Interpersonal Communication: Relating to Others (Book Alone)

This text 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. • Other-orietned approach emphasizes the importance of focusing on others to improve interpersonal communication. • In-text exercises "Building Your Skills" help students immediately apply concepts learned. • Diversity is covered via separate chapter (Ch. 4) and "Understanding Diversity" boxes. • NEW! "e-Connections" boxes feature ways in which technology affects interpersonal relationships.

New to this Edition:

• The central “Other Oriented” theme of the book has been more fully explored and integrated throughout the book in numerous text discussions and examples, and is highlighted by several new features that emphasize its importance and apply it to daily communication and interactions:
  • New “Being Other Oriented” Sidebars appear in the margins, connecting the other-oriented theme to specific chapter content and include thought-provoking questions to get students thinking about how other oriented their own communication is
  • New “Apply an Other Orientation” sections appear at the end of each chapter, offering a summary of how to apply an other orientation in one’s everyday communication and relationships.
• Increased attention to Diversity:
  • Chapter 4, “Interpersonal Communication and Diversity:  Adapting to Others” has been significantly revised and expanded  to include the latest research findings about human differences including culture, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, religion, political perspective and social class, and strategies for bridging these differences and becoming more competent communicators with others who differ from us.
  • Updated and new “Understanding Others:  Adapting to Differences” boxes in each chapter present research findings, as well as specific communication strategies for understanding differences and enhancing one’s intercultural communication.
• Increased emphasis on technology and its implications for interpersonal communication, including a significantly updated and expanded discussion of electronically-mediated communication (EMC) in Chapter 1 and new material and research findings integrated throughout the book that explore how new communication technologies are affecting our face-to-face interactions and our interpersonal relationships.
  • New “Relating to Others in the 21st Century” Boxes focus on research conclusions as well as practical applications of the ways in which technology is changing how we relate to and interact with others, including discussions of such current issues as online stereotyping, what to disclose on Facebook, the impact of texting and the increasing influence of Twitter.
• A New Built-in Study Guide at the end of each chapter gives the student the opportunity to “review, apply and explore” key chapter concepts through brief summaries, critical thinking questions, questions about ethics, classroom and group activities and lists of additional relevant resources, including books, articles and websites.
• Revised and Reorganized Relationship Chapters to focus first on the theories and stages of relationship development (Chapters 9 and 10), and subsequently explore specific types of relationships, from friends to family, romance to the workplace (Chapters 11 and 12).
• New and updated discussions, research findings and examples throughout, include exploration of provocative topics such as emotional intelligence and how to measure it, hate speech, listening in the 21st century amid multiple technology distractions, the dark side of the Internet, metamessages and online communication, and networked families and co-workers.
• A Striking New Design has been created to make the material as interesting, accessible and engaging as possible, including new cartoons and photos throughout.