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 integrated discussions of diversity, ethics, workplace issues, face-to-face and computer-mediated communication and the “dark side” of interpersonal communication.    Recognized for its ability to help readers understand the crucial connection between theory and practice, this twelfth edition presents a comprehensive view of the theory and research in interpersonal communication and, at the same time, guides the reader to improve a wide range of interpersonal skills.  The text emphasizes how to choose among those skills and make effective communication choices in a variety of personal, social, and workplace relationships.  Superior coverage of cultural diversity, ethics, interpersonal communication in the workplace, and the integration of face-to-face and computer-mediated communication make The Interpersonal Communication Book the best choice for preparing to communicate successfully in today's world.

Table of Contents:
PART ONE: PRELIMINARIES TO INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION   1.    Foundations of Interpersonal Communication                 Why Study Interpersonal Communication                 The Nature of Interpersonal Communication                 Elements of Interpersonal Communication                  Principles of Interpersonal Communication                  Summary                 Key Terms                 Critical Thinking Questions                 Choice Points                 My Communication Lab Explorations                          Special Features                 Ask the Researcher: The Values of Interpersonal Communication in the 21st Century                 Self-Test: What Do You Believe about Interpersonal Communication?                 Ethics in Interpersonal Communication: Ethical Questions                 Understanding Theory and Research: Communication Theories and Research                 Understanding Interpersonal Skills: Mindfulness     2.     Culture and Interpersonal Communication                 Culture                 How Cultures Differ                 Principles of Intercultural Communication                 Summary                 Key Terms                 Critical Thinking Questions                 Choice Points                 My Communication Lab Explorations                          Special Features                 Ask the Researcher: The Importance of Culture in Interpersonal Communication                 Self-test: How Ethnocentric Are You?                 Self-test: What Are Your Cultural Beliefs and Values?                 Self-test: What’s Your Cultural Orientation?                 Ethics in Interpersonal Communication: Culture and Ethics                 Understanding Theory and Research: Culture Shock                 Understanding Interpersonal Skills: Cultural Sensitivity   3.     Perception and the Self in Interpersonal Communication                 The Self in Interpersonal Communication                 Self-Awareness                 Self-Esteem                 Perception in Interpersonal Communication                 Impression Formation                 Impression Management: Goals and Strategies                 Summary                 Key Terms                 Critical Thinking Questions                 Choice Points                 My Communication Lab Explorations               Special Features                 Ask the Researcher: Understanding Self-Talk                 Self-Test: How’s Your Self-Esteem?                 Self-Test: How Accurate Are You at People Perception?                 Ethics in Interpersonal Communication: Perspectives on Ethics                 Understanding Theory and Research: The Just World Hypothesis                 Understanding Interpersonal Skills: Other-Orientation     4.     Listening in Interpersonal Communication                 The Importance of Listening: Professional and Relationship Benefits                 The Process of Listening                 Listening Barriers                 Culture, Gender, and Listening                 Styles of Effective Listening                 Summary                 Key Terms                 Critical Thinking Questions                 Choice Points                 My Communication Lab Explorations               Special Features                 Ask the Researcher: Listening to Gender Differences                 Self-Test: How Do You Listen?                 Ethics in Interpersonal Communication: Ethical Listening                 Understanding Theory and Research: Listening to Lying                 Understanding Interpersonal Skills: Openness   PART TWO. MESSAGES   5.     Verbal Messages                 Principles of Verbal Messages                 Guidelines for Using Verbal Messages Effectively                 Summary                 Key Terms                 Critical Thinking Questions                 Choice Points                 My Communication Lab Explorations               Special Features                 Ask the Researcher: Talking about Difficult Topics                 Self-Test: How Assertive Are Your Messages?                 Self-Test: Can You Distinguish Facts from Inferences?                 Ethics in Interpersonal Communication: Lying                 Understanding Theory and Research: Theories of Gender Differences                 Understanding Interpersonal Skills: Metacommunication   6.     Nonverbal Messages                 Channels of Nonverbal Communication                 Functions of Nonverbal Communication                 Nonverbal Communication and Culture                 Summary                 Key Terms                 Critical Thinking Questions                 Choice Points                 My Communication Lab Explorations               Special Features                 Ask the Researcher: Teaching Effectiveness                 Self-Test: Do You Avoid Touch?                 Self-Test: What Time Do You Have?                 Ethics in Interpersonal Communication: Interpersonal Silence                 Understanding Theory and Research: Biological and Social Clocks                 Understanding Interpersonal Skills: Immediacy   7.    Emotional Messages                 Principles of Emotions and Emotional Messages                 Obstacles to Communicating Emotions                 Skills for Expressing Emotions                 Skills for Responding to the Emotions of Others                 Summary                 Key Terms                 Critical Thinking Questions                 Choice Points                 My Communication Lab Explorations               Special Features                 Ask the Researcher: Media, Internet, and Interpersonal Violence                 Self-Test: How Do You Feel about Communicating Feelings?                 Ethics in Interpersonal Communication: Motivational Appeals                 Understanding Theory and Research: Theories of Emotions                 Understanding Interpersonal Skills: Flexibility   8.    Conversational Messages                 The Conversation Process                      Conversational Management                  Conversational Disclosure: Revealing Yourself                 Organizational Conversation                 Conversational Problems: Prevention and Repair                 Summary                 Key Terms                 Critical Thinking Questions                 Choice Points                 My Communication Lab Explorations                  Special Features                 Ask the Researcher: Social Networking                 Self-Test: How Satisfying Is Your Conversation?                 Ethics in Interpersonal Communication: The Ethics of Gossip                 Understanding Theory and Research: Online Relationship Theories                 Understanding Interpersonal Skills: Expressiveness   PART THREE. INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS   9.    Interpersonal Relationships: Stages and Theories                  Relationship Stages                  Relationship Theories                 Summary                 Key Terms                 Critical Thinking Questions                 Choice Points                 My Communication Lab Explorations               Special Features                 Ask the Researcher: Homosexual and Heterosexual Relationships                 Self-Test: What Do Your Relationships Do for You?                 Ethics in Interpersonal Communication: Your Obligation to Reveal Yourself                 Understanding Theory and Research: Relationship Commitment                 Understanding Interpersonal Skills: Positiveness    10.    Interpersonal Relationships: Development and Deterioration                 Relationship Development                 Relationship Maintenance                 Relationship Repair                 Relationship Dissolution                   Summary                 Key Terms                 Choice Points                 Critical Thinking Questions                 My Communication Lab Explorations               Special Features                 Ask the Researcher: The Death of a Relationship                 Self-Test: What Do You Believe about Relationships?                 Ethics in Interpersonal Communication: Information Ethics                 Understanding Theory and Research: Jealousy                 Understanding Interpersonal Skills: Empathy    11.    Interpersonal Relationship Types: Friendship, Love, Family, and Workplace                 Friendship                 Love                 Family                 Workplace Relationships                 Relationship Violence                 Summary                 Key Terms                 Critical Thinking Questions                 Choice Points                 My Communication Lab Explorations               Special Features                 Ask the Researcher: Dysfunctional Family Patterns                 Self-Test: What Kind of Lover Are You?                 Self-Test: Is Violence a Part of Your Relationship?                 Ethics in Interpersonal Communication: Relationship Ethics                 Understanding Theory and Research: Love Styles and Personality                 Understanding Interpersonal Skills: Supportiveness    12.    Interpersonal Conflict and Conflict Management                 Preliminaries to Interpersonal Conflict                 Principles of Interpersonal Conflict                 Conflict Management Stages                 Conflict Management Strategies                 Summary                 Key Terms                 Critical Thinking Questions                 Choice Points                 My Communication Lab Explorations               Special Features                 Ask the Researcher: Arguing Assertively                 Self-Test: How Verbally Aggressive Are You?                 Self-Test: How Argumentative Are You?                 Ethics in Interpersonal Communication: Ethical Fighting                 Understanding Theory and Research: Conflict and Gender                 Understanding Interpersonal Skills: Equality    13.    Interpersonal Power and Influence                 Principles of Power and Influence                 Uses of Power and Influence                 Misuses of Power and Influence                 Summary                 Key Terms                 Critical Thinking Questions                 Choice Points                 My Communication Lab Explorations               Special Features                 Ask the Researcher: Achieving Power                 Self-Test: How Powerful Are You?                 Self-Test: How Credible Are You Interpersonally?                 Ethics in Interpersonal Communication: The Ethics of Compliance-Gaining Strategies                 Understanding Theory and Research: Compliance-Gaining (Another Typology)                 Understanding Interpersonal Skills: Interaction Management   Glossary of Interpersonal Communication Concepts Glossary of Interpersonal Communication Skills Bibliography Index Credits