Description

1. The idea that systems concepts can apply to both animate and inanimate objects
2. appears to undermine unification among physical and social sciences.
3. likely means that living and nonliving systems have identical processes.
4. has been thoroughly dismissed in recent scholarship.

*d. might be valid when different levels of analysis are taken into account.

1. “A family is greater than just a collection of individuals” is the clearest example of the assumption regarding

*a. wholeness.

1. connectedness.
2. heuristics.
3. feedback.

1. “Seeing the family as a system is just one way to study a family” is the clearest example of the assumption regarding
2. wholeness.
3. connectedness.

*c. heuristics.

1. feedback.

1. “A change in one part of the family will influence other parts of the family” is the clearest example of the assumption regarding
2. wholeness.

*b. connectedness.

1. heuristics.
2. feedback.

1. “Things outside the family influence family processes” is the clearest example of the assumption regarding
2. wholeness.
3. connectedness.
4. heuristics.

*d. feedback.

1. The “fallacy of misplaced concreteness” or reification is related to which assumption of systems theory?
2. wholeness
3. connectedness

*c. heuristics

1. feedback

1. To characterize something as a system, it must
2. be able to both be indistinguishable and separate from its environment.

*b. have an effect on its environment.

1. have both living and non-living components to it.
2. be made up of at least three different parts.

1. Which systems concept is most relevant to inputs into system to outputs of systems?
2. boundaries

*b. rules of transformation

1. variety
2. system levels

1. Which systems concept is most relevant to the degree of permeability?

*a. boundaries

1. rules of transformation
2. variety
3. system levels

1. Which systems concept is most relevant to having a comparator that monitors inputs in the context of family goals?
2. boundaries
3. rules of transformation
4. variety

*d. system levels

1. Which systems concept is most relevant to enhancing a family’s ability to adapt to changing demands?
2. boundaries
3. rules of transformation

*c. variety

1. system levels

1. Homeostasis has most to do with
2. similarity among distinct parts of a system.

*b. the purposes for which a family uses feedback and control.

1. the good things that families do.
2. creating imbalance between inputs and outputs.

1. It appears that all family systems theorists view the family as a ________ system.

*a. goal-oriented

1. completely open or closed
2. control-free
3. literal

1. A brother locks his bedroom door to protect his privacy from his little sister. She continues to knock on his door until he finally answers it. He realized that to keep his privacy he could let her in for a minute and convincer her to do something by herself afterwards for an hour in a different room. The sister’s continual knocking represents which systems concept?
2. negative reinforcement
3. negative feedback
4. positive reinforcement

*d. positive feedback

1. A brother locks his bedroom door to protect his privacy from his little sister. She continues to knock on his door until he finally answers it. He realized that to keep his privacy he could let her in for a minute and convincer her to do something by herself afterwards for an hour in a different room. His decision to change his strategy is an example of which systems concept?
2. error signal
3. lower-order processing

*c. recalibration

1. nonlinear thinking

1. Which of the following explains why families do what they do?
2. modeling

*b. propositions

1. diagrams
2. levels

1. When a family system has less variety,
2. it is usually more equipped to deal with challenges.
3. a greater number of higher-order goals exist.
4. it likely has more open boundaries.

*d. the system typically has a lower number of levels.

1. Which variation of systems theory focuses more than the others on digital and analog coding?
2. General Systems Theory
3. Neo-Functional Systems

*c. Communications Theory

1. Family Process Theory

1. Which variation of systems theory focuses more than the others on cybernetic and controls systems at multiple levels?

*a. General Systems Theory

1. Neo-Functional Systems
2. Communications Theory
3. Family Process Theory

1. Which variation of systems theory focuses more than the others on social and spatial relationships and boundaries within families?
2. General Systems Theory
3. Neo-Functional Systems
4. Communications Theory

*d. Family Process Theory

1. Which variation of systems theory focuses more than the others on how families serve individual and society needs?
2. General Systems Theory

*b. Neo-Functional Systems

1. Communications Theory
2. Family Process Theory

1. Which of the following is a noted concern about systems theory? Its
2. success in using mathematical formulas for prediction.
3. nature of being more theoretical than heuristic.
4. concepts are very concrete.
5. proneness to being reified by theorists and practitioners.

1. It is clear today that living and nonliving systems have completely distinct processes.
2. True

*b. False

1. Thinking of a family as a system is meant to be taken metaphorically.

*a. True

1. False

1. From the definition by the text authors, a system is something that can be distinguished from and affects its environment.

*a. True

1. False

1. Homeostasis is neither inherently good nor bad.

*a. True

1. False

1. Unlike a system, a subsystem has only heuristic value.
2. True

*b. False

1. Higher order goals are inherently less likely than other goals to be revised and abandoned.

*a. True

1. False

1. Enmeshment, bounding, and buffering all have to do with internal family boundaries.

*a. True

1. False

1. Nonverbal channels of communication fit digital coding while verbal channels fit analog coding.
2. True

*b. False

1. Systems diagrams explain how processes work while systems propositions explain why a system works as it does.

*a. True

1. False

1. Explain the differences between positive and negative feedback, and give an example of each for a scenario of conflict in a step-family in which the children don’t want the parents to stay together.
2. Answer should include that positive feedback increases the likelihood that behavior will change and promote deviation from a goal—the children might constantly disobey the step-parent with hopes to bring tension into the marriage; negative feedback is meant to promote the status quo, in which case the parents may take extra time for themselves to solidify their relationship with one another.

1. Explain the main difference between a systems diagram and the systems propositions.
2. Answer should include that a systems diagram explains how something happens in a somewhat linear fashion, and the propositions tell us more about why things happen the way they do, which is helpful for making predictions.

1. Explain the difference between “forecasting” and “prediction” in how systems theory can be applied to family communication or other interaction.
2. Answer should include that forecasting is based on learning from a variety of families and learn which ones have problems and which ones don’t and then forecast which future families will have problems because of the similarities they have with those already studied; prediction would be based on using deductive reasoning based on theoretical propositions; a family would be predicted to have a problem when their behaviors fall in line with the pertinent characteristics of propositions.

Ch. 7 Test Questions

1. Unlike the exchange theory framework, the underlying premises of the conflict perspective hold that
2. humans usually behave in ways that put aside their own self-interest.
3. disagreements among people are important.
4. people are typically set up to have fair bargaining opportunities.

*d. resources tend to be unequally distributed.

1. Utilitarian and conflict theory differ in the application of the concept self-interest, in that conflict theory views self-interest as
2. the true sign of acting rationally.

*b. rooted in the will to survive.

1. being largely a modern development.
2. ultimately a means toward social balance.

1. A key assumption of conflict theory is that the inevitability of conflict between groups boils down to

*a. resource scarcity.

1. group bias.
2. biological differences.
3. opinion diversity.

1. Consistent with the assumptions of conflict theory, the primary concern for conflict theory is ___ families ____ conflict.
2. when; avoid
3. why; create
4. which; experience

*d. how; manage

1. The dialectical nature or conflict focuses primarily on conflict as a/an
2. behavior.
3. attitude.

*c. process.

1. discussion.

1. In contrast to cooperation, competition is
2. a process.

*b. a structure.

1. invisible as an organization.
2. set by rules and norms.

1. Most conflict theorists analyze group structure by focusing on each of the following characteristics of group members, except for the _________ of members.

*a. proximity

1. number
2. ages
3. gender

1. ______ is the concept specifically defined as control over other people and things.
2. Structure
3. Authority

*c. Power

1. Capitals

1. ______ is the concept specifically defined as a type of resource constructed by a normative system.
2. Structure

*b. Authority

1. Power
2. Capitals

1. ______ is the concept specifically defined as that which allows for the appropriation of social energy or its own reproduction.
2. Structure
3. Authority
4. Power

*d. Capitals

1. Important characteristics of family members that influence how a family manages conflict would align most closely with which concept of conflict theory?

*a. structure of the group

1. social structure
2. dynamic processes
3. norms of the situation

1. Dan and Bob realize that they need each other’s assistance to get what each wants. Bob decides to trick Dan into helping him out without Dan even realizing it. In the context of conflict theory, Bob’s actions would be considered a form of
2. consensus.
3. dissension.
4. competition.

*d. negotiation.

1. Because of the structural issue of autonomy-togetherness,
2. the more time a group spends as a group the less conflict they will have.

*b. even a pair of similar people are going to experience conflict.

1. it is impossible for a married couple to reach consensus on something.
2. families are quickly able to put aside their differences.

1. Which of the following is true regarding conflict within marriages and families?
2. A childless couple will experience familial conflict the same way as a couple with children.
3. Family conflict is highly structural in nature.

*c. Togetherness has different connotations for conflict if there are more than two people involved.

1. Negotiation is less complicated for a couple than a family.

1. Based on the conflict theory propositions in the chapter, which is the least accurate regarding negotiation?
2. negotiation is most likely to occur in egalitarian families
3. coalitions among family members are consistent from negotiation to negotiation

*c. the negotiated outcome equally favors all involved in the negotiations

1. having more resources makes negotiating a compromise potentially more rewarding

1. Which variation of conflict theory is most likely to focus on family coalitions, the differences between dyads and triads, and the meaning of love and hate?
2. Dialectical Historiography

*b. Structural Conflict

1. Critical Theory of the Family
2. Microresource Conflict

1. Which variation of conflict theory is most likely to view negotiations as key means for conflict management, and differentiates between basic and nonbasic conflict?
2. Dialectical Historiography
3. Structural Conflict
4. Critical Theory of the Family

*d. Microresource Conflict

1. Which variation of conflict theory is most likely to focus on shifts in the balance between family authority and state authority over individual lives?

*a. Dialectical Historiography

1. Structural Conflict
2. Critical Theory of the Family
3. Microresource Conflict

1. Which variation of conflict theory is most likely to incorporate age and sex hierarchies while analyzing the nature of social relationships in families?
2. Dialectical Historiography
3. Structural Conflict

*c. Critical Theory of the Family

1. Microresource Conflict

1. Within the Capitals and the Family variation, “symbolic violence” is related to
2. the emancipation of children from exploitive parental rules and structures.
3. gender inequalities that stem from historical power given to men.
4. relations between racial majority and minority groups based on governmental regulation.

*d. actions of the upper classes who more deeply understanding cultural rules.

1. An activity that tends to be an end in itself is most likely to be
2. basic.
3. instrumental.
4. nonbasic.

*d. expressive.

1. A disagreement about the rules of interaction is most likely to be

*a. basic.

1. instrumental.
2. nonbasic.
3. expressive.

1. Which of the following is not one of Zimmerman’s historic phases of the family?
2. trustee
3. atomistic

*c. advocate

1. domestic

1. Based on common critiques, conflict theory is known for its
2. balance between explaining both conflict and order.
3. clear applicability to relatively short spans of time.

*c. emphasis on an ideological aspect of theory.

1. explanation of how feminism developed.

1. According to conflict theory, higher amounts of family togetherness should produce less family conflict.
2. True

*b. False

1. Exchange theory and conflict theory both emphasize that self-interest is a sign that people behavior in rational ways.
2. True

*b. False

1. Harmony is said to be the natural state of society, but people continue to act unnaturally and disturb social harmony.
2. True

*b. False

1. Competition refers to how a situation is structured based on rules or norms.

*a. True

1. False

1. Power and authority are both types of resources, as are knowledge and skills.

*a. True

1. False

1. Negotiation is by definition a willing cooperation between individuals or groups.
2. True

*b. False

1. Because resources are not equally distributed to everyone in any given society, that necessarily means that no society has a fair system of allocation.
2. True

*b. False

1. Basic conflicts tend to be more superficial in nature.
2. True

*b. False

1. Unlike other dyads, Simmel argues that marriages are different because they are socially regulated.

*a. True

1. False

1. Explain why conflict is expected to be inevitable in any family.
2. Answer should include that groups will always struggle with issues of balancing autonomy and togetherness, so when families are together family member will still struggle to maintain a sense of autonomy.

1. Compare and contrast the meanings and objectives of cooperation and competition.
2. Answer should include that cooperation is a process and enables everyone who is interested to have the opportunity to achieve a goal; competition is a structure that by design limits the opportunity for all interested parties to achieve a goal.

1. Explain the two main differing perspectives regarding how well conflict theory assumptions and concepts explain conflict in families.
2. Answer should include that some theorists see families as just a microcosm of the larger society, so the same principles apply to both settings; others argue that families have some unique properties that casts doubt on whether the concepts and assumptions regarding societal groups apply as well to families.

1. Describe Zimmerman’s proposed progression of phases from the trustee family to the domestic family to the atomistic family and then the next step in the process.
2. Answer should include that the trustee family gives most or all authority over individuals to families, the domestic family is a balance between family and state authority over individuals, the atomistic family is when the state has most or all authority over individual, which is unsustainable and creates an authority gap in which the cycle begins again with the trustee family.