Timothy L Puccetti

SOC 200 Stephanie Zoltowski

05/28/2015
Assignment Chapters 6-7

1. During the problem-solving process, what are the five key elements to ask
about? Which do you think could be the most problematic and why?
1] Ask about the people: their competence and attitudes. 2] Ask about
the materials in terms of adequacy and availability. 3] Ask if you have the
right machines and facilities for the job. 4] Ask questions about the suitability
of the physical environment. 5] Ask if the methods such as processes and
procedures are adequate.
2. Define creativity. Do you think you are a creative person? Provide three
examples to explain why you are or are not creative.
Creativity is the ability to develop good ideas that can be put into
action. I think that Im creative in an organizational way. I like finding new
ways to be organized. Im less creative in a general arts sense. An example
of how Im creative in organizing is that I often find new ways to organize my
computer file folders to be more efficient. Another way that Im creative is in
finding new ways to organize the outline of complex papers at school. A way
that I need more creativity is while creating visual design in art and design
classes. Ive seen other students with consistently better ideas.
3. What is the difference between vertical thinking and lateral thinking?
Vertical thinking is an analytical and logical process searching for fewer
answers while lateral thinking is a spreading out to find many different
alternative solutions to a problem. Vertical thinking is more critical while
lateral thinking is more creative.
4. Practice brain-writing for 10 minutes on the following question.
a. How can schools be made safer?
Schools can be made safer by having students take anger
management class each week where they discuss the things that anger them
and how to deal with angry feelings constructively. Schools can also be made
safer by discussing with students the idea of what is a weapon and why they
should not be brought to school. Schools can also be made safer by having

Timothy L Puccetti
SOC 200 Stephanie Zoltowski
05/28/2015
Assignment Chapters 6-7

the students interact in a manner where they are encouraged to get to know
each others hopes and dreams by sharing life experiences.

5. Define critical thinking. What are some reasons critical thinking may be
difficult?
Critical thinking has been described by Robert Ennis as reasonable and
reflective thinking in deciding what to believe or what actions to take. This
book describes critical thinking as using a systematic evaluation of evidence
to solve problems and make decisions.
Critical thinking may be difficult due to personal factors such as
emotional states or due to situational factors such as an atmosphere of
distrust. An atmosphere within a company that discourages lower level
employees from assessing strategic plans will discourage critical thinking by
those employees.
Critical thinking may be difficult because people may not have selfknowledge. Certain people may not want to confront their own inner
subconscious motives. Many people are also not fully conscious of their own
deep values. Their values may be mostly subconscious. Such people may be
afraid to reflect on their own values because it can reveal painful emotions
and inner conflicts of interest. As a result of not wanting to confront their
true inner motives these people will not be interested in examining evidence
to evaluate problems.
Chapter 7 Homework

1. Identify the two primary dimensions of how we establish relationships.

How do they impact your daily activities?
We establish relationships through dominant vs subordinate and cold
vs warm dimensions. Dominant dimensions seek to control and subordinate
seeks to comply and yield. In cold dimensions we seek to be impersonal or
subordinately accepting and in warm dimensions we seek to be (dominate)
personal or (subordinate) supportive.

Timothy L Puccetti
SOC 200 Stephanie Zoltowski
05/28/2015
Assignment Chapters 6-7

These dimensions impact our daily activities at work and school. In

both situations the subordinates are usually the workers and students while
the authority figures are expected to be dominant. Despite the subordinate
stance workers and students often must use warmth to convey support and
interest in the tasks. In romantic relationships each partner is expected to
demonstrate enough warmth to convey interest in continuing the
relationship.
2. Define nonverbal communication and identify the ways you best
communicate this way. Are you sending positive or negative signals?
In nonverbal communication we use our body, voice tone, or
environment in numerous ways to help put a message across to the receiver.
I best communicate this way when I feel enthusiastic about something and
my voice becomes louder and more animated. I also communicate this way
at a jobsite when I adopt a straighter posture of and use a voice tone
indicating authority to the customer while discussing job concerns. In these
cases Im often sending positive signals.
3. What are the four circles of intimacy? How do you determine the distance
you are from someone you are speaking to?
Intimate distance is the zone from 0 to 18inches. There is a subdivision
of close intimate from 0 to 6 inches and far intimate from 6 to 18 inches. It is
usually reserved for friends and lovers or a need to show affection.
Personal distance covers the zone from 1-1/2 to 2 feet. This is usually
reserved for friendly conversations.
Social distance covers the zone from 4 to 12 feet. This is usually
reserved for impersonal and businesslike interactions between strangers.
Public distance covers the distance from 12 feet to the limit of being
heard. This is usually reserved for a speaker and an audience or for a
communication of easier convenience than locating closer.
I determine the distance that I keep from someone using a combination
of intuitive knowledge and conscious monitoring of feedback cues from the
listener.

Timothy L Puccetti
SOC 200 Stephanie Zoltowski
05/28/2015
Assignment Chapters 6-7

4. What kind of nonverbal cues do you look for when you think someone is
lying to you? What is the pattern of behavior that liars usually engage in?
When people are lying it requires extra thinking effort which slows
down the response times and rate of gestures. Liars tend to be more nervous
and touch their faces more often while lying. Liars also will avoid direct eye
contact while lying, but lack of eye contact does not assure that the person is
lying because it can be a result of subordination.
5. Identify the 11 barriers to communication. Which three are the most
significant to your own life and why?
The eleven barriers to communication are:
1] Limited understanding of people
2] One-way communication
3] Different interpretation of words
4] Credibility of sender and mixed signals
5] Distortion of information
6] Different perspectives and experiences
7] Emotions and attitudes
8] Communication overload
9] Improper timing
10] Poor communication skills
11] Cultural and language barriers

The three barriers most significant to my life are limited understanding

of people, cultural barriers and improper timing. My limited understanding of
people comes into play when I interact with people of different values. This
occurs because I often have to interact with people who have moved from
different towns who may have different values than the neighborhood where
I was raised. The cultural barriers occur because I often must interact with
people who have grown up raised in different faiths. The improper timing

Timothy L Puccetti
SOC 200 Stephanie Zoltowski
05/28/2015
Assignment Chapters 6-7

occurs when I interact with people while not containing my desire for instant
results. This occurs because I worked for many years in a non-corporate work
environment where people interacted in a more direct and instant manner.