Contemporary Issues In Interpersonal Communication

Introduces the foundational ideas and concepts of interpersonal communication and applies them to issues and events relevant to college student population. Organized in three sections, this title links specific communication practices regarding issues of culture, power, and technology in various contexts of interpersonal communication.

Provide your students with powerful tools to communicate effectively in interpersonal relationships. With innovative content on empathy, mindfulness, the neuroscience of emotions, implicit bias, and more, the Second Edition of Interpersonal Communication for Contemporary Living is an outstanding companion for communication courses. Interpersonal Communication for Contemporary Living helps students learn how to communicate and interact with other people in a variety of interpersonal settings. This text offers students the tools for success in building relationships with other people, developing fluency in empathic communication, and enhancing awareness of the dynamics of relationships in daily living. Interpersonal Communication for Contemporary Living gives students a better understanding of how to use the different modes of communication - verbal, nonverbal, and mediated - to become better communicators in relationships. Interpersonal Communication for Contemporary Living uses three elements to teach students how to communicate in relationships with others: Printed information describing different aspects of interpersonal communication to encourage active reading, with a conversational tone that students appreciate. Engaging classroom activities that facilitate and demonstrate real-world communication interactions among people, so that students can learn by doing in a structured setting Photographs of individuals characterising multicultural, multilingual, and multimodal traditions from around the world to help students relate to the visual content and see themselves, their friends, and their family members represented in the diverse images. This inclusive learning package actively involves students in practicing their new communication skills in ways that work. In addition to the innovative text and classroom activities, there are presentations in PowerPoint® format, exams, and instructor resources.

What are the main influences on the formation of self-identity? What role do language and non-verbal communication play in the construction and display of identity? How does consumer culture impact on displays of self-identity? The rapid growth of cultural diversity within Western societies not only presents new possibilities and dilemmas for the construction of self and social-identity, but also highlights the need for individuals to be aware of the factors which impact upon co-cultural and intercultural communication. Many of the messages carried in everyday social interaction can be seen to carry the raw materials out of which identities are explored, displayed and constructed. This introductory text explores the socio-cultural surround in which interpersonal communication takes place, and considers the interface between interpersonal and mass communication. Case studies, models, questions for discussion and examples linking theory and practice allow you to explore ideas about the formation and display of identity in everyday encounters. Topics include: Exploration of the concept of identity Identities in groups Social identities: ethnic, class, gender and sexuality Consumer identities Marginalised or ‘outsider’ identities Models of communication Intercultural communication Key Themes in Interpersonal Communication is a must-read for all students on Communication studies, Cultural studies and Sociology courses.

Interpersonal relationships are the core of our societal system and have been since before the dawn of civilization. In today's world, friends, lovers, companions, and confidants make valuable contributions to our everyday lives. These are the relationships whose members are not automatically participants as a result of their birth and kin affiliations. The focus is on these relationships that must be forged from the sometimes indifferent, and sometimes hostile world. Yet, there is still much that is not known about how these relationships evolve, how partners communicate in on-going relationships, how people keep their relationships together, and how they cope when they fall apart. Primary to the focus of this book is the underlying theme of evolving interpersonal relationships from the initial encounter to the mature alliance. The contributors to this volume provide a contemporary perspective for the study of interpersonal relationships. Fresh areas of scholarly inquiry are presented and existing approaches are re-examined. Research in the introductory chapters breaks new ground, and appraises the ultimate question of what impact initial interactions have on further relational development. The mid-section of the volume concerns communication issues that confront the members of a relationship in process, focusing on how conflict and jealousy are communicated to a relational partner. This research considers relational development as well as obstacles and barriers to evolving relationships. The concluding chapters probe the question: Ultimately do all good things have to come to an end? Employing innovative techniques to examine maturing and disengaging relationships, the research presented here focuses on how interpersonal relationships become committed and mature.

Communication scholars have long recognized the importance of understanding associations between our bodies and communication messages and processes. In the past decade, there has been an increased focus on the role of physiology in interpersonal interactions, resulting in a surge of research exploring topics related to communication in close relationships. This growing line of research explores topics such as affectionate communication, forgiveness, communication apprehension, and social support. Contributing to the increase in physiological research on communication processes is a greater recognition of the bi-directional nature of the associations between communication and the body. Researchers study both the physiological outcomes of communication episodes (e.g., stress responses to conflict conversations), as well as the effects of physiology on communication process (e.g., the influence of hormones on post-sex communication). The Oxford Handbook of the Physiology of Interpersonal Communication offers a comprehensive review of the most prolific areas of research investigating both the physiological outcomes of interpersonal communication and the effects of physiology on interpersonal interactions. This volume brings together thirty-three leading scholars in the field and draws on research from communication studies, physiology, psychology, and neuroscience. Based on quantitative research methods, the Handbook serves as a resource for both researchers and students interested in investigating the mutual influence of physiology and communication in close relationships.