SPC 3301 EXAM 3 QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
Identify the four general complaints people have about their partner that leads to break-
ups. - Answers - 1) Faults with the other person = too many negative qualities: lazy,
stupid, no fun to be around, etc.
2) Refusals to compromise for the good of the relationship = partner cannot be
influenced to change faults or add rewarding behaviors
3) constrains = too man
4) miscellaneous = reasons that didn't fit with other categories
What is the divorce rate for first marriages and is it higher or lower for second
marriages? - Answers - 50% for first marriages
higher for second marriages
90% people will marry in their lifetime
Identify and describe three dimensions of termination strategies (i.e., bilateral-unilateral,
self/other orientation, and direct/indirect) - Answers - 1) Direct (im breaking up with you)
v. indirect (its not you, its me)
2) self(you care about your goals, don't care how mean what you say is) v other
orientation(take into account other person's feelings)
3) bilateral(two sided, talk through breakup together) v unilateral(one sided- idc what
you say, we're breaking up)
Identify and describe Gottman's Cascade Model of divorce. - Answers - - begins with
decline of marital satisfaction, followed by consideration of separation, leads to
separation and divorce.
- physiological responses
- flooding & negative sentiment override
-recasting history of marriage and considering alternatives
- divorce
Identify behaviors associated with the communication of distance and dissociation. -
Answers - - Creating distance and avoidance
- emphasizing individuality
- no longer using pet names/ shortcuts
- showing interests in activities, food, art, etc that deviates from norms
- diverging from normal communication/behavioral techniques.
, How is the approval of friends and family related to the long term stability of a
relationship? - Answers - - We want everyone to get along because it can cause
problems between our friend/ family groups
Identify both dynamic and static factors and know the difference between dynamic and
static categories. - Answers - - static factors
1. Personality factors
2. Parental divorce
3. Religious dissimilarity
4. Previous divorce
5. Young age at marriage
6. Economic issues
7. Major mental health issues
8. Cohabitation history
- dynamic factors
1. "Four horsemen" conflict behaviors
2. Unrealistic expectations
3. Substance abuse
4. Communication skill
5. Commitment and motivation
Identify and describe the "four horsemen of the apocalypse of marriage." - Answers - -
criticism
- contempt
- defensiveness
- stonewalling
What is the ratio of positive to negative behaviors in couples who stay together and
those who divorce. - Answers - - 20:1 (happy couples)
- 8:1 (couples soon to divorce)
According John Gottman (in the video we saw in class) what do couples fight about?
Also, who is more likely to stonewall, husbands or wives? - Answers - - couples mostly
fight about work, in-laws, money, sex, housework, and new babies.
- husbands
Identify and describe the concept of termination accounts and why people use them
post breakup. - Answers - - account making allows people to reduce or eliminate
uncertainty and ambiguity that follows breakups. They fulfil a social presentation
function that protects and individual's self esteem and serve as a potent vehicle for
emotional release
According to the science of cheating video, what hormones are related to infidelity? -
Answers - - vasopressin and dopamine
ANSWERS
Identify the four general complaints people have about their partner that leads to break-
ups. - Answers - 1) Faults with the other person = too many negative qualities: lazy,
stupid, no fun to be around, etc.
2) Refusals to compromise for the good of the relationship = partner cannot be
influenced to change faults or add rewarding behaviors
3) constrains = too man
4) miscellaneous = reasons that didn't fit with other categories
What is the divorce rate for first marriages and is it higher or lower for second
marriages? - Answers - 50% for first marriages
higher for second marriages
90% people will marry in their lifetime
Identify and describe three dimensions of termination strategies (i.e., bilateral-unilateral,
self/other orientation, and direct/indirect) - Answers - 1) Direct (im breaking up with you)
v. indirect (its not you, its me)
2) self(you care about your goals, don't care how mean what you say is) v other
orientation(take into account other person's feelings)
3) bilateral(two sided, talk through breakup together) v unilateral(one sided- idc what
you say, we're breaking up)
Identify and describe Gottman's Cascade Model of divorce. - Answers - - begins with
decline of marital satisfaction, followed by consideration of separation, leads to
separation and divorce.
- physiological responses
- flooding & negative sentiment override
-recasting history of marriage and considering alternatives
- divorce
Identify behaviors associated with the communication of distance and dissociation. -
Answers - - Creating distance and avoidance
- emphasizing individuality
- no longer using pet names/ shortcuts
- showing interests in activities, food, art, etc that deviates from norms
- diverging from normal communication/behavioral techniques.
, How is the approval of friends and family related to the long term stability of a
relationship? - Answers - - We want everyone to get along because it can cause
problems between our friend/ family groups
Identify both dynamic and static factors and know the difference between dynamic and
static categories. - Answers - - static factors
1. Personality factors
2. Parental divorce
3. Religious dissimilarity
4. Previous divorce
5. Young age at marriage
6. Economic issues
7. Major mental health issues
8. Cohabitation history
- dynamic factors
1. "Four horsemen" conflict behaviors
2. Unrealistic expectations
3. Substance abuse
4. Communication skill
5. Commitment and motivation
Identify and describe the "four horsemen of the apocalypse of marriage." - Answers - -
criticism
- contempt
- defensiveness
- stonewalling
What is the ratio of positive to negative behaviors in couples who stay together and
those who divorce. - Answers - - 20:1 (happy couples)
- 8:1 (couples soon to divorce)
According John Gottman (in the video we saw in class) what do couples fight about?
Also, who is more likely to stonewall, husbands or wives? - Answers - - couples mostly
fight about work, in-laws, money, sex, housework, and new babies.
- husbands
Identify and describe the concept of termination accounts and why people use them
post breakup. - Answers - - account making allows people to reduce or eliminate
uncertainty and ambiguity that follows breakups. They fulfil a social presentation
function that protects and individual's self esteem and serve as a potent vehicle for
emotional release
According to the science of cheating video, what hormones are related to infidelity? -
Answers - - vasopressin and dopamine
