The Interpersonal Communication Book: United States Edition

The Interpersonal Communication Book provides a highly interactive presentation of the theory, research, and skills of interpersonal communication, with strong, integrated discussions of diversity, ethics, workplace issues, and technology.    This top-selling book has been recognized for its ability to guide readers to improve a wide range of interpersonal skills and to apply these to personal, social, and workplace relationships.  Superior coverage of cultural diversity, ethics, interpersonal communication in the workplace, and the workings and effects of technology make The Interpersonal Communication Book the best choice for preparing to communicate successfully in today's world.

Table of Contents:
I. INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION PRELIMINARIES 1. Universals of Interpersonal Communication The Importance of Interpersonal Communication The Nature of Interpersonal Communication             Characteristics of Interpersonal Communication             Forms of Interpersonal             Communication             Purposes of Interpersonal Communication Elements of Interpersonal Communication             Source—Receiver             Encoding—Decoding             Messages             Channel             Noise             Context             Ethics             Competence Axioms of Interpersonal Communication             Interpersonal Communication Is a Transactional Process             Interpersonal Communication             Is Ambiguous             Interpersonal Relationships May Be Symmetrical or Complementary             Interpersonal Communication Refers to Content and Relationship             Interpersonal             Communication Is a Series of Punctuated Events             Interpersonal Communication Is             Inevitable, Irreversible, and Unrepeatable Reviewing Applying Experiencing 2. Culture in Interpersonal Communication Culture and Interpersonal Communication             The Nature of Culture             The Relevance of Culture             The Aim of a Cultural             Perspective How Cultures Differ             Power Distances             Masculine and Feminine Cultures             Individual and Collective             Orientation             High- and Low-Context Cultures Intercultural Communication             A Model of Intercultural Communication             Principles for Improving Intercultural             Communication Reviewing Applying Experiencing 3. The Self in Interpersonal Communication Dimensions of the Self             Self-Concept             Self-Awareness             Self-Esteem Self-Disclosure             Influences on Self-Disclosure             Rewards of Self-Disclosure             Dangers of Self-             Disclosure: Risks Ahead             Guidelines for Self-Disclosure Communication Apprehension             The Nature of Communication Apprehension             Theories of Communication             Apprehension Management Reviewing Applying Experiencing 4. Perception in Interpersonal Communication Stages of Perception             Stage One: Stimulation             Stage Two: Organization             Stage Three: Interpretation—             Evaluation             Stage Four: Memory             Stage Five: Recall             Implications of the Model of Perception Perceptual Processes             Self-Fulfilling Prophecy             Implicit Personality Theory             Perceptual             Accentuation             Primacy—Recency             Consistency             Attribution Increasing Accuracy in Interpersonal Perception             Analyze Perceptions             Check Perceptions             Reduce Uncertainty             Increase Cultural Sensitivity Reviewing Applying Experiencing 5. Listening in Interpersonal Communication Stages of Listening             Stage One: Receiving             Stage Two: Understanding             Stage Three:             Remembering             Stage Four: Evaluating             Stage Five: Responding             Implications of the Model of Listening Styles of Effective Listening             Empathic and Objective Listening             Nonjudgmental and Critical Listening             Surface and Depth Listening             Active and Inactive Listening Culture, Gender, and Listening             Culture and Listening             Gender and Listening Reviewing Applying Experiencing II. MESSAGES: VERBAL AND NONVERBAL 6. Universals of Verbal and Nonverbal Messages The Interaction of Verbal and Nonverbal Messages Meaning Principles             Meanings Are in People             Meanings Are More than Words and Gestures             Meanings Are Unique             Meanings Are Context-Based Message Principles             Messages Are Packaged             Messages Are Rule-Governed             Messages Vary in Abstraction             Messages Vary in Politeness             Messages Vary in Inclusion             Messages Vary in Directness             Messages Vary in Assertiveness Reviewing Applying Experiencing 7. Verbal Messages Language Symbolizes Reality             Intensional Orientation             Allness Language Expresses Both Facts and Inferences Language Expresses Both Denotation and Connotation Language Can Criticize and Praise Language Can Obscure Distinctions             Indiscrimination             Polarization             Static Evaluation Language Can Confirm and Disconfirm             Talking with the Grief Stricken             Sexism             Heterosexism             Racism             Ageism             Sexist, Heterosexist, Racist, and Ageist Listening Reviewing Applying Experiencing 8. Nonverbal Messages Nonverbal Communication Functions             Impression Formation and Management             Forming and Defining Relationships             Structuring Conversation and Social Interaction             Influence             Emotional             Expression Nonverbal Communication Channels             Body Communication             Facial Communication             Eye Communication             Touch Communication             Paralanguage and Silence             Spatial Messages             Artifactual Communication             Temporal Communication Nonverbal Communication and Culture             Culture and Facial Expression             Culture and Colors             Culture and Touch             Culture, Paralanguage, and Silence             Culture and Time Reviewing Applying Experiencing 9. Messages and Conversation The Conversation Process             Opening             Feedforward             Business             Feedback             Closing Conversational Management             Initiating Conversations             Maintaining Conversations             Closing             Conversations Conversational Problems: Prevention and Repair             Preventing Conversational Problems: The Disclaimer             Repairing Conversational Problems: The Excuse Gossip and the Grapevine             Gossip             The Grapevine Reviewing Applying Experiencing III. INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS 10. Universals of Interpersonal Relationships Characteristics of Interpersonal Relationships             Psychological Data             Explanatory Knowledge             Personally Established             Rules Stages in Interpersonal Relationships             Contact             Involvement             Intimacy             Deterioration             Repair             Dissolution             Implications of the Model of Relationships Relationships in a Context of Culture and Technology             Relationships and Culture             Relationships and Technology Reviewing Applying Experiencing 11. Interpersonal Relationships: Growth and Deterioration Relationship Development             Attraction Theory             Social Exchange Theory             Equity Theory Relationship Maintenance             Reasons for Maintaining Relationships             Rules for Maintaining Relationships             Communication for Maintaining Relationships Relationship Deterioration             Causes of Relationship Deterioration             Effects of Relationship Deterioration Relationship Repair             Interpersonal Repair             Intrapersonal Repair Relationship Dissolution             Strategies of Disengagement             Dealing with a Breakup Reviewing Applying Experiencing 12. Interpersonal Relationships: Friendship, Love, Family, and Workplace Friendship             Friendship Types             Friendship and Communication             Friendship, Culture, and Gender Love             Love Types             Love and Communication             Love, Culture, and Gender Family             Characteristics of Families             Family Types             Family and Communication Workplace Relationships             Romantic Relationships             Mentoring Relationships             Networking Relationships Reviewing Applying Experiencing 13. Conflict in Interpersonal Relationships Principles of Interpersonal Conflict             Conflict Is Inevitable             Conflict Can Have Negative and Positive Effects             Conflict Can Focus on Content and/or Relationship Issues             Conflict Styles Have Consequences             Conflict Is Influenced by Culture Conflict Management Stages             Define the Conflict             Examine Possible Solutions             Test the Solution             Evaluate the Solution             Accept or Reject the Solution Conflict Management Strategies             Win—Lose and Win—Win Strategies             Avoidance and Active Fighting Strategies             Force and Talk Strategies             Face-Detracting and Face-Enhancing Strategies             Verbal Aggressiveness and Argumentativeness Strategies Reviewing Applying Experiencing 14. Power in Interpersonal Relationships Principles of Power             Some People Are More Powerful Than Others             Power Can Be Increased or             Decreased             Power Follows the Principle of Less Interest             Power Has a Cultural Dimension             Power Is Frequently Used Unfairly Types of Power             Referent Power             Legitimate Power             Expert Power             Information or             Persuasion Power             Reward and Coercive Powers Communicating Power             Speaking Power             Nonverbal Power             Listening Power             Compliance             Gaining and Compliance Resisting             Empowering Others Reviewing Applying Experiencing Glossary of Interpersonal Communication Concepts   Glossary of Interpersonal Communication Skills   Bibliography   Index   Credits