Contemporary Perspectives On Interpersonal Communication

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.

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.

Offering a direct sightline into communication theory, Explaining Communication provides in-depth discussions of communication theories by some of the foremost scholars working in communication today. With contributions from the original theorists and scholars known for their work in specific theoretical perspectives, this distinctive text breaks new ground in giving these scholars the opportunity to address students firsthand, speaking directly to the coming generations of communication scholars. Covering a wide range of interpersonal communication theories, the scope of this exceptional volume includes: *the nature of theory and fundamental concepts in interpersonal communication;*theories accounting for individual differences in message production; explanations of human communication from dyadic, relational, and/or cultural levels; and*a history of communication theory. Chapter authors offer their own views of the core ideas and findings of specific theoretical perspectives, discussing the phenomena those perspectives are best positioned to explain, how the theories fit into the field, and where future research efforts are best placed. While by no means comprehensive, Explaining Communication includes those theories that rank among those most often used in today’s work, that have generated a substantial body of knowledge over time, and that have not been articulated in detail in other publications. With detailed explorations and first-hand discussions of major communication theories, this volume is essential for students in communication studies, interpersonal communication, and advanced theory courses, as well as for scholars needing a thorough reference to some of the most salient theories in communication today.

The authors analyze and discuss the field of communication from a multidimensional point of view. Divided into three parts, the first traces its history from scientific, humanistic, and technological roots. The second explores communication theory in the areas of interpersonal, organizational, mass media, intercultural, telecommunication, nonverbal, and with reference to issues of gender as the authors summarize the most significant theories, research, and practices in each area. A discussion of the future direction of communication research is provided in the final section.

Engaging Theories in Family Communication, Second Edition delves deeply into the key theories in family communication, focusing on theories originating both within the communication discipline and in allied disciplines. Contributors write in their specific areas of expertise, resulting in an exceptional resource for scholars and students alike, who seek to understand theories spanning myriad topics, perspectives, and approaches. Designed for advanced undergraduate and graduate students studying family communication, this text is also relevant for scholars and students of personal relationships, interpersonal communication, and family studies. This second edition includes 16 new theories and an updated study of the state of family communication. Each chapter follows a common pattern for easy comparison between theories.

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.