Inter-Act: Interpersonal Communication: Concepts, Skills, and Contexts

Designed to help students explore interactions in both personal and professional domains, and develop the specific skills necessary to creating and maintaining healthy relationships, Inter-Act: Interpersonal Communication Concepts, Skills, and Contexts, Fourteenth Edition, retains the features that have made this book so successful: a theory driven and skills-based focus, an accessible tone and presentation, and a multitude of useful pedagogical tools. For this edition, new coauthor Erina MacGeorge has brought her in-depth knowledge of current theory to bear on each chapter, thoroughly updating the material so that it reflects the current state of knowledge in the discipline.

Lively and well-written, Inter-Act features numerous activities that enable students to relate their everyday experiences to their studies in communication. It also addresses readers' experiences of communicating across differences in individual identity, gender, and culture. With a strong focus on the importance of ethics, this leading text encourages students to develop their analytic abilities as they think critically about key concepts in interpersonal communication.

Part I: Understanding Interpersonal Communication

Chapter 1: An Orientation to Interpersonal Communication
A MODEL OF INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
Messages
Message Production
Message Interpretation
Interaction Coordination
Communication Context
THE PURPOSES OF INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
We Share Meaning
We Meet Goals
We Manage Our Personal Identities
We Conduct Our Relationships
CHARACTERISTICS OF INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
Interpersonal Communication Is Transactional
Interpersonal Communication Is Irreversible
Interpersonal Communication Is Situated
Interpersonal Communication Reveals Relationship Qualities
Interpersonal Communication Is Continuous
ETHICS AND INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
THE DARK SIDE OF INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
DIVERSITY AND INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
Diverse Voices: Lessons from American Experience
INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION COMPETENCE AND YOU
Acquire Interpersonal Communication Knowledge
Increase Interpersonal Communication Skill
Be Motivated to Demonstrate Competence
Develop Behavioral Flexibility
Create Interpersonal Communication Improvement Plans
UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL MEDIA AND INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
Traits of Social Media Technology
A Question of Ethics: What Would You Do?
SUMMARY
CHAPTER RESOURCES
Key Words
Rewind/Rewrite
Analyze and Apply
Communication Improvement Plan

Chapter 2: Social Cognition: Understanding Others and Ourselves
MAKING SENSE OF THE SOCIAL WORLD
Social Cognition: Automatic and Controlled
Attention
Memory
Judgement
Impression Formation
Making Attributions
Stereotyping
Diverse Voices: Just Walk on By
SELF AND SOCIAL COGNITION: THINKING ABOUT YOURSELF
Self-Concept and Self-Esteem
Self-Concept Development
Messages, Feedback, And Self-Concept
Self-Concept Affects Our Attention and Judgement
Messages Reflect and Maintain Our Self-Concept
Self-Concept Affects Impression Management Strategies
Improving Self-Concept and Self-Esteem
SOCIAL COGNITION AND EMOTION
Defining Emotion
Types of Emotions
IMPROVING SOCIAL COGNITION
FORMING IMPRESSIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
A Question of Ethics: What Would You Do?
SUMMARY
CHAPTER RESOURCES
Key Words
Rewind/Rewrite
Analyze and Apply

Chapter 3: Intercultural Communication
CULTURE AND COMMUNICATION
DOMINANT AND CO-CULTURES
Gender
Race
Ethnicity
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
Religion
Social Class
Generation
Cultural Identity
HOW CULTURES DIFFER
Time Orientation
The Importance of Context for Sharing Meaning
The Value of the Individual vs. the Group
Diverse Voices: Individualism and Collectivism
Attitudes toward Predictability and Uncertainty
Attitudes about Social Power Distribution
Masculine vs. Feminine Orientation
Norms About the Use of Emotions
BARRIERS TO EFFECTIVE INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
Anxiety
Assumed Similarity or Difference
Ethnocentrism
Stereotyping
Incompatible Communication Codes
Incompatible Norms and Values
THE PYRAMID MODE OF INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE
Requisite Attitudes
Developing Culture-Specific Knowledge and Skills
Internal and External Outcomes
SOCIAL MEDIA ACROSS CULTURES
A Question of Ethics: What Would You Do?
SUMMARY
CHAPTER RESOURCES
Key Words
Rewind/Rewrite
Analyze and Apply
Skill Practice
Communication Improvement Plan: Intercultural Communication

Chapter 4: Verbal Messages
VERBAL MESSAGE FUNDAMENTALS
What Is a Language?
Diverse Voices: Mommy, Why Does Raj Talk Funny?
Characteristics of Language
MEANING IN THE LANGUAGE ITSELF
Guidelines for Improving Message Semantics
VERBAL MEANING WITHIN THE CONVERSATIONAL CONTEXT
Speech Acts
The Cooperative Principle
Guidelines for Improving Pragmatic Understanding
MEANING WITHIN THE SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CONTEXT
Guidelines for Improving Sociolinguistic Understanding
USING LANGUAGE TO RELATE ONLINE
A Question of Ethics: What Would You Do?
SUMMARY
CHAPTER RESOURCES
Key Words
Rewind/Rewrite
Analyze and Apply
Skill Practice
Communication Improvement Plan: Verbal Communication

Chapter 5: Nonverbal Messages
CHARACTERISTICS AND FUNCTIONS OF NONVERBAL MESSAGES
Characteristics of Nonverbal Communication
Functions of Nonverbal Messages
TYPES OF NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION
Body Language
Paralanguage
Use of Space
Self-Presentation
CULTURE AND GENDER DIFFERENCES IN NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION
Cultural Differences
Diverse Voices: Latin American and Anglo American Use of Personal Space in Public
Gender Differences
NONVERBAL EXPECTATIONS
Interpreting a Violation
GUIDELINES FOR IMPROVING NONVERBAL MESSAGES
Sending Nonverbal Messages
A Question of Ethics: What Would You Do?
Interpreting Nonverbal Messages
NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION IN TEXT
SUMMARY
CHAPTER RESOURCES
Key Words
Rewind/Rewrite
Analyze and Apply
Skill Practice
Communication Improvement Plan: Nonverbal Communication

Chapter 6: Communication in the Life Cycle of Relationships
THE FUNCTIONS OF COMMUNICATION IN A RELATIONSHIP
The Constitutive Function
The Instrumental Function
The Indexical Function
DESCRIBING RELATIONSHIPS
HOW RELATIONSHIPS CHANGE: RELATIONSHIP LIFE CYCLES
Diverse Voices: Modern Love: Close Enough to Touch Was Too Far Apart
Stage One: Beginning Relationships
Stage Two: Developing Relationships
Choosing Which Relationships to Develop
Communication in Developing Relationships
Stage Three: Sustaining Relationships
Communication Behaviors That Sustain Relationships
Understanding and Managing Dialectical Tensions in Relationships
Stage Four: Relationship Decline
Self-Disclosure and Privacy in Relationships
Guidelines for Self-Disclosure
Guidelines for Privacy
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ONLINE
A Question of Ethics: What Would You Do?
SUMMARY
CHAPTER RESOURCES
Key Words
Rewind/Rewrite
Analyze and Apply
Skill Practice
Communication Improvement Plan: Relationships

Part II: Developing Interpersonal Communication Skills

Chapter 7: Listening Effectively
CHALLENGES TO EFFECTIVE LISTENING
Personal Styles of Listening
Listening Apprehension
Diverse Voices: How I Learned to Shut Up and Listen
Dual Processes in Listening
THE ACTIVE LISTENING PROCESS
Attending
Guidelines to Improve Attending
Understanding
Guidelines and Skills for Improving Understanding
Remembering
Guidelines for Improving Remembering
Critically Evaluating
Guidelines for Improving Critical Evaluation
Responding
Guidelines to Improve Responding
DIGITAL LISTENING SKILLS
Attending to and Understanding Digital Messages
Critically Evaluating Digital Messages
A Question of Ethics: What Would You Do?
SUMMARY
CHAPTER RESOURCES
Key Words
Rewind/Rewrite
Analyze and Apply
Skill Practice
Communication Improvement Plan: Listening

Chapter 8: Holding Effective Conversations
CONVERSATION: DEFINITION, STRUCTURE, AND VARIATION
Characteristics of Conversation
VARIATION IN CONVERSATION
Conversational Type
Purpose
Sequence
Tone
Participants
Setting
GUIDELINES FOR EFFECTIVE CONVERSATIONALISTS
General Conversation Guidelines
Skills for Conversing with Strangers
Starting a Conversation
Sustaining a Conversation
Closing a Conversation
CULTURAL VARIATION IN CONVERSATION
Diverse Voices: Conversational Ballgames
DIGITAL CONVERSATION SKILLS
Awareness of Audience
Multiplicity of Conversations
Abruptness of Disengagement
A Question of Ethics: What Would You Do?
SUMMARY
CHAPTER RESOURCES
Key Words
Rewind/Rewrite
Analyze and Apply
Skill Practice
Communication Improvement Plan: Conversation

Chapter 9: Supporting Others
EMPATHIZING
Three Types of Empathy
Guidelines for Improving Empathy
SUPPORTIVE INTERACTIONS
Diverse Voices: Which Is My Good Leg?
SUPPORTIVE MESSAGES
Creating a Supportive Climate
Validating Emotions
Encouraging Reappraisals
Promoting Action with Advice
Supporting Positive Feelings: Celebratory Support
GENDER AND CULTURE IN SUPPORTIVE INTERACTIONS
USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO OFFER EMPATHY AND SUPPORT
Increased Social Distance
Increased Presence of Others
Benefits for Apprehensive Individuals
Ease of Management
Memorializing Others Through Digital Communication
A Question of Ethics: What Would You Do?
SUMMARY
CHAPTER RESOURCES
Key Words
Rewind/Rewrite
Analyze and Apply
Skill Practice
Communication Improvement Plan: Empathizing and Supporting

Chapter 10: Using Interpersonal Influence
INTERPERSONAL POWER
Sources of Power
Principles of Power
INTERPERSONAL PERSUASION
Processing Persuasive Messages: The Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM)
Persuading Automatic Processors
Persuading Extensive Processors
ASSERTING RIGHTS AND EXPECTATIONS
Approaches to Communicating Rights and Expectations
The Passive Approach
The Aggressive Approach
The Assertive Approach
Assertive Message Skills
Making a Complaint
Requesting Change in Problematic Behavior
Refusing a Request
Assertiveness in Cross-Cultural Relationships
A Question of Ethics: What Would You Do?
ELECTRONIC INFLUENCE
SUMMARY
CHAPTER RESOURCES
Key Words
Rewind/Rewrite
Analyze and Apply
Skill Practice
Communication Improvement Plan: Assertive Communication

Chapter 11: Managing Conflict
TYPES OF INTERPERSONAL CONFLICT
STYLES OF MANAGING INTERPERSONAL CONFLICT
Withdrawing
Accommodating
Competing
Compromising
Collaborating
Using Problem-Solving to Collaborate
FACE NEGOTIATION IN CONFLICT
Face Negotiation Theory
Co-Cultures and Individual Differences in Conflict
DESTRUCTIVE CONFLICT PATTERNS
Serial Arguing
Counterblaming
Cross-complaining
Demand-Withdrawal
Mutual Hostility Pattern
GUIDELINES FOR EFFECTIVE CONFLICT MANAGEMENT
Breaking Patterns of Destructive Conflict
Creating a Collaborative Conflict Conversation
Guidelines for Initiating a Collaborative Conflict Conversation
Guidelines for Collaborative Response to Conflict Initiation
Diverse Voices: The Power of Wastah in Lebanese Speech
Guidelines for Mediating a Conflict Conversation
Forgiveness: Repairing Relationships Damaged by Conflict
CONFLICT ONLINE
Flaming
Cyberbullying
A Question of Ethics: What Would You Do?
SUMMARY
CHAPTER RESOURCES
Key Words
Rewind/Rewrite
Analyze and Apply
Skill Practice
Communication Improvement Plan: Conflict Management

Part III: Using Communication Skills to Improve Relationships

Chapter 12: Communicating in Intimate Relationships: Long-Term Romantic Relationships, Family, and Friends
INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS AND INTERACTIONS
LONG-TERM ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS
Characteristics of Successful Long-Term Romantic Relationships
Challenges in Long-Term Romantic Relationships
Maintaining Intimacy
Managing Life Transitions
Negotiating Equitable Distribution of Work
Sustaining Affection and Desire
FAMILIES
Diverse Voices: Performing Commitment
Parent-Child Communication
Effects of Early Attachment
Parenting Styles
Family Communication Patterns
Modeling
Communication in Other Types of Family Relationships
Guidelines for Improving Family Communication
FRIENDSHIPS
Gender Differences in Same-Sex Friendships
Friendship and Sex
THE DARK SIDE OF INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS: INFIDELITY, JEALOUSY, AND POSSESSIVENESS
Infidelity
Jealousy
USING DIGITAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS TO IMPROVE RELATIONSHIPS
Digital Communication Skills in Personal Relationships
A Question of Ethics: What Would You Do?
SUMMARY
CHAPTER RESOURCES
Key Words
Rewind/Rewrite
Analyze and Apply
Communication Improvement Plan: Intimate Relationships

Chapter 13: Communication in Workplace Relationships
COMMUNICATING IN FORMAL WORKPLACE RELATIONSHIPS
Communicating in Managerial Relationships
Understanding Manager-Employee Relationships
Guidelines for Effectively Communicating with Your Manager
Communicating in Co-worker Relationships
Types and Functions of Co-worker Relationships
Guidelines for Communicating in Co-worker Relationships
Communicating in Customer and Vendor Relationships
Guidelines for Communicating in Boundary-Spanning Relationships
Communicating in Informal Workplace Relationships
Mentoring Relationships
Workplace Friendships
Romantic Relationships at Work
COMMUNICATING IN A DIVERSE WORKPLACE
Culture-Based Work Style
Diverse Voices: Kaigi: Japanese Style Business Meetings
Gendered Linguistic Style in the Workplace
Intergenerational Communication Issues
IMPROVING WORKPLACE PERFORMANCE THROUGH FEEDBACK
Asking for Feedback
Constructively Criticizing
Responding to Negative Feedback (Criticism)
THE DARK SIDE OF WORKPLACE COMMUNICATION
Aggression at Work
Sexual Harassment
DIGITAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
Using Social Media Responsibly and Effectively
Using Social Media Strategically and Wisely
Using Social Media Professionally
Visibility and Persistence
Editability
Association
A Question of Ethics: What Would You Do?
SUMMARY
CHAPTER RESOURCES
Key Words
Rewind/Rewrite
Analyze and Apply
Skill Practice
Communication Improvement Plan: Workplace Communication

Glossary
References
Photo Credits
Index