COMM 315 TAMU Exam 2 Questions and Answers Latest Version 2025 Already Passed
Define: Relationship Dimension - Answers The dimension of messages that comments on the
relationship between the speakers rather than on matters external to them.
Define: Content Dimension - Answers Refers to the dimension of messages that comments on the world
external to both speaker and listener.
Define: Social Penetration Theory - Answers A theory concerned with relationship development from
the superficial to the intimate levels and from few to many areas of interpersonal interaction.
Define: Relationship Dialect Theory - Answers An explanation of the conflicting motives that people in
close relationships often experience.
Define: Relationship Rules Theory - Answers A theory that holds that people maintain relationships with
those who follow the rules the individuals have defined as essential to their relationship and dissolve
relationships with those who don't follow the rules.
Define: Social Exchange Theory - Answers A theory hypothesizing that you cultivate profitable
relationships (rewards are greater than costs) and that you avoid or terminate unprofitable relationships
(where costs exceed rewards).
Define: Politeness Theory - Answers A theory that states two people develop a relationship when each
respects, contributes to, and acknowledges the positive and negative face needs of the other and
deteriorates if they don't.
Define: Equity Theory - Answers A theory claiming that people experience relational satisfaction when
there is an equal distribution of rewards and and costs between the two persons in the relationship.
Define: Eros Love - Answers A type of love that emphasizes beauty and sexuality.
Define: Storge Love - Answers A type of love that is peaceful and slow. (ex: When Harry met Sally)
Define: Agape Love - Answers A type of love that is compassionate and selfless- egoless, self-giving, the
endless giver (ex: moms with their kids)
Define: Ludus Love - Answers A type of love that is for entertainment and excitement- fun and games,
not too seriously, not that emotional (ex: Joey on friends)
Define: Pragma Love - Answers A type of love that is practical and traditional - family and background
are important, what will make my life easier? (ex: story of the old married couple)
Define: Mania Love - Answers A type of love that has a lot of elation and depression- extreme highs and
lows, does not become as pleasurable because of waiting for the lows.
, Define: Conversation Orientation - Answers This refers to the degree to which family members can
speak their mind. When this is high, family encourages members to voice their opinions. When this is
low, family discourages discussion.
Define: Consensual Families - Answers Families who encourage open communication and agreement,
high in conversation and in conformity
Define: Protective Families - Answers Families who are high in conformity and low in conversation.
These families stress agreement and strive to avoid conflict but w/ little communication.
Define: Pluralistic Families - Answers Families that are low in conformity and high in conversation. Family
members are encouraged to express diff attitudes and points of view and to engage in open
communication while being supportive of each other.
Define: Laissez-Faire Families - Answers Families that are low in confirmation and in conversation. They
avoid interaction and communication, and encourage privacy and a "do what you want" attitude.
Define: Withdrawal - Answers A communication pattern where there is greater physical space, quicker
tempers, less eye contact, less touching, less desire to talk or listen.
What is a decline in self-disclosure? - Answers A communication pattern where you feel the other
person no longer warrants knowledge of you.
Define: Deception - Answers A communication pattern that involves lies or avoidance of truth.
Define: Face-Attacking - Answers A strategy that attacks a person's positive face (ex: comments that
criticize the person's contribution to a relationship or the person's ability) or a person's negative face
(ex: making demands on a person's time or resources that attack the person's autonomy)
Define: Face-Enhancing - Answers A strategy that supports & confirms a person's positive face (ex:
praise, a pat on the back, a sincere smile) or negative face (giving the person space and asking rather
than demanding)
Define: Belt-lining - Answers An unproductive conflict strategy in which one person hits the other at a
vulnerable level - at the level at which the other person cannot withstand the blow.
Define: Referent Power - Answers Power that a person possesses because others desire to identify with
or be like that individual.
Define: Legitimate Power - Answers Power that a person possesses because others believe he or she has
a right - by virtue of his or her position - to influence or control their behavior.
Define: Expert Power - Answers Power that a person has because others believe the individual to have
expertise or special knowledge.
Define: Info/Persuasion Power - Answers Power that a person has because others see that individual as
having significant information and the ability to communicate logically and persuasively.
Define: Relationship Dimension - Answers The dimension of messages that comments on the
relationship between the speakers rather than on matters external to them.
Define: Content Dimension - Answers Refers to the dimension of messages that comments on the world
external to both speaker and listener.
Define: Social Penetration Theory - Answers A theory concerned with relationship development from
the superficial to the intimate levels and from few to many areas of interpersonal interaction.
Define: Relationship Dialect Theory - Answers An explanation of the conflicting motives that people in
close relationships often experience.
Define: Relationship Rules Theory - Answers A theory that holds that people maintain relationships with
those who follow the rules the individuals have defined as essential to their relationship and dissolve
relationships with those who don't follow the rules.
Define: Social Exchange Theory - Answers A theory hypothesizing that you cultivate profitable
relationships (rewards are greater than costs) and that you avoid or terminate unprofitable relationships
(where costs exceed rewards).
Define: Politeness Theory - Answers A theory that states two people develop a relationship when each
respects, contributes to, and acknowledges the positive and negative face needs of the other and
deteriorates if they don't.
Define: Equity Theory - Answers A theory claiming that people experience relational satisfaction when
there is an equal distribution of rewards and and costs between the two persons in the relationship.
Define: Eros Love - Answers A type of love that emphasizes beauty and sexuality.
Define: Storge Love - Answers A type of love that is peaceful and slow. (ex: When Harry met Sally)
Define: Agape Love - Answers A type of love that is compassionate and selfless- egoless, self-giving, the
endless giver (ex: moms with their kids)
Define: Ludus Love - Answers A type of love that is for entertainment and excitement- fun and games,
not too seriously, not that emotional (ex: Joey on friends)
Define: Pragma Love - Answers A type of love that is practical and traditional - family and background
are important, what will make my life easier? (ex: story of the old married couple)
Define: Mania Love - Answers A type of love that has a lot of elation and depression- extreme highs and
lows, does not become as pleasurable because of waiting for the lows.
, Define: Conversation Orientation - Answers This refers to the degree to which family members can
speak their mind. When this is high, family encourages members to voice their opinions. When this is
low, family discourages discussion.
Define: Consensual Families - Answers Families who encourage open communication and agreement,
high in conversation and in conformity
Define: Protective Families - Answers Families who are high in conformity and low in conversation.
These families stress agreement and strive to avoid conflict but w/ little communication.
Define: Pluralistic Families - Answers Families that are low in conformity and high in conversation. Family
members are encouraged to express diff attitudes and points of view and to engage in open
communication while being supportive of each other.
Define: Laissez-Faire Families - Answers Families that are low in confirmation and in conversation. They
avoid interaction and communication, and encourage privacy and a "do what you want" attitude.
Define: Withdrawal - Answers A communication pattern where there is greater physical space, quicker
tempers, less eye contact, less touching, less desire to talk or listen.
What is a decline in self-disclosure? - Answers A communication pattern where you feel the other
person no longer warrants knowledge of you.
Define: Deception - Answers A communication pattern that involves lies or avoidance of truth.
Define: Face-Attacking - Answers A strategy that attacks a person's positive face (ex: comments that
criticize the person's contribution to a relationship or the person's ability) or a person's negative face
(ex: making demands on a person's time or resources that attack the person's autonomy)
Define: Face-Enhancing - Answers A strategy that supports & confirms a person's positive face (ex:
praise, a pat on the back, a sincere smile) or negative face (giving the person space and asking rather
than demanding)
Define: Belt-lining - Answers An unproductive conflict strategy in which one person hits the other at a
vulnerable level - at the level at which the other person cannot withstand the blow.
Define: Referent Power - Answers Power that a person possesses because others desire to identify with
or be like that individual.
Define: Legitimate Power - Answers Power that a person possesses because others believe he or she has
a right - by virtue of his or her position - to influence or control their behavior.
Define: Expert Power - Answers Power that a person has because others believe the individual to have
expertise or special knowledge.
Define: Info/Persuasion Power - Answers Power that a person has because others see that individual as
having significant information and the ability to communicate logically and persuasively.
