Sexual Communication

Question 1

Anthony suggests to his partner Lee that they might want to spice up their sex life a bit with some gentle bondage. Lee is horrified, and so storms out of the room and refuses to discuss it again with Anthony. This is an example of ________

a) defensiveness
b) contempt
c) criticism
d) stonewalling

Answer 1

d) stonewalling

Question 2

An important factor in effective relationship communication is ________

a) perceived partner responsiveness
b) allowing partners to yell at each other and clear the air before moving on
c) “sleeping on it” and not discussing the argument until the morning when both parties have cooled off
d) All of the above are important factors in effective relationship communication

Answer 2

a) perceived partner responsiveness

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of non-verbal sexual communication?

a) Paying attention to the voice qualities of a sex partner
b) Sexting a romantic partner
c) Flirtatious talking with a prospective sex partner
d) Discussing sexual problems with each other incorrect

Answer 3

a) Paying attention to the voice qualities of a sex partner

Question 4

Research has shown, individualistic sexual talk during sex is related to ________

a) lower sexual satisfaction
b) greater sexual satisfaction
c) lower relationship satisfaction
d) greater relationship satisfaction

Answer 4

b) greater sexual satisfaction

Question 5

Which of the following factors contribute to being a good sexual communicator?

a) Good listening skills
b) Choosing the right time to talk about sex and/or sexual concerns
c) Using non-judgemental language
d) All of the above are factors that contribute to being a good sexual communicator

Answer 5

d) All of the above are factors that contribute to being a good sexual communicator

Question 6

Breaking up with someone using a mobile device is more common when ________

a) intimacy is high between the partners
b) there is significant overlap in social networks between the partners
c) the partners are very similar to each other
d) the partners share few friends

Answer 6

d) the partners share few friends

Question 7

Which of the following is not true of sexual consent?

a) Sexual consent must be freely and voluntarily given
b) A person cannot be tricked or cajoled into giving sexual consent
c) When sexual consent is verbally given, it covers the entire sexual encounter between the sexual partners
d) Sexual contact with another person without sexual consent is considered a sexual assault

Answer 7

c) When sexual consent is verbally given, it covers the entire sexual encounter between the sexual partners

Question 8

According to research on sexting, _________ are more likely to sext as compared to ________

a) women; men
b) teenagers; adults
c) people who are single; people in a relationship
d) heterosexual adults; gay or bisexual adults

Answer 8

c) people who are single; people in a relationship

Question 9

Gottman identified 4 negative communication behaviours that are particularly strong predictors of declines in relationship satisfaction

Answer 9

Criticism, contempt, defensive, stonewalling

Question 10

Some research suggests that in heterosexual relationships, open sexual communication is more important for ____ relationship satisfaction in the early stages but more important for ______ once the relationship progresses beyond the early stages

Answer 10

men; women

Question 11

According to Walther, technology-based communication reveals a “hyperpersonalization effect”, what does this mean?

Answer 11

Accelerated or amplified intimacy compared to intimacy levels for interactions that take place in person

Question 12

Which of the following statements is most accurate?

a) Body language can be easily faked
b) Facial expressions cannot be faked
c) Facial expressions are universal whereas gestures differ from culture to culture
d) Micro-expressions are easily read by all people

Answer 12

c) Facial expressions are universal whereas gestures differ from culture to culture

Question 13

List some reasons as to why sexual communication can be difficult for some people

Answer 13

• Lack of sex education
• Not comfortable with the language used
• Afraid to be judged/rejected

Question 14

List one way you can start a conversation about sex

Answer 14

Start by talking about why it is hard to talk about!

Question 15

List 4 components of active listening

Answer 15

1. Eye contact
2. Feedback and paraphrasing
3. Support communication efforts
4. Unconditional positive regard

Question 16

When making requests to your partner it is important to…

Answer 16

use “I” language

Question 17

What are ways in which facial expressions can be faked?

Answer 17

They can be intensified/exaggerated
They can be minimized
They can be neutralized
They can be masked by a different emotion

Question 18

What are micro expressions?

Answer 18

Flashes of real emotion

Question 19

What is criticism

Answer 19

Attacking someone’s character

Question 20

What is contempt

Answer 20

Being hostile or disrespectful to someone (can include name-calling)

Question 21

What is defensiveness

Answer 21

Denying responsibility, making excuses, counter-complaining

Question 22

What is stonewalling

Answer 22

Not responding at all

Question 23

Belligerence

Answer 23

Confrontational interaction

• Likely to emerge as a relationship suffers from prolonged communication issues
• Characteristic of abusive relationships

“So what about it, whatever it is, what are you going to do about it?’

Question 24

Mutualistic sexual talk is associated with…

Answer 24

greater sexual AND relationship satisfaction

Question 25

Men who have sex with men tend to use more ________ communication methods compared to women who have sex with women when navigating sexual consent

Answer 25

nonverbal