Interpersonal Communication : Relating to Others

This book offers a blend of theory and skills that readers can use to become "other-oriented"- mindfully aware of considering the thoughts, needs, and values of others. Fueled by the authors' conviction that "skills inform principles; principles inform skills," Interpersonal Communication: Relating to Others maintains a careful balance between theoretical and skills-oriented material. This book integrates an emphasis on diversity with theoretical and skills discussions. Examples are drawn from a variety of age and ethnic groups, and special boxes focus on gender and diversity issues. A chapter on intercultural communication supplements this integral material by relating it to the "other-oriented" approach. For anyone interested in improving their interpersonal communication, or understanding the topic better.

Interpersonal Communication offers a blend of theory and skills that students can use to become “other-oriented”— mindfully considerate of the thoughts, needs, and values of others.

 

Fueled by the authors' conviction that “skills inform principles; principles inform skills,” Interpersonal Communication: Relating to Others maintains a careful balance between theoretical and skills-oriented material. This book integrates a key emphasis on diversity with examples drawn from a variety of age and ethnic groups and special boxes that focus on gender and diversity issues. A chapter on intercultural communication supplements this integral material by relating it to the “other-oriented” approach.

 

Features

• A skills/principles blend helps students to become competent and knowledgeable communicators and to make informed choices about their communication with others.
• Strong coverage of diversity and sensitivity to others is featured in “Understanding Diversity” boxes, a chapter on diversity (Ch. 4), and discussions of diverse issues integrated throughout the text.
• An emphasis on relationships links communication skills with principles that explain and predict how relationships begin, develop, and sometimes decline. 

 

New To This Edition

• A new boxed feature, “Interpersonal Communication and Emotion:  Connecting Heart-to-Heart”, emphasizes research conclusions and communication skills related to emotion and interpersonal communication.
• Chapter 4 begins with a significantly expanded discussion of the multifaceted nature of human diversity by including new information about race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, age and social class.
• From expanded sections in Chapters 1 and 12 to the addition of new research and applications throughout the book, there is added emphasis on the role technology plays in the development and maintenance of interpersonal relationships.
• New research conclusions are included that relate to such “dark side” interpersonal issues as jealousy, obsessive relational intrusion, relational violence, and stalking.