What is Interpersonal Communication
Amy’s 14-month old daughter Robin is learning to talk. She recently learned to say the word “cookie.” Yesterday at lunch, Robin looked at Amy, smiled, and said, “cookie.” What communication need was Robin expressing when she requested a cookie?
a. Physical b. Indentity c. Social d. Practical
d. Robin was using communicaton to express her wants and preferences to her mother. (Textbook reference: Section 1.1)
What is the pathway or medium in which communication messages are sent?
a. Channel
b. Noise
c. Message
d. Feedback
Answer: a. Channel. The pathway or medium in which communication messages are sent and received is called the channel. (Textbook reference: Section 2.2)
What is the degree to which an individual views themselves as a good person, who deserves to be valued and respected called?
a. Ideal-self
b. Self-image
c. Self-concept
d. Self-worth
Answer: d. Self-worth. (Textbook reference: Section 3.1)
Which rules govern how individuals use language to interact with other people?
a. Semantic rules
b. Syntactic rules
c. Pragmatic rules
d. Spelling rules
Answer: c. Pragmatic rules. Pragmatic rules govern how individuals use language to interact with other people, interpreting the messages that are sent during the interaction. (Textbook reference: Section 4.1)
Which of the following is created when behavioral patterns are influenced by the beliefs, values, norms, and rules based on a specific locality or geographical region?
a. Dominate culture
b. Microculture
c. Co-culture
d. Heritage culture
Answer: c. Microculture. (Textbook reference: Section 6.1)
Which of the following is not a characteristic of symbolic communication?
a. Its meaning is arbitrarily assigned
b. Symbolic communication conveys meaning.
c. It is comprised of words, pictures, or objects that represent something else.
d. It is an innate skill that humans are born with.
d. Symbolic communication is comprised of arbitrary symbols who’s meaning is learned. (Textbook reference: Section 1.2)
When Corrin gives careful and thoughtful attention to her friend as she talks about a problem she is having with her roommate, which interpersonal communication skill is Corrin practicing?
a. Emotional intelligence
Message formulation
c. Mindful listening
d. None of the above
Answer: c. Mindful listening. When an individual is giving careful and thoughtful attention to the message being received, it is called mindful listening.(Textbook reference: Section 2.5)
Which of the following occurs when a congruent self-concept is present?
a. Self-image, self-worth, and the ideal-self are independent and incompatible
b. The individual is out of balance with how they interact with others
c. Self-image, self-worth, and the ideal-self overlap reflecting compatibility
d. The individual is more likely to exhibit other psychological difficulties
Answer: c. Self-image, self-worth, and the ideal-self overlap reflecting compatibility. (Textbook reference: Section 3.1)
What is it called when a word’s definition is subjective, incorporating a word’s emotional impact?
a. Connotative meaning
b. Empathetic meaning
c. Denotative meaning
d. Metameaning
Answer: a. Connotative meaning. (Textbook reference: Section 4.1)
What term refers to the informal guidelines outlining the types of social behavior that are acceptable or proper within a specific culture?
a. Rules
b. Norms
c. Values
d. Beliefs
Answer: c. Norms. (Textbook reference: Section 6.1)
The shared, universal meaning of a word that is understood broadly within society is governed by which of the following?
a. Denotative definitions
b. Connotative definitions
c. Relational dimension
d. Content dimension
a. Denotative definitions are dictionary-based definitions outlining what specific words or symbols mean. (Textbook reference: Section 1.2)
Which of the following is not an outcome associated with strong people skills?
a. Healthy interactions with others
b. Difficulty empathizing with others
c. Knowledge of how to interact with others in group situations
d. The ability to understand people
Answer: b. Difficulty empathizing with others. Strong people skills help individuals build and maintain healthy interpersonal interactions with others, including the ability to show empathy. (Textbook reference: Section 2.5)
Which personality trait is characterized by the use of cunningness and deceit to maintain the power necessary to accomplish specific, self-centered goals? a. Machiavellianism
b. Depression
c. Narcissism
d. Loneliness
Answer: a. Machiavellianism. Richard Christie identified a personality trait where cunningness and deceit are exalted as a means of attaining and maintaining power to accomplish specific, self-centered goals. (Textbook reference: Section 3.2)
Language exists on a continuum ranging from concrete representations of a tangible object to abstract representations of ideas or concepts existing only in an individual’s mind.
a. True
b. False
Answer: a. True. (Textbook reference: Section 4.1)
Characteristics of a culture that values being self-reliant and self-motivated, believes in personal freedom and privacy, and celebrates personal achievement are characteristic of which of the following?
a. Collectivism
b. Long-term orientation
c. Individualism
d. Low uncertainty avoidance
Answer: c. Individualism. (Textbook reference: Section 6.3)
Recently, a politician held a town hall meeting to hear the community’s view on a variety of public issues. Citizens wishing to address the politician and the audience were asked to sign-up in advance for a threeminute time slot at one of the three microphones set up around the large auditorium. What type of communication is this an example of? a. Interpersonal communication
b. Intrapersonal communication
c. Small-group communication
d. Public communication
Answer: d. Public communication. Public communication is defined as a form of communication where an individual or group of individuals sends a specific message to a large audience. (Textbook reference: Section 1.4)
A sender’s thoughts, feelings, perceptions, and past experiences all influence how they construct an encoded message.
a. True
. False
Answer: a. True (Textbook reference: Section 2.2)
Which attachment style do individuals exhibit when they view themselves as worthy of love, but generally believe that others will be deceptive and reject them in interpersonal relationships?
a. Secure attachment
b. Preoccupied attachment
c. Fearful attachment
d. Dismissing attachment
Answer: d. Dismissing attachment. (Textbook reference: Section 3.3)
In which of the following do words help humans create reality?
a. Individuals use words to label their experiences
b. Words have the power to impact what an individual believes and feels
c. Specific words impact how an individual receives the message communicated
d. All of the above
Answer: d. All of the above (Textbook reference: Section 4.1)
Values are the assumptions and convictions held by an individual, group, or culture about the truth or existence of something.
a. True
b. False
Answer: b. False. Beliefs are the assumptions and convictions held by an individual, group, or culture about the truth or existence of something. (Textbook reference: Section 6.1)
One of the easiest aspects of mindfulness is to be consciously aware of one’s thoughts, feelings, and attitudes without judging them.
a. True
b. False
Answer: b. False. Being consciously aware of one’s thoughts, feelings, and attitudes without judging them is one of the hardest aspects of practicing mindfulness. (Textbook reference: Section 1.5)
Which of the following helps individuals build and maintain relationships?
a. Individuals initiate relationships with those who have similar self-concepts
b. Communication is the vehicle through which relationships develop
c. Social comparison helps identify others who might be compatible friends
. All of the above.
Answer: d. All of the above. (Textbook reference: Section 2.1)
What is an individual’s ability to perceive, understand, manage, and use emotions called?
a. Emotional intelligence
b. Cognitive complexity
c. Empathy
d. Mindfulness
Answer: a. Emotional intelligence. The four basic processes of emotional intelligence include perceiving emotions, understanding emotions, managing emotions, using emotions. (Textbook reference: Section 3.2)
Martha started a new medication and was not feeling quite right. So she called the pharmacist to express her concerns and ask a few questions about the medication’s side effects. This is an example of instrumental functions of language.
a. True
b. False
Answer: a. True. (Textbook reference: Section 4.2)
Individuals with low collective self-esteem report less intimate social interactions with individuals from differing cultures.
a. True
b. False
Answer: b. False. Individuals with high collective self-esteem report more favorable interactions with individuals from differing cultures. (Textbook reference: Section 6.2)