involving stepchildren have higher divorce rates than those that do not. DIF: Medium REF: Major Transitions in Intimate Relationships during Adulthood TOP: Major Transitions in Intimate Relationships during Adulthood: Divorce and remarriage MSC: Factual 13. Explain why researchers have started to study later-life relationships. ANS:


Later-life relationships did not exist before modern times. In the 1920s, the average man or woman who survived until age 50 could expect to live another 22 years. By the 1990s, however, advances in public health and medical science increased the average life expectancy in the United States by nearly 50 percent. Consequently, adults now spend more of their lives in intimate relationships than they did a century ago. Long-term couples today can expect to live together in relatively good health for decades after they have retired from work and parenting, and scholars have begun to focus more on the implications of intimate relationships in the later stages of life. DIF: Medium REF: Intimate Relationships in Later Life TOP: Intimate Relationships in Later Life MSC: Conceptual 14. How does focusing solely on older adults’ marital status limit our general understanding of older adults’ intimate relationships? ANS: First, rates of marriage between men and women differ considerably. Men are more likely than women to be remarried after losing a spouse and are also more likely to die at a younger age. Thus, women over 65 are half as likely as men to be married. Second, focusing only on their current marital status hides the complexity of relationships throughout the lifetime. While some individuals remain married to one individual throughout their lifetime, others are remarried. These histories underscore significant differences in health and wealth. Lastly, being married is not the only means to maintain an intimate relationship. Many older adults form intimate relationships that do not involve marriage after divorce or the death of a partner. DIF: Difficult REF: Varieties of Intimacy for Older Adults TOP: Intimate Relationships in Later Life: Varieties of intimacy for older adults MSC: Conceptual 15. You are conducting a study comparing communication among older and younger married couples. Milos and Anna are the least satisfied of the older couples participating in your study. Based on socioemotional selectivity theory, how would you expect their discussion of a relationship problem to differ from similar discussions among younger couples in your study? ANS: You would expect Milos and Anna to manage conflict differently, perhaps better, than the younger couples in your study. Even after controlling for marital satisfaction and the severity of the problems couples discussed, you would expect Milos and Anna to approach their problems by expressing more affection and less hostility than would younger couples. In fact, even though Milos and Anna are fairly dissatisfied in their marriage, they will be significantly less likely to initiate negative behaviors than would the unhappiest younger couples in your study. DIF: Medium REF: The Quality of Intimacy in Later Life TOP: Intimate Relationships in Later Life: The quality of intimacy in later life: Socioemotional selectivity theory MSC: Applied


CHAPTER 15: Improving Relationships 1. Introduction 2. Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships a. Couples often seek relationship help from nonrelationship experts b. Couples often delay seeking help when relationships deteriorate c. Common presenting problems in couples therapy d. Systems models i. Relabeling behavior ii. Reframing problems e. Behavioral models i. Behavioral couples therapy 1. Behavior exchange 2. Communication training 3. Problem-solving training ii. Cognitive-behavioral couples therapy 1. Interpretive process iii. Integrative behavioral couples therapy 1. Empathic joining 2. Unified detachment 3. Tolerance building f. Emotion models i. Emotionally focused couples therapy 1. Primary emotions 2. Secondary emotions g. Evaluating models of couples therapy i. Outcome research ii. Laboratory studies 1. Efficacy studies iii. Field studies 1. Effectiveness studies 3. Relationship Education: Building on Strengths a. Approaches to maintaining healthy relationships b. Evaluating relationship education programs c. Extending the reach of educational strategies 4. Seriously, What Should I Do? MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. After 23 years of marriage, Kayla and Fred have decided to seek marital therapy. Which of the following is most likely true? a. They are more likely to seek help from a couples therapist than from a religious adviser. b. They have likely been experiencing relationship distress for a while before seeking help. c. The therapist is likely to view their problems as the easiest to treat. d. The therapist is unlikely to encourage ending the relationship because preserving the relationship is better for their kids. ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships

MSC: Applied

2. Which of the following statements about couples seeking therapy is FALSE? a. Couples usually wait until their problems have become severe and entrenched before they


decide to seek therapy. b. Five of the most common problems couples have are the ones that therapists believe are the most difficult to treat and the most damaging. c. Most often, couples seek help from professionals who specialize in therapy for couples. d. Relationship problems are a leading reason people seek therapy. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships

MSC: Factual

3. According to the text, which is the most common theoretical model that couples therapists use? a. systems models, which emphasize the rules that govern and constrain the exchange of behaviors b. behavioral models, which emphasize the rewarding and punishing properties of exchanged behaviors and their associated cognitions c. emotion models, which emphasize the ways in which different affective exchanges can inhibit and promote intimate bonds d. In practice, most professionals draw from a range of perspectives when conducting marital therapy. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships

MSC: Factual

4. After 23 years of marriage, Kayla and Fred have decided to seek marital therapy. Their satisfaction with their marriage has decreased over time, to the point where both are feeling quite unhappy. They hardly talk to each other except to argue about the children or finances, and neither can remember when they last had sex. Based on material presented in the chapter about improving relationships, which of Kayla and Fred’s problems would a couples therapist find most difficult to treat? a. lack of loving feelings b. communication problems c. lack of sexual activity d. money management and financial issues ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Common presenting problems in couples therapy MSC: Applied 5. According to couples therapists (summarized in the text), one of the most common problems they see in therapy is ________, and one of the least common problems involves ________. a. communication; a power struggle b. a power struggle; serious personal issues c. a lack of loving feelings; serious personal issues d. a lack of loving feelings; stress ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Common presenting problems in couples therapy MSC: Factual 6. Dr. Lew is a couples therapist. Which of the following relationship problems would Dr. Lew consider the MOST damaging? a. alcoholism c. extramarital affairs b. physical abuse d. incest


ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Common presenting problems in couples therapy MSC: Applied 7. Which of the following issues is not only the most difficult to treat among relationship problems, but is also one of the most damaging and most common issues in a relationship? a. extramarital affairs b. money c. unrealistic expectations d. sex ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Common presenting problems in couples therapy MSC: Factual 8. Trina is a couples therapist who primarily draws upon the systems model. What does she most likely emphasize in her practice? a. identifying unspoken rules that guide undesirable patterns of interaction among couples b. promoting basic communication and problem-solving skills c. helping couples realize that their relationship is a safe place to explore deeper emotions d. changing the thoughts that lead to maladaptive behaviors ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Systems models MSC: Applied 9. Dr. Roberts helps couples to make explicit (known) the rules that guide their relationship behavior and to establish new rules that are more flexible and adaptive. What model of couples therapy does she practice? a. behavioral couples therapy b. systems therapy c. cognitive-behavioral couples therapy d. emotionally focused couples therapy ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Systems Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Systems models MSC: Applied 10. Katie gets mad at Adam because he has forgotten to pay an important bill. When she brings up the problem, he doesn’t say much and begins to sulk. Katie backs down and says she’ll take care of the problem. Then she changes the subject and begins to tell him funny stories about her bad day at work, which he finds amusing and eventually the two of them are laughing while they make fun of her inept coworker. According to a systems perspective, what is the “rule” underlying their relationship dynamic? a. When Adam is in a bad mood, he sulks. b. When Katie tells funny stories, Adam laughs. c. When problems are raised, Adam withdraws and Katie backs down. d. Adam is serious and Katie is funny. ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Systems Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Systems models MSC: Applied


11. According to a systems perspective, what is required for couples to make improvements in their relationship? a. establishing new flexible relationship rules b. insight into relationship dynamics c. making explicit unspoken and unconscious relationship rules d. reverting back to relationship patterns that used to work in the relationship ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Systems Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Systems models MSC: Factual 12. Isvel is very expressive in her relationship with Didier, whereas Didier is more analytical but tends to offer support. When Didier’s mother is hospitalized, the couple begins to experience more issues in their relationship. Didier feels unsupported by Isvel and denies his feelings of pain. Isvel insists Didier must be upset, but she does not offer much support. What new rule might be helpful for this couple to improve their relationship? a. Isvel must learn that sometimes Didier is going to need space, while Didier must learn that Isvel needs to communicate how she is feeling. b. Isvel must learn to avoid being so emotional and take more responsibility, while Didier must learn to avoid being so analytical and allow Isvel to be herself. c. Isvel must learn to set aside her feelings at times to support Didier, while Didier must learn to express his feelings and avoid overanalyzing situations. d. Isvel must learn to set aside time to spend with Didier, while Didier must learn to offer more emotional support to Isvel. ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Systems Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Systems models MSC: Applied 13. Bertie is angry at his wife, Maddy, for talking with other men at a party, and she is sick and tired of his jealousy. What might a therapist using a systems perspective say in response to this situation? a. Bertie, is it possible that you feel jealous because you always had to compete with your siblings for your mother’s attention when you were a child? b. Maddy, do you think that Bertie’s jealousy might be triggered by his fears that you no longer find him attractive? c. Bertie, can you talk with Maddy about the softer vulnerable feelings that might be behind your feelings of jealousy? d. Maddy, can you see how Bertie’s feelings are a result of his early experiences, and can you try to understand his feelings? ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Systems Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Systems models: Relabeling behavior MSC: Applied 14. Reframing is to ________ as relabeling is to ________. a. behavior; problems c. problems; behavior b. patterns; rules d. dynamics; patterns ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Systems Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Systems models: Relabeling behavior | Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Systems models: Reframing problems MSC: Conceptual


15. Baljit and Tim have had difficulty adjusting to being parents. They argue constantly about what activities they are going to do with their children and hate their weekends because they are spent with each of them taking turns playing with the kids to give the other parent a break. Their therapist points out that one reason they might be so frustrated and argue so much is that the way they have been structuring their weekends leaves them little time to nurture their relationship or to be together as a family. The arguments and frustration are signals that they value and love each other and want to connect more as a couple and as a family. What technique has the therapist used? a. relabeling c. reframing b. empathic joining d. unified detachment ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Systems Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Systems models: Reframing problems MSC: Applied 16. In considering the source of relationship functioning, a systems perspective is to ________ as a behavioral perspective is to ________. a. the early caregiving experience; repetitive patterns of interaction b. repetitive patterns of interaction; rewarding and punishing behaviors c. rewarding and punishing behaviors; early caregiving experiences d. repetitive patterns of interaction; negative attributions ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Systems Models | Behavioral Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Systems models | Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Behavioral models MSC: Conceptual 17. Bob tells his therapist, “Marie-Claire doesn’t really care much about me anymore; there is no point in talking with her about my feelings because she’ll just accuse me of being ‘too sensitive’.” Of the following statements, which one is accurate? a. According to an integrative behavioral perspective, Bob is engaging in unified detachment, but not in empathic joining. b. According to a cognitive-behavioral perspective, Bob is making a negative attribution. c. According to a systems perspective, Marie-Claire’s accusations of being “too sensitive” are negative feedback. d. According to an emotionally focused perspective, Marie-Claire’s lack of caring represents a secondary emotion. ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: Systems Models | Behavioral Models | Emotion Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Systems models | Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Behavioral models: Cognitive-behavioral couples therapy | Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Emotion models: Emotionally focused couples therapy MSC: Applied 18. Bernardo and Danica are attending their second session of couples therapy. Their therapist gives them a homework assignment to improve the way in which they communicate with each other. What theoretical models is their therapist most likely drawing upon? a. systems models b. behavioral models c. emotion models d. reframing models ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Behavioral models MSC: Applied


19. What led to the development of behavioral models of couples therapy? a. Other forms of therapy were time consuming and expensive to carry out, thus there was a need to develop a more pragmatic approach. b. Most therapeutic techniques were based on Freudian thinking, which was discredited in the mid-20th century. c. Evidence revealed that the popular models were ineffective in producing lasting change. d. There was a need for systematic treatments that could measure the effectiveness of the intervention. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Behavioral Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Behavioral models MSC: Factual 20. Sandeep gives Amy the silent treatment when she fails to clean up the kitchen after dinner (it is one of her household jobs). After this happens a few times, Amy tries to remember to clean up more regularly, but, over time, she slips up and the cycle repeats. Which is an accurate statement about this situation? a. The silent treatment is an example of a negative reinforcer. b. Amy’s failure to clean up the kitchen is an example of punishment. c. The end of the silent treatment is an example of a negative reinforcer. d. Amy cleaning up the kitchen is an example of a positive reinforcer. ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Behavioral Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Behavioral models MSC: Applied 21. What is a main task of a behaviorally oriented therapist? a. to determine the function of problematic behavior b. to understand how past relationships affect current behavior c. to help couples learn to accept each other’s shortcomings d. to change maladaptive attributions ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Behavioral Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Behavioral models MSC: Factual 22. A therapist who asks a couple to start doing nice things for each other and to give each other time away from the kids and who works on communication skills is most likely practicing from a ________ perspective. a. behavioral couples therapy c. cognitive-behavioral couples therapy b. integrative behavioral couples therapy d. emotion-focused couples therapy ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Behavioral Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Behavioral models: Behavioral couples therapy MSC: Applied 23. The Spouse Observation Checklist (SOC) is a tool used in _____ couples therapy. a. emotionally focused c. systems b. behavioral d. problem focused ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Behavioral Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Behavioral models: Behavioral couples therapy MSC: Factual


24. Which of the following is a strategy or technique that is used in integrative behavioral couples therapy, but NOT behavioral couples therapy? a. analyzing the antecedents and consequences of behavior b. communication training c. behavior exchange d. acceptance training ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Behavioral Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Behavioral models: Behavioral couples therapy | Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Behavioral models: Integrative behavioral couples therapy MSC: Factual 25. Sally and Manuel are in couples therapy working on a conflict regarding Sally’s returning to work after maternity leave. Sally is upset about returning to work, and Manuel is angry at her for being so upset. To successfully intervene, a traditional behavior couples therapist would use the technique of: a. reformulation. c. blamer softening. b. behavior exchange. d. communication training. ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Behavioral Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Behavioral models: Behavioral couples therapy: Communication training MSC: Applied 26. Maite is explaining why she is unhappy in her relationship. She says to her therapist, “Partners should never go to bed angry. If there’s an issue, it should be hashed out immediately rather than wait for it to fester.” Maite’s complaint reveals which of the following underlying interpretive processes? a. selective attention b. attributions c. expectations d. standards ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Behavioral Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Behavioral models: Cognitive-behavioral couples therapy MSC: Applied 27. According to the cognitive-behavioral perspective, what is the leading cause of relationship distress? a. unresolved conflicts stemming from childhood relationships b. inflexible rules about relationship behavior c. dysfunctional relationship behaviors d. failure to understand and meet each other’s needs for connection and security ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Behavioral Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Behavioral models: Cognitive-behavioral couples therapy MSC: Conceptual 28. Angela arrives home late from work. Her husband begins to wonder if she is having an affair. This is an example of: a. selective attention. c. an assumption. b. an attribution. d. an expectation. ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Behavioral Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Behavioral models: Cognitive-behavioral couples therapy MSC: Applied


29. Karamo is unhappy in his relationship with Erik. When Karamo comes home from work Erik has already prepared dinner. As soon as he enters the kitchen, Karamo exclaims, “It smells awful in here! Did you burn something? You never remember to turn the fan on. Next time, just order dinner if you’re going to keep burning our dinner.” Karamo’s response reveals which of the following underlying interpretive processes? a. selective attention b. assumptions c. expectations d. standards ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Behavioral Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Behavioral models: Cognitive-behavioral couples therapy: Interpretive process MSC: Applied 30. Benedicta is unhappy in her relationship with Yingyue. She says to her therapist, “A relationship between two women is simply doomed. We just cannot seem to be able to make any decisions because neither of us is assertive.” Benedicta’s response reveals which of the following underlying interpretive processes? a. selective attention b. assumptions c. expectations d. standards ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: Behavioral Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Behavioral models: Cognitive-behavioral couples therapy: Interpretive process MSC: Applied 31. From a cognitive-behavioral perspective, many processes determine how we interpret the words and behaviors of others. These processes include: a. selective attention, assumptions, expectations, standards, and attributions. b. selective attention, assumptions, assimilation, accommodation, and expectations. c. standards, assimilation, assumptions, attributions, and expectations. d. selective attention, standards, assimilation, accommodation, and assumptions. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Behavioral Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Behavioral models: Cognitive-behavioral couples therapy: Interpretive process MSC: Factual 32. Which of the following is an example of an assumption according to a cognitive-behavioral perspective? a. Mohinder thinks that men provide support by solving problems and giving advice and that women provide support by listening and empathizing. b. Abilena thinks her husband forgot her birthday because he is mad at her. c. Julian believes that people should always be honest with each other in a relationship. d. Renatta thinks that Bobby will ignore her opinions. ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Behavioral Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Behavioral models: Cognitive-behavioral couples therapy: Interpretive process MSC: Conceptual 33. According to the text, the main rationale of integrative behavioral couples therapy emphasizes that relationships will improve if: a. partners increase the frequency of their positive behaviors and decrease the frequency of their negative behaviors. b. partners understand how their early experiences with their family affect their current relationship needs.


c. partners change negative attributions about each other’s behaviors. d. partners learn to accept or tolerate the negative aspects of each other and of the relationship. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Behavioral Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Behavioral models: Integrative behavioral couples therapy MSC: Factual 34. Which of the following models of couples therapy focuses on having couples engage in empathic joining and tolerance building for resolving differences? a. behavioral c. systems based b. integrative behavioral d. emotional ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Behavioral Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Behavioral models: Integrative behavioral couples therapy MSC: Factual 35. Empathic joining is to ________ as unified detachment is to ________. a. learning that undesirable aspects of the partner are unchangeable; recognizing positive aspects of negative behavior b. recognizing positive aspects of negative behavior; learning that undesirable aspects of the partner are unchangeable c. talking without charged emotion; removing blame d. removing blame; talking without charged emotion ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Behavioral Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Behavioral models: Integrative behavioral couples therapy MSC: Conceptual 36. Bob and Mike are in couples therapy because they have many fights about how much time Bob spends at work. To intervene successfully, an integrative behavior couples therapist would use the technique of: a. reframing the problem. b. relabeling behavior. c. de-escalating negative cycles. d. empathic joining around the problem. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Behavioral Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Behavioral models: Integrative behavioral couples therapy MSC: Applied 37. How are emotionally focused and integrative behavioral couples therapies similar? a. Both have the goal of increasing empathy in the relationship. b. Both work toward increasing the ratio of positive to negative behavioral exchanges. c. Both focus on creating bonds rather than bargains. d. Both encourage discussion of the relationship using neutral descriptive terms. ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Behavioral Models | Emotion Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Behavioral models: Integrative behavioral couples therapy | Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Emotion models: Emotionally focused couples therapy MSC: Conceptual 38. According to the chapter, which model is one of the three common theoretical approaches to couples therapy? a. ecological b. cognitive c. emotion


d. personality ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Emotion models MSC: Factual 39. Therapists adopting an emotion-focused couples therapy approach follow distinct stages in the following order: a. consolidation and integration, de-escalation of negative cycles, shaping new cycles of responsiveness and accessibility. b. de-escalation of negative cycles, consolidation and integration, shaping new cycles of responsiveness and accessibility. c. shaping new cycles of responsiveness and accessibility, de-escalation of negative cycles, consolidation and integration. d. de-escalation of negative cycles, shaping new cycles of responsiveness and accessibility, consolidation and integration. ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Emotion Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Emotion models: Emotionally focused couples therapy MSC: Factual 40. Sally and Manuel are in couples therapy working on their conflict regarding Sally’s returning to work after maternity leave. Sally is upset about returning to work, and Manuel is angry with her for being so upset. To intervene successfully, an emotion-focused therapist would work on: a. increasing positive behaviors and decreasing negative behaviors. b. communication skills training. c. expressing primary emotions. d. empathic joining around the problem. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Emotion Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Emotion models: Emotionally focused couples therapy MSC: Applied 41. According to emotionally focused couples therapy, ________ is a primary emotion, whereas ________ is a secondary emotion. a. hostility; sense of abandonment c. avoidance; helplessness b. irritation; fear d. shame; anger ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Emotion Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Emotion models: Emotionally focused couples therapy MSC: Factual 42. Oliver often fails to call his partner, Mike, when he is going to be late coming home from work. On Tuesday, when Oliver is late yet again, Mike states, “Oliver, I really wish you would call me when you’re going to be late. When I don’t hear from you, I start to worry and get scared that something terrible has happened to you.” Mike’s statement is an example of: a. empathic joining. c. primary emotional disclosure. b. unified detachment. d. secondary emotional disclosure. ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Emotion Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Emotion models: Emotionally focused couples therapy MSC: Applied 43. What is the primary goal of an emotion-focused therapist?


a. to elicit and explore secondary emotions rather than primary emotions b. to promote acceptance of emotion through empathic joining c. to gain insight into how early attachment relationships play a role in the current romantic relationship d. to explore, and bring into focus, primary emotions ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Emotion Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Emotion models: Emotionally focused couples therapy MSC: Conceptual 44. Which is an example of a primary emotion? a. anger b. contempt

c. frustration d. shame

ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Emotion Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Emotion models: Emotionally focused couples therapy: Primary emotions MSC: Factual 45. Which is an example of a secondary emotion? a. hopelessness c. sadness b. anger d. shame ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Emotion Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Emotion models: Emotionally focused couples therapy MSC: Factual 46. Which of the following statements about outcome research assessing couples therapy is accurate? a. Five years after the end of treatment, couples who received integrative behavioral couples therapy have similar relationship satisfaction compared to couples who received the original version of behavioral couples therapy. b. At the end of therapy the average treated couple functions better in their relationship than about 50 percent of control couples. c. Integrative behavioral couples therapy and traditional behavioral couples therapy have been shown to be more effective in improving relationship functioning than emotionally focused couples therapy and systems models of therapy. d. The efficacy and effectiveness of traditional behavioral couples therapy are measurable, whereas outcomes for integrative behavioral couples therapy are not measurable. ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Evaluating the Models of Couples Therapy TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Evaluating models of couples therapy: Outcome research MSC: Factual 47. If you wanted to conduct an effectiveness study of integrative behavioral couples therapy, what would you do? a. bring couples into the lab to receive treatment from graduate-level supervised therapists and evaluate change in relationship satisfaction from pre- to post-treatment b. bring couples into the lab to receive either integrative behavioral couples therapy or emotionally focused couples therapy and compare outcomes in the two treatments c. train therapists in the community to deliver integrative behavioral couples therapy to some couples and compare the outcomes to other couples who receive treatment as usual in the community d. train therapists in the community to deliver integrative behavioral couples therapy in a laboratory-based study and compare treatment outcomes to those obtained with graduate-level therapists


ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Evaluating the Models of Couples Therapy TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Evaluating models of couples therapy: Field studies: Effectiveness studies MSC: Applied 48. Heather has designed a new treatment for couples in distress. She has conducted several studies in which couples were randomly assigned to receive either her new treatment or another empirically supported treatment. She now wants to look at how her treatment performs when clinical practitioners administer it to couples in the community. In other words, she wants to conduct a(n): a. clinical trial. c. efficacy study. b. effectiveness study. d. efficacy trial. ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Evaluating the Models of Couples Therapy TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Evaluating models of couples therapy: Field studies: Effectiveness studies MSC: Applied 49. In the text, the authors distinguish between effectiveness studies (which are designed to find out whether a therapy works in real, day-to-day clinical practice) and efficacy studies. How are effectiveness studies different from efficacy studies? a. Effectiveness studies involve unhappy couples. b. Efficacy studies involve experiments using a control group. c. Effectiveness studies tell us whether a therapy works in a controlled laboratory setting. d. Effectiveness studies and efficacy studies do not differ in any important way. ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Evaluating the Models of Couples Therapy TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Evaluating models of couples therapy: Laboratory studies: Efficacy studies | Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Evaluating models of couples therapy: Field studies: Effectiveness studies MSC: Factual 50. Dr. Sarkissian offers relationship education to couples who want to strengthen their relationship before issues start to arise. What is most likely Dr. Sarkissian’s goal for the couples who attend her training? a. that they maintain their relationship by building on their strengths b. that they improve their relationship by focusing on their weaknesses c. that they begin to prioritize their relationship over all other aspects of their lives d. that they revolutionize the way they think about their relationship ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Relationship Education: Building on Strengths TOP: Relationship Education: Building on Strengths MSC: Applied 51. Kabil and Asher are happily married but have enrolled in an educational program to enhance their relationship. As a result of their enrollment in the program, how are they likely to view their participation in the course? a. They view the problem-solving skills as more helpful than the communication skills training. b. They value the program because it will serve as a reminder for the reason why they fell in love. c. They find the program unnecessary and drop out of the program after 1 month. d. They view a coping skills training as helpful, but only if they have undergone a crisis together. ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: Approaches to Maintaining Healthy Relationships TOP: Relationship Education: Building on Strengths: Approaches to maintaining healthy relationships | Relationship Education: Building on Strengths: Evaluating relationship education programs MSC: Applied 52. What conclusion can be drawn from studies on the effectiveness of educational programs for couples?


a. b. c. d.

Satisfaction improves more than communication among couples in skill-based programs. Improved communication skills lead to happier relationships. The effects of intervention strengthen over time. High-risk couples benefit more from educational programs than low-risk couples.

ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Evaluating Relationship Education Programs TOP: Relationship Education: Building on Strengths: Evaluating relationship education programs MSC: Conceptual 53. Which of the following educational programs focuses on conflict management and the expression of negative emotions? a. Compassionate and Accepting Relationships Through Empathy (CARE) b. Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP) c. Relationship Enhancement (RE) d. Marriage Checkup (MC) ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Evaluating Relationship Education Programs TOP: Relationship Education: Building on Strengths: Evaluating relationship education programs MSC: Factual 54. Grunde and Sesasi have a relatively happy marriage but have enrolled in an educational program to strengthen their relationship. In the program they are taught skills to express their needs and desires as well as to empathize with each other. What program are Grunde and Sesasi likely enrolled in? a. Couples Coping Enhancement Training (CCET) b. Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP) c. Relationship Enhancement (RE) d. Marriage Checkup (MC) ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Evaluating Relationship Education Programs TOP: Relationship Education: Building on Strengths: Evaluating relationship education programs MSC: Applied 55. Uma and Imanol work long hours and are struggling financially. They have noticed recently that their relationship satisfaction is declining. What will most likely lead to the greatest improvements in their relationship satisfaction? a. accepting each other for who they are b. participating in emotionally focused couples therapy c. obtaining stable jobs and better wages d. receiving training in effective communication ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Extending the Reach of Educational Strategies TOP: Relationship Education: Building on Strengths: Extending the reach of educational strategies MSC: Applied 56. Your local congressman has asserted that improving marriages is one of his priorities during his term in office. Why would the local government be interested in investing in good quality marriages? a. Good marriages lead to happier citizens, thus, productivity improves overall. b. Strengthening marriages is a means to reducing the welfare payments of single parents. c. Educational programs for couples yield benefits in other areas, such as general communication improvements. d. Failed marriages that result in divorce accrue more court fees for the region. ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: Extending the Reach of Educational Strategies TOP: Relationship Education: Building on Strengths: Extending the reach of educational strategies MSC: Applied


57. According to your textbook authors, which of the following is the best analogy for a good intimate relationship? a. surfing c. taking a stroll b. climbing a mountain d. a sunset ANS: B DIF: Easy TOP: Seriously, What Should I Do?

REF: Seriously, What Should I Do? MSC: Factual

ESSAY 1. You are an aide to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and your first job is to prepare a brief on specific interventions to strengthen marriages. What four points do you include in your brief? ANS: (1) Invest in research to develop and test interventions to improve the ability to make good policy decisions; (2) make relationship education more available or mandatory for marrying couples or young people; (3) develop better working conditions to decrease work stress spillover into marriage and improve access to health care and childcare; and (4) change insurance reimbursement policies to include coverage for family and couples therapy. DIF: Easy REF: Introduction | Relationship Education: Building on Strengths TOP: Introduction | Relationship Education: Building on Strengths MSC: Applied 2. Explain why couples who often wait a long time before seeking help for a struggling relationship make couples therapy challenging for practitioners. ANS: Practitioners often work with couples who are entrenched in their problems and close to separating. This means practitioners must deal with maladaptive strategies that the couples have been using for a long time, such as blaming each other, arguing unproductively, withdrawing and avoiding (sexual) intimacy, and perhaps using alcohol and/or drugs. Some research shows that five of the ten most common problems that couples present with in therapy (communication, power struggles, unrealistic expectations, lack of loving feelings, and serious individual problems) are also among the most damaging and difficult problems to treat. In addition to uncovering the factors that might have caused the relationship difficulties in the first place, the therapist might also have to help manage an acute crisis that precipitated the decision to seek help. DIF: Easy REF: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Couples often delay seeking help when relationships deteriorate | Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Common presenting problems in couples therapy MSC: Factual 3. Distinguish between relabeling and reframing in systems models of couples therapy, and provide an example of each technique. ANS:


Relabeling and reframing are two ways therapists can help couples redefine their problems. Relabeling is aimed at a specific behavior; for example, if a wife is jealous of her husband working on a project with an attractive coworker, a systems therapist might relabel the wife’s feelings as worry that her husband no longer finds her attractive. Reframing is aimed at a problem, so that it can be understood in a more positive light. For example, a therapist may point out that a couple with children argues about how to spend their weekends because they love each other and want to connect more as a couple and as a family. DIF: Medium REF: Systems Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Systems models MSC: Conceptual 4. List the three models of couples therapy discussed in the chapter, and describe the sources of relationship distress according to each perspective. ANS: (1) Systems model: relationship distress results from the application of rigid and maladaptive relationship rules and recurring behavior patterns; (2) behavioral model: relationship distress arises from frequent negative and infrequent positive behaviors and a lack of communication and problem-solving skills; (3) emotion-focused model: relationship distress arises from unmet attachment needs (i.e., needs for closeness, connection, and security). DIF: Medium REF: Systems Models | Behavioral Models | Emotion Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Systems models | Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Behavioral models | Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Emotion models MSC: Factual 5. Describe the systems models of couples therapy and the emotionally focused models of couples therapy. In what ways are they different? ANS: According to systems models, relationship issues arise as a result of the unspoken rules governing the relationship. When rules are too rigid and nonadaptive to novel situations, couples can benefit from making their rules explicit and more flexible. The focus is on reframing the problem and relabeling behaviors rather than blaming individuals for issues in the relationship. Contrastingly, emotion models recognize the role of emotions as central to relationship satisfaction. A goal of therapy is to teach the couples to express feelings in a way that brings them together rather than drives them apart. Emotionally focused couples therapy recognizes the importance of safe and secure connections with others. When these needs are not met, individuals react emotionally in response to their distress. Secondary emotions, such as anger or contempt, are often communicated in place of the primary emotions individuals are experiencing, such as abandonment or shame. The expression of secondary emotions often results in damaging the relationship whereas expressing primary emotions is more likely to elicit empathy. Thus, therapists influenced by emotional models encourage couples to express primary emotions. DIF: Medium REF: Systems Models | Emotion Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Systems models | Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Emotion models MSC: Conceptual 6. Andrew tells you that he is having many problems in his relationship, and he and his girlfriend want to start couples therapy and asks your advice about what kind of therapy he should seek. You suggest a therapist who uses a behavioral model of treatment. Describe the primary emphasis of the treatment and provide a rationale for your choice. ANS:


The focus of behavioral models is on reducing negative and increasing positive behaviors, and improving couples’ communication and problem solving. Based on the large body of outcome research that has been conducted on behavioral models of treatment, it is clear that treatment is better than no treatment and that couples relationships do improve on this therapy. Further, there is evidence that treatment gains are sustained for about half of the couples who receive this treatment. DIF: Difficult REF: Behavioral Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Behavioral models MSC: Factual 7. Define assumptions, attributions, expectations, selective attention, and standards according to a cognitive-behavioral perspective, and provide an example of each. ANS: Assumptions are beliefs about how relationships actually operate (e.g., women are more caring, and men are more analytical about relationships); attributions are explanations for the behavior of another person (e.g., Ann forgot to call; she must be mad at me for some reason); expectations are predictions about what a partner will do in the future (e.g., I don’t want to tell him how I’m feeling because he’s going to dismiss my feelings); selective attention is the tendency to focus on a partner’s certain behaviors while ignoring others (e.g., “You always leave the cleaning supplies out!” versus “Thank you for cleaning today!”); and standards are beliefs about the way relationships should be (e.g., men should look after the yard, and women should look after the household). DIF: Medium REF: Behavioral Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Behavioral models: Cognitive-behavioral couples therapy: Interpretive process MSC: Conceptual 8. Describe the intervention “unified detachment,” which is used in integrative behavioral couples therapy. ANS: Unified detachment is an intervention designed to help couples discuss their relationship issues without experiencing the emotions associated with the problems. The idea is to have couples discuss problems with neutral and descriptive language, which helps them avoid experiencing the negative emotions that might interfere with understanding and acceptance. DIF: Easy REF: Behavioral Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Behavioral models: Integrative behavioral couples therapy MSC: Factual 9. Compare the explanation for relationship distress with the behavioral model and the emotion-focused model. ANS: In the behavioral model, relationship distress is thought to arise when the positive behaviors are infrequent and the negative behaviors are frequent, and partners lack the skill to communicate effectively or to resolve problems. In the emotion-focused model, relationship distress is thought to arise when basic needs for safe and secure connections to the partner are unmet. DIF: Easy REF: Behavioral Models | Emotion Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Behavioral models | Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Emotion models MSC: Conceptual 10. Compare the interventions in the original behavioral couples therapy model and the interventions in the cognitive-behavioral therapy model.


ANS: In the original behavioral couples therapy model, the main interventions are behavior exchange (increasing positive interactions and caring behaviors), communication skills training (practical advice on listening well, talking productively, and talking about soft emotions), and problem-solving training. In the cognitive-behavioral therapy model, the focus on changing the couples’ behavior extends beyond observable behavior; thoughts and feelings are also important and are the focus of intervention. Therapists concentrate on modifying thoughts and making partners aware of their assumptions, attributions, and standards and how these affect the relationship. DIF: Medium REF: Behavioral Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Behavioral models: Behavioral couples therapy | Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Behavioral models: Behavioral couples therapy MSC: Conceptual 11. Describe the three stages emotionally focused couples therapists tend to follow. ANS: (1) De-escalation of negative cycles: partners acknowledge that they both contribute to the problems in the relationship and that the underlying interaction cycle is fueling their insecure attachment and blocking a deeper level of emotional response; (2) shaping new cycles of responsiveness and accessibility: partners learn to use more positive ways of approaching and responding to each other and are encouraged to express primary emotions rather than secondary emotions, which results in partners feeling more compelled to respond more compassionately, thus forming new interactional cycles; and (3) consolidation and integration: the couple reflects on the changes they have made to establish a narrative that helps them understand how their relationship has deteriorated and then improved and to solve specific problems they have not yet addressed. DIF: Easy REF: Emotion Models TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Emotion models: Emotionally focused couples therapy MSC: Factual 12. You are a research scientist working for a government agency that funds social sciences research. You are setting priorities and developing guidelines for funding. Discuss reasons to support the funding of preventive interventions for couples rather than couples therapy. ANS: A focus on intervention may help strengthen marriages and prevent the negative effects of dissolution and relationship distress on children and relationship partners. Given that many people do not seek help for relationship distress, and, if they do, it is usually years after the problems have developed, a focus on prevention is warranted. Also, research on couples therapy indicates that only about half of couples become nondistressed and that the effects of treatment dissipate over time. Thus, it may be more beneficial to focus on preventing problems before they arise. Funding should be used to establish preventative programs and evaluate their effectiveness with scientific rigor over time. DIF: Difficult REF: Evaluating the Models of Couples Therapy | Evaluating Relationship Education Programs TOP: Couples Therapy: Help for Distressed Relationships: Evaluating models of couples therapy | Relationship Education: Building on Strengths: Evaluating relationship education programs MSC: Applied 13. Your friend is planning to marry next spring. She asks if it would be worthwhile for her to go to a couples enhancement and prevention workshop that focuses on skill-building. Based on what you read in the chapter, what would you tell her, and why?


ANS: Programs designed to enhance relationships are difficult to test because of their lack of standardization. Little information is available about whether gains are maintained over time, and flaws exist in the treatment outcome studies, making it difficult to assess the efficacy of these studies. What little information is available indicates that the effects weaken over time. Most information available focuses on programs that teach communications skills. Studies have revealed that, compared to control groups, couples in skill-based programs may see greater gains in communication than in satisfaction; prevention of declines in satisfaction may not be the result of improved communication; prevention programs may be more effective when they include a form of follow-up, or booster sessions; and interventions may be more beneficial for higher-risk couples than for lower-risk couples. DIF: Medium REF: Evaluating Relationship Education Programs TOP: Relationship Education: Building on Strengths: Evaluating relationship education programs MSC: Applied


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