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

Promotional Information

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.