3.2.2.4.2 Body language: open and closed posture, postural echo, touch Quiz: AQA Psychology, Unit 6

The 20 questions

1. Which of these is an open posture?

   • Hands clasped behind the back and the head tilted down, signalling secrecy in daily life
   • Legs crossed tightly and fists clenched, signalling anger at the person in front
   • Arms and legs uncrossed, with the body facing the other person, signalling openness
   • Arms folded across the chest and the body turned away, signalling defensiveness

2. Which of these is a closed posture?

   • Leaning forward with hands resting loosely on the knees during a friendly chat
   • Sitting upright with palms open on the table while speaking to a group
   • Standing with arms relaxed at the sides and facing the other person directly
   • Crossing the arms over the chest while turning the body partly away from another person

3. What is postural echo?

   • When two people unconsciously mirror each other's body positions, which can signal rapport
   • When two people sit in a circle so one person's posture is always visible to the other
   • When a person copies the sound of another's voice, such as an accent, to seem friendlier
   • When one person repeats another's exact words to show they agree with them

4. Two friends are chatting and both lean forward and cross their legs at the same time. What is this an example of?

   • Closed posture, which shows both friends are defensive and unwilling to continue
   • Verbal echo, which shows both friends are repeating the same phrases to agree
   • Personal space violation, which shows one friend moved too close without permission
   • Postural echo, which often indicates rapport between the two people

5. A speaker's posture is open, but their arms are folded when a listener asks a question. Which conclusion is most reasonable?

   • The posture is mixed, so the listener should not assume a clear meaning and may need to check
   • The speaker is definitely angry and wants to end the conversation immediately
   • The speaker is definitely not listening, since folded arms always mean someone is inattentive
   • The speaker is definitely happy to answer and has no reservations about the question

6. Which of these is a non-verbal example of touch?

   • A friend raising an eyebrow at another while asking about the homework
   • A friend placing a hand on another's shoulder to show comfort during a difficult talk
   • A friend turning away from the other person to show they wish to end the conversation
   • A friend nodding slowly to show agreement while the other describes a holiday

7. Why might touch be considered an important non-verbal behaviour in a close relationship?

   • It can only be used between family members, so it never occurs in friendships
   • It can be used to measure how far apart two people are standing in a room
   • It can express warmth and support, conveying feelings that words may not convey as clearly
   • It can replace verbal communication entirely, so close people never need to speak

8. What does 'body language' refer to?

   • The written text a person sends, including spelling, punctuation and style
   • Non-verbal signals sent through posture, movement, gesture and facial expression
   • The spoken words a person chooses, including their vocabulary and grammar
   • The physical size of a person's body, measured in height and weight

9. Why might body language be harder to interpret reliably than a verbal statement?

   • Body language is always unconscious, so people can never use it to mislead anyone
   • Body language cannot be seen by others, so it can only be felt through physical contact
   • The same posture can mean different things depending on context and culture, and cues may conflict
   • Body language is only produced by people trained in psychology, so others cannot read it

10. A teacher sits upright with an open posture and leans toward a student who is speaking. What does this most likely communicate?

    • Anger and disapproval, which encourage the student to stop speaking immediately
    • Boredom and impatience, which encourage the student to finish quickly and sit down
    • Confusion and uncertainty, which encourage the student to start the answer again
    • Interest and attentiveness, which encourage the student to keep talking

11. Two people in a meeting slowly change their posture to match each other over several minutes. Which interpretation fits postural echo?

    • The two people are likely to be in conflict and copying each other to argue more effectively
    • The two people are likely to be strangers testing each other's memory during the meeting
    • The two people are likely to be unwell and sharing a posture because of a shared illness
    • The two people are likely to feel rapport and attend to each other's comfort

12. Which of these is a non-verbal signal that accompanies body language?

    • Grammar, which determines the order of words so the meaning is clear to the listener
    • Vocabulary, which determines the range of words a speaker knows and can use
    • Spelling, which determines how a written word is formed in a text message
    • Tone of voice, which can show excitement or anger without changing the words spoken

13. A person touches another's arm during a conversation and then steps back. Which factor is most useful for interpreting this touch?

    • The colour of the clothes both people are wearing, which shows how each feels about the other
    • The context, including the relationship between the people and the situation
    • The time of day, which shows whether touch is appropriate for the meeting in progress
    • The length of the conversation so far, which determines whether touch is allowed at all

14. Which pair is most closely linked as a body language cue?

    • Open posture and a fast walk, which often show a wish to leave the area quickly
    • Closed posture and a loud voice, which often show a wish to make an announcement
    • Open posture and a relaxed, facing body, which often show willingness to engage
    • Closed posture and a smile, which often show an intention to hide true feelings

15. A patient sits with arms crossed and avoids eye contact during a doctor's visit. What is the most sensible next step for the doctor?

    • Assume the patient is lying and repeat the same question several times to test their answer
    • Assume the patient is angry and end the appointment, since crossed arms always mean anger
    • Ask open questions and check how the patient feels, since the cues suggest discomfort without proving a reason
    • Assume the patient is comfortable and continue unchanged, since body language is unimportant in medicine

16. What does 'postural echo' suggest about the people involved?

    • That they share a sense of rapport or liking, which can develop as the conversation goes on
    • That they are copying each other's words in a game designed to test their memory in daily life
    • That one of them needs the other to adopt a specific posture for a medical examination
    • That they are competing for control of the conversation, each trying to be more dominant

17. Which action would most clearly show a listener is open to a speaker's message?

    • Looking at a watch, folding the arms and turning the head away from the speaker
    • Standing with hands in pockets and shifting weight from foot to foot during the message
    • Leaning slightly forward, keeping arms uncrossed and a relaxed face while listening
    • Shaking the head side to side and tapping the foot while the speaker is still talking

18. Why should a single body language cue not be used alone to judge a person's feelings?

    • Cues are never produced by people who are sad, so no cue can show that someone is unhappy
    • Cues are always accurate, so a single cue is enough to judge feelings in any situation in daily life
    • Cues can be read only by trained clinicians, so ordinary people cannot judge feelings at all
    • Cues are ambiguous, so a reliable reading usually needs several cues, the words and the context

19. Why might a firm, brief handshake be seen as a positive greeting in many settings?

    • It signals that the person is nervous and wants to leave the conversation quickly
    • It signals that the greeting is over and the meeting is about to end at once in daily life
    • It signals confidence and courtesy, without the intimacy that longer touch can imply
    • It signals that the two people already know each other very well and are close

20. Which is an example of a non-verbal cue related to personal touch?

    • A spoken greeting used to welcome a visitor into a room and introduce others
    • A telephone call to a friend to ask about their week and weekend plans
    • A firm handshake that lasts a moment, often used at the start of a meeting
    • A written note handed to a colleague at the end of a meeting to summarise the points

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