Scenario
Competition and Communication
Positive vs Negative Climates
Vocabulary
100

While working on a group project, lacy makes comments such as “this is a great team” and “that's a great idea" 

What is positive communication?

100

This approach to group interaction emphasizes members working together toward shared goals and mutual success

What is cooperation?

100

The emotional atmosphere or enveloping tone created by the way we communicate in groups

What is group climate?

100

The three parts of the criticism sandwich

What is praise-criticize-praise?

200

Steve, David, and Tammy have a group project. They work together affectively, rather than against each other and reach their group goal due to their efforts

What is cooperation?

200

This contrasting approach occurs when group members see goals as incompatible and try to outperform one another

What is competition?

200

The amygdala uses about this proportion of its neurons to search for negative information

What is two-thirds?

200

Describe the definition of Provisionalism. 

What is using qualifying statements and avoiding absolutes, and how is saying.

300

Independently accomplishing a goal, such as performing your best dance routine or earning the highest grade on a calc exam compared to any other time

What is individual achievement?

300

This concept explains how the way goals are structured—shared vs. opposing—shapes whether members cooperate or compete

What is goal interdependence?

300

The optimal 5-to-1 positive-to-negative ratio is commonly referred to as this

What is the magic ratio?

300

Define a negativity bias 

What is the tendency to be more influenced by negative than positive information 

400

Pablo lashes out at his coworkers one morning. Later in the day, his only explanation is "I was just having a bad morning" rather than acknowledging his actions

What is self-justification?

400

In group communication theory, this type of outcome occurs when one member’s gain is perceived as another member’s loss

What is a win–lose outcome?

400

According to research by the Corporate Leadership Council, employee performance improved by this percentage when managers focused mostly on strengths

What is 36%?

400

Describe the definition of defensiveness and list the steps of description

What is a reaction to a perceived attack on our self-esteem, and what is making “I” statements, describing specific behaviors, and eliminating editorial comments?

500

After receiving a low grade for a group project, Lori assigns the blame on one of the members, Trevor, saying; “You didn’t help us finish our project on time”

What is you-statement?

500

This communication challenge arises when competitive pressures reduce trust, information sharing, and willingness to collaborate, ultimately harming overall group effectiveness

What is the breakdown of collaborative communication (or reduced group cohesion due to competition)?

500

The University of Michigan found that top-performing teams made about this many times more positive comments than negative ones

What is six times as many?

500

This occurs when an individual gets defensive because someone is telling them what to do-not just because they feel criticized

What is psychological reactance?

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