Arizona State University (ASU) COM230 Small Group Communication Final Practice Exam

Tertiary tension primarily concentrates on power struggles and status conflicts within a group setting. This type of tension arises when individuals in a group vie for influence or attempt to assert their dominance over others, often leading to conflicts related to hierarchy, authority, and position within the group. Understanding tertiary tension is crucial for effective small group communication because it highlights the relational dynamics that can disrupt group cohesion and impede collaboration.

In contrast, while group performance and goals may be impacted by tensions, they are not the primary focus of tertiary tension; rather, the focus is on how power dynamics affect interpersonal relationships within the group. Similarly, interpersonal conflicts and dynamics are more closely related to secondary tensions, which emerge from differences of opinion or interpersonal interactions among group members. Task completion strategies are also not the main concern of tertiary tension, which is less about the tasks at hand and more about the relationships and hierarchy influencing those tasks.