Understanding Human Comm Chapter 8

Question 1

Communication Climate

Answer 1

• Confirming and disconfirming
• The spiral
• Escalating spirals

Question 2

Creating Positive Climates

Answer 2

• Evaluation vs Desption
• Control vs Problem Orientation
• Strategy (Manipulation) vs Spontaneity (Honest)
• Neutrality (Indifference) vs Empathy
• Superiority vs Equality
• Certainty vs Provisionalism

Question 3

Gottman’s Gaffes

Answer 3

Gottman Suggest that whether conflicts are handled constructively or destructively lies mostly in the hands of women. He states, “It’s women who matter here, because we find that 80% of the times women are the ones in our culture who raise issues.” He asserts when women use critical, negative, or accusatory approaches, the stage is set for destructive communication. Once the man’s physiological arousal sets in, it’s very hard to reverse. Although it sounds unfair to put responsibilty on the women for managing disagreements more gently, that may be a small price to pay for preventing a destructive conflict the both people regret.