Interpersonal communication

This textbook encourages students to improve their interpersonal skills and sharpen their critical understanding of communication processes by using examples that illustrate how each student's communication skills impact both society and their own life. The authors demonstrate how and why learning the basic concepts of communication can change relationships and career success. Emphasis is placed on psychological, social, cultural, and linguistic factors, which affect person-to-person interaction. Attention is given to human perceptions, interpersonal dynamics, and patterns of inference, listening, and verbal and visual symbols.

1. A first look at interpersonal communication. Why we communicate -- The process of communication -- Communication principles and misconceptions -- The nature of interpersonal communication -- What makes an effective communicator? -- pt. 1: Looking in. 2. Communication and identity : creating and presenting the self. Communication and the self -- Presenting the self : communication as identity management -- 3. Perception : what you see is what you get. The perception process -- Influences on perception -- Common tendencies in perception -- Perception checking -- Empathy, cognitive complexity, and communication -- 4. Emotions : feeling, thinking, and communicating. What are emotions? -- Influences on emotional expression -- Guidelines for expressing emotions -- Managing difficult emotions -- pt. 2: Looking out. 5. Language : barrier and bridge. Language is symbolic -- Understandings and misunderstandings -- The impact of language -- Gender and language -- Culture and language -- 6. Nonverbal communication : messages beyond words. Characteristics of nonverbal communication -- Influences on nonverbal communication -- Types of nonverbal communication -- 7. Listening : more than meets…