Exam 8: Enhancing Relationships

People who exhibit a nonconfrontational style in responding to conflict during problem-solving discussions are perceived to be incompetent.

When partners define their lives less as a couple and more as individuals, they are in the stagnation stage of relational de-escalation.

Dan and Donna begin self-disclosing information about their dreams for the future, values, and religious beliefs, but they still spend a limited amount of time with one another. They are moving into which stage of relational escalation?

In a destructive conflict, each combatant views his or her differences from a lose-lose perspective.

Leslie and Pat have reached a stage in their relationship in which they understand one another to the point that they can almost finish one another's sentences, openly discuss any issue, and are recognized among friends and family members as a committed couple. This would be an example of what stage in relational escalation?

A dialectical perspective suggests that relationship issues are better understood in terms of push-pull dynamics.

Identify and briefly describe each of the stages of relational escalation.

A perspective that revolves around how relational partners manage tensions is called _____.

What is interpersonal power?

According to Virginia Satir, one of the characteristics of a healthy family is that the family's links to society are open.

What is meant by a cooperative style of conflict management? Explain the four techniques discussed in your book as for using a cooperative style.

The dialectical perspective is a way to help us understand the ____ people face in relationships.

Explain how you might use the conflict management skills of managing emotions, information, goals, and problems in the following situation: You and your roommate agreed on a schedule and responsibilities for chores. At first, all went well. Then gradually, week after week, one excuse after another, your roommate began to fail to follow through. At first it was no big deal; a dish here, a sock there. But now your roommate has left dishes in the sink for three days and hasn't taken out the trash in a week. The bathroom is a mess, the shower especially. The last straw was the large blueberry stain in the middle of the living room floor. You can't take it anymore; you are furious. You've let it slide long enough and decide to let her know how you feel.

Simple conflict occurs when conflict gets personal, such that people attack each other's self-esteem.

People who use blame as a strategy for winning a conflict are using which conflict style?

Argumentative episodes focused on a given issue that occur at least twice are called _____.

Define pseudoconflict.

Explain the openness versus closedness dialectic.

A conflict management style that involves backing off, avoiding conflict, or giving in to the other person is called a(n) _____ style.

Aristotle is attributed with providing one of the best definitions of a friend when he said it is "a _____ that resides in two bodies."