This text's five-step learning model helps students improve interpersonal competence in well-defined ways-through
conceptual understanding, modeling of realistic examples, practicing of skill-building exercises, self-assessment,
and translating learning into behavior. Intended for the instructors who take a theory/research approach.
Material on cultural and historical influences on communication (first on market to have this).
Extensive in-text learning aids, including boxes on interesting and unusual applications of communication principles;
skill-building sections at the end of the chapters; discussion questions; observational assignments, and classroom
exercises.
Competence model approach helps students improve their interpersonal skills in well-defined ways.
Chapters 1 and 2 present a more cohesive outline of the competence model and the authors' philosophy, and a
greater emphasis on ways in which relationships transform us.
New focus for Chapter 12: how to develop and better manage interpersonal relationships at work and in the community.
In addition to a full chapter (13) on cultural and historical influences, the authors have integrated their
inclusion of cultural and historical material throughout the text.
Table of Contents
PART ONE: INTRODUCTORY PERSPECTIVES.
1. Introduction: Communication and Competence.
What is Communication? A Model of Communicative Competence.
Skill Building: On Taking a Process Perspective.
Process to Performance.
2. Interpersonal Communication: Building Relationships.
What is Interpersonal Communication? The Nature of Dyads.
The Role of Interpersonal Communication in Relationships.
Relational Paths: Intimacy and Distance.
Building Relationships: What Does It Take to be Relationally Competent?
Skill Building: A Preview.
Process to Performance.
PART TWO: SENDING AND RECEIVING MESSAGES.
3. Nonverbal Competence.
What Is Nonverbal Competence?
The Functions of Nonverbal Codes: Three Ways to Use Them.
The Structure of Nonverbal Codes: Seven Channels for Message Making.
Balancing Nonverbal Codes: Compensating and Reciprocating.
The Interplay of Verbal and Nonverbal Communication.
Skill Building: Communicating Feelings. Process to Performance.
4. Verbal Competence.
What Is Language? The Functions of Language.
The Structure of Language: Three Levels of Meaning.
Language, Power, and Politics.
Skill Building: Initiating Conversation.
Process to Performance.
5. Relational Competence.
What Are Relational Messages? The Content of Relational Messages.
How Relational Messages Affect Us.
Pragmatic Patterns and Relational Sequences.
Patterns versus People: The Locus of Dyadic Communication.
The Problem of Punctuation. Types of Patterns.
Skill Building: Empathy and Perspective-Taking.
Process to Performance.
PART THREE: INTERPERSONAL PROCESSES.
6. Interpretive Competence: How We Perceive Individuals, Relationships, and Social Events.
Why is Social Cognition Important in Interpersonal Communication?
The Structure of Social Cognition.
The Perceptual Process: An Overview. Four Processes in Interpersonal Communication.
Skill Building: Becoming a Competent Listener.
Process to Performance.
7. Role Competence: Adapting to Social Expectations.
Being Part of the Group: Following Social Rules.
Choosing Our Roles.
How Social Roles Affect Communication.
Skill Building: Becoming More Mindful.
Process to Performance.
8. Self-Competence: Establishing Identities.
The Self in History. Self-Concepts: Gaining Independence From Social Roles and Rules.
Individual Differences and Interpersonal Communication.
Skill Building: Improving Competence Through Self-Disclosure.
Process to Performance.
9. Goal Competence: Interpersonal Influence.
Communication and Strategic Interaction.
Understanding Others' Needs.
Identity and Influence: Source Characteristics.
Planning Persuasive Messages: Compliance-Gaining Strategies.
Interpersonal Influence and Goal Competence.
Skill Building: Becoming More Assertive.
Process to Performance.
PART FOUR: RELATIONAL CONTEXTS.
10. Family Interaction Patterns.
Maintaining Family Ties.
The Family as a System: Structure and Function.
The Evolving Family: Calibrating Change.
Families in History.
Family Communication Patterns.
Communicative Competence and the Family.
Skill Building: Communicating to Comfort.
Process to Performance.
Have People Always Had Intimate Relationships?
How Are Intimate Relationships Formed Today? Interpersonal Attraction: Opening the Door. The Closer the Better:
Revealing Self to Other.
Two Close for Comfort: Maintaining Identity in Intimate Relationships.
Communicative Competence and Intimate Relationships.
Skill Building: Managing Interpersonal Conflict and Stress.
Process to Performance.
12. Professional Relationships: Communicating with Colleagues and Other Strangers.
Interpersonal Communication in Public Situations.
Interpersonal Communication in Professional Dyads.
Interpersonal Communication in Groups and Organizations.
Professional Relationships and Communicative Competence.
Skill Building: Creative Conflict Management and Negotiation.
Process to Performance.
13. Cultural and Historical Influences: Communication Competence in Context.
Cultural Influences.
Communicative Competence and Culture.
Historical Influences.
Communicative Competence and Historical Change.
Skill Building: Increasing Sensitivity to Context.
Process to Performance.
