Chapter 13 - Communication - Definitions

Question 1

Behavioural confirmation

Answer 1

A process whereby someone’s expectations about an upcoming event influence his or her behaviour and thus cause the event to unfold in a way that is consistent with his or her expectations.

Question 2

Blind coders

Answer 2

Coders who are not familiar with the specific hypotheses of the study.

Question 3

Contempt

Answer 3

A negative communication behaviour that entails putting down and/or expressing disrespect toward one’s partner.

Question 4

Couples’ communication

Answer 4

An ongoing exchange between two partners that unfolds over time and consists of verbal, behavioural, and affective exchanges.

Question 5

Criticism

Answer 5

A negative communication behaviour that entails attacking a partner’s character or personality rather than focussing specifically on the behaviour that is upsetting.

Question 6

Defensiveness

Answer 6

A communication pattern in which one partner puts pressure on the other (e.g., by nagging or criticizing), and the other partner does not engage or is defensive.

Question 7

Impression management

Answer 7

A form of socially desirable responding in which someone deliberately responds in a way that makes him or her look good to others.

Question 8

Interrater reliability

Answer 8

The extent to which two independent observers obtain the same results when using the same coding system.

Question 9

Negative reciprocity

Answer 9

A communication pattern in which each partner tends to respond to the other with negative comments or behaviours, thereby escalating the conflict.

Question 10

Non-verbal communication

Answer 10

All communication behaviours that are not words, including but not limited to body posture, voice qualities, facial expressions, and gestures.

Question 11

Orgasmic disorder

Answer 11

Significant difficulty or inability to experience orgasm.

Question 12

Perceptual confirmation

Answer 12

A process whereby someone interprets an event in a way that is consistent with his or her expectations.

Question 13

Self-deceptive enhancement

Answer 13

A form of socially desirable responding in which someone inadvertently responds in a way that makes him or her look good to others, because he or she truly perceives himself or herself more positively than is accurate.

Question 14

Sexual communication

Answer 14

The processes by which intimate partners share their sexual likes and dislikes with each other and negotiate sexuality in their relationship.

Question 15

Socially desirable responding

Answer 15

The tendency to modify one’s responses to a questionnaire or interview in order to make oneself appear in a favourable light.

Question 16

Stonewalling

Answer 16

A negative communication behaviour that entails refusing to respond and resisting influence by not engaging in the discussion at hand.