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Cover

Adler: Interplay

The Process of Interpersonal Communication

Fifteenth Edition

Ronald B. Adler, Author Lawrence B. Rosenfeld, and Russell F. Proctor II

Publication Date - 16 November 2020

ISBN: 9780197501344

504 pages
Paperback
8 x 10 inches

The Scholarship You Want, The Practical Insights Your Students Need

Description

With its unique blend of compelling topics and rich pedagogy, Interplay: The Process of Interpersonal Communication, Fifteenth Edition, offers a perfect balance of research and application to help students understand and improve their own relationships. No other book prepares students better to start improving their relationships beginning with the first day of class.

Interplay addresses the perception that students have that they already know how to communicate, which is an issue that every faculty member faces. By artfully weaving cutting-edge academic research and theory into the clear, down-to-earth, student-friendly narrative, Interplay enables students to understand the complexity and depth of human communication and interpersonal relationships. The series of concepts builds logically through the chapter sequence so that students deepen their communication skills as they progress through the book. With the expert use of contemporary and brief video clips available as part of the integrated digital resources, students can see concepts applied in real scenarios, making their learning even more meaningful.

o Now available in Oxford Insight Courseware: Available separately, Oxford Insight courseware delivers high-quality content from Oxford University Press within powerful, data-driven courseware designed to optimize student success. Developed with a foundation in learning science, Insight enables instructors to deliver a personalized, adaptive, and engaging learning experience, including videos and quizzing. This adaptivity, paired with real-time actionable data about student performance, helps instructors ensure that each student is best supported along a unique learning path. The Courseware can be integrated into most learning management systems. Contact your rep for more information.

New to this Edition

  • A new chapter on Mediated Interpersonal Communication (Chapter 2) offers an evenhanded, research-based exploration of the pros and cons of communicating via social media and other communication technologies
  • A new section called "Conversation: From Monologue to Dialogue" (Chapter 13) provides an in-depth look at enhancing face-to-face communication skills, ranging from making casual conversation to holding civil dialogues
  • Watch and Discuss features point to YouTube videos for viewing in or out of the classroom. New video titles include "Struggles of Having a Friend with No Filter"; "I Forgot My Phone"; "Girl vs. Woman: Why Language Matters"; and "What Do You Do When Someone Just Doesn't Like You?"
  • Focus on Research, Dark Side of Communication, and At Work boxes cover current topics and issues in more than two dozen new sidebars in this edition
  • An enhanced eBook features videos, interactive versions of the book's popular self-assessments, flashcards, and multiple-choice self-quizzes throughout

Features

  • An enhanced eBook features videos, interactive versions of the book's popular self-assessments, flashcards, and multiple-choice self-quizzes at the end of each major section and at chapter ends
  • Reflects communication as it operates in today's world while also emphasizing enduring principles and skills that are as important now as ever before
  • Cites more than 1,500 sources, nearly a third of which are new to this edition
  • Presents ideas in an accessible, straightforward way while thought-provoking features highlight their relevance for students, showing them how to improve their own interpersonal skills

About the Author(s)

Ronald B. Adler is Professor Emeritus of Communication at Santa Barbara City College.

Lawrence B. Rosenfeld is Professor Emeritus of Communication at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Russell F. Proctor II is Professor Emeritus of Communication at Northern Kentucky University.

Table of Contents

    Contents
    Preface

    PART 1. FOUNDATIONS OF INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
    Chapter 1. Interpersonal Process
    1.1 Why We Communicate
    Physical Needs
    Identity Needs
    Social Needs
    Practical Needs
    1.2 The Communication Process
    Early Models of Communication
    Insights from the Transactional Communication Model
    Communication Principles
    Communication Misconceptions
    1.3 What Makes Communication Interpersonal?
    Defining Interpersonal Communication
    Interpersonal and Impersonal Communication: A Matter of Balance
    1.4 Communication Competence
    Principles of Communication Competence
    Characteristics of Competent Communication
    CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
    KEY TERMS
    ACTIVITIES

    FEATURES
    Watch
    and Discuss: "Going It Alone"
    Dark Side of Communication: The Epidemic of Loneliness
    At Work: Communication and Career Advancement
    Focus on Research: Tweeting: The Channel Affects the Message
    Assessing Your Communication: How Interpersonal Are Your Relationships?
    Focus on Research: Online Chat in Customer Service: When Impersonal Fails
    Watch and Discuss: "Struggles of Having a Friend with No Filter"

    Chapter 2. Mediated Interpersonal Communication
    2.1 Mediated Communication: Pros and Cons

    Alienating or Connecting?
    Superficial or Meaningful?
    Unhealthy or Healthy?
    The Bottom Line
    2.2 Mediated Interpersonal versus Masspersonal Communication
    Hallmarks of Mediated Interpersonal Communication
    Hallmarks of Masspersonal Communication
    2.3 Competence in Mediated Communication
    Consider the Channel(s)
    Be Careful What You Post
    Consider the Communicators and the Environment
    CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
    KEY TERMS
    ACTIVITIES
    FEATURES

    Watch and Discuss: "I Forgot My Phone"
    At Work: Using LinkedIn for Career Success
    Dark Side of Communication: The Effects of Smartphone Use among Teens
    Focus on Research: Social Media Detox
    Focus on Research: The Many Meanings of the Like Button
    Watch and Discuss: "Women in Sports Face Harassment"
    Assessing Your Communication: Are You Spending Too Much Time Online?

    Chapter 3. Culture and Interpersonal Communication
    3.1 Culture and Communication

    Culture and Co-Culture
    Intercultural Communication
    Interpersonal and Intercultural Dimensions of Communication
    Intercultural Differences as Generalizations
    3.2 Cultural Values and Norms
    High versus Low Context
    Individualism versus Collectivism
    Power Distance
    Uncertainty Avoidance
    Achievement versus Nurturing
    3.3 Co-Cultures and Communication
    Race and Ethnicity
    Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation
    Age and Generation
    (Dis)abilities
    Socioeconomic Status
    3.4 Codes and Culture
    Verbal Codes
    Nonverbal Codes
    Microaggressions
    3.5 Developing Intercultural Communication Competence
    Motivation and Attitude
    Tolerance for Ambiguity
    Open-Mindedness
    Knowledge and Skill
    Patience and Perseverance
    CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
    KEY TERMS
    ACTIVITIES
    FEATURES

    Focus on Research: Co-Cultural Strategies for Latinx Students
    Dark Side of Communication: Why Cultural Appropriation Is Inappropriate
    At Work: Organizations Are Cultures
    Watch and Discuss: "P&G: The Look"
    Assessing Your Communication: What Is Your Intercultural Communication Competence?
    Watch and Discuss: "Momondo: The DNA Journey"
    Focus on Research: Living in Another Culture: Adapting and Adopting

    Chapter 4. Interpersonal Communication and the Self
    4.1 Communication and the Self-Concept

    How the Self-Concept Develops
    Characteristics of the Self-Concept
    The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy and Communication
    4.2 Presenting the Self
    Public Self and Private Self
    Characteristics of Impression Management
    Face-to-Face Impression Management
    Impression Management in Mediated Communication
    Impression Management and Honesty
    4.3 Disclosing the Self
    The Nature of Self-Disclosure
    Models of Self-Disclosure
    Benefits and Risks of Self-Disclosure
    Guidelines for Self-Disclosure
    Alternatives to Self-Disclosure
    CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
    KEY TERMS
    ACTIVITIES
    FEATURES

    Focus on Research: Does Instagram=#Instasad?
    Watch and Discuss: "Dove Evolution Commercial"
    Watch and Discuss: "Constructing Social Reality"
    At Work: Impression Management in the Workplace
    Dark Side of Communication: Talking Frankly about STDs
    Assessing Your Communication: Online and Offline Self-Disclosure

    Chapter 5. Perceiving Others
    5.1 The Perception Process

    Reality Is Constructed
    Steps in the Perception Process
    5.2 Influences on Perception
    Access to Information
    Physiological Influences
    Social Influences
    Cultural Influences
    5.3 Common Tendencies in Perception
    We Make Snap Judgments
    We Cling to First Impressions
    We Judge Ourselves More Charitably than We Judge Others
    We Are Influenced by Our Expectations
    We Are Influenced by the Obvious
    We Assume Others Are Like Us
    5.4 Synchronizing Our Perceptions
    Perception Checking
    Building Empathy
    CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
    KEY TERMS
    ACTIVITIES
    FEATURES

    Watch and Discuss: "The Monkey Business Illusion"
    Watch and Discuss: "All That We Share"
    At Work: Sexual Harassment and Perception
    Dark Side of Communication: Implicit Bias and Its Effects
    Focus on Research: You, Not I, Have a Social Media Problem
    Focus on Research: Want to Understand Someone's Perspective? Ask.
    Assessing Your Communication: Your Empathy Quotient

    PART 2. CREATING AND RESPONDING TO MESSAGES
    Chapter 6. Language
    6.1 The Nature of Language

    Language Is Symbolic
    Language Is Rule-Governed
    Language Is Subjective
    Language and Worldview
    6.2 The Impact of Language
    Naming and Identity
    Affiliation
    Power and Politeness
    Sexism and Racism
    Precision and Vagueness
    6.3 The Language of Responsibility
    Accountable Language
    "I," "You" and "We" Language
    The Language of Choice
    6.4 Gender and Language
    Extent of Gender Differences
    Non-Gender Influences on Language Use 160
    CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
    KEY TERMS
    ACTIVITIES
    FEATURES

    Watch and Discuss: "Girl vs. Woman: Why Language Matters"
    At Work: Swearing on the Job
    Dark Side of Communication: Sorry, Not Sorry
    Assessing Your Communication: Sexist Language
    Watch and Discuss: "Vague Facebook Posts-Congressional Hearings"
    Focus on Research: "You" Language and Interpersonal Support
    Focus on Research: Status, Gender, and Creating Online Community

    Chapter 7. Nonverbal Communication
    7.1 Nonverbal Communication Defined
    7.2 Characteristics of Nonverbal Communication

    Nonverbal Communication Is Always Occurring
    Nonverbal Communication Is Primarily Relational
    Nonverbal Communication Is Ambiguous
    Nonverbal Communication Occurs Even in Mediated Messages
    Nonverbal Communication Is Influenced by Culture and Gender
    7.3 Functions of Nonverbal Communication
    Creating and Maintaining Relationships
    Regulating Interaction
    Influencing Others
    Influencing Ourselves
    Concealing/Deceiving
    Managing Impressions
    7.4 Types of Nonverbal Communication
    Body Movement
    Touch
    Voice
    Distance
    Territoriality
    Time
    Physical Attractiveness
    Clothing
    CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
    KEY TERMS
    ACTIVITIES
    FEATURES

    Focus on Research: The Power of Periods. In Texting.
    Assessing Your Communication: Nonverbal Immediacy Behaviors
    Watch and Discuss: "Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are"
    Focus on Research: Verbal Planning Helps Nonverbal Delivery
    At Work: Let Your Voice Be Heard
    Watch and Discuss: "Who Sounds Gay?"
    Dark Side of Communication: The Inequality of "Lookism"

    Chapter 8. Listening: Receiving and Responding
    8.1 The Nature of Listening

    The Importance of Listening
    Listening Defined
    Listening Styles
    8.2 The Challenge of Listening
    Recognizing Barriers to Listening
    Avoiding Poor Listening Habits
    8.3 Components of Listening
    Hearing
    Attending
    Understanding
    Remembering
    Responding
    8.4 Types of Listening Responses
    Silent Listening
    Questioning
    Paraphrasing
    Empathizing
    Supporting
    Analyzing
    Evaluating
    Advising
    Which Response Type to Use?
    CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
    KEY TERMS
    ACTIVITIES
    FEATURES

    At Work: Listening to the Customer
    Assessing Your Communication: Your Listening Styles
    Dark Side of Communication: The Myth of Multitasking
    Watch and Discuss: "The Listener: The Stories of Craigslist Confessional"
    Watch and Discuss: "Brené Brown on Empathy"
    Focus on Research: Minimizing Doesn't Help
    Focus on Research: Chatbots Soften Advice with Empathy

    Chapter 9. Emotions
    9.1 What Are Emotions?

    Physiological Changes
    Nonverbal Behavior
    Cognitive Interpretations
    Verbal Expression
    9.2 Influences on Emotional Expression
    Culture
    Gender
    Social Conventions and Roles
    Mediated Communication
    Emotional Contagion
    9.3 Expressing Emotions Effectively
    Recognize Your Feelings
    Choose the Best Language
    Share Multiple Feelings
    Recognize the Difference Between Feeling and Acting
    Accept Responsibility for Your Feelings
    Choose the Best Time and Place to Express Your Feelings
    9.4 Managing Emotions
    Facilitative and Debilitative Emotions
    Thoughts Cause Feelings
    Irrational Thinking and Debilitative Emotions
    Minimizing Debilitative Emotions
    Maximizing Facilitative Emotions
    CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
    KEY TERMS
    ACTIVITIES
    FEATURES

    Watch and Discuss: "How to Turn Anxiety into Excitement"
    At Work: Emotional Labor on the Job
    Dark Side of Communication: Fictional Characters, Real Feelings: Parasocial Relationships
    Assessing Your Communication: Your Emotional Intelligence
    Focus on Research: Use Your Words
    Focus on Research: When Talking About Feelings Makes Things Worse
    Watch and Discuss: "An Experiment in Gratitude"

    PART 3. DIMENSIONS OF INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
    Chapter 10. Dynamics of Interpersonal Relationships
    10.1 Why We Form Relationships

    Appearance
    Similarity
    Complementarity
    Rewards
    Competency
    Proximity
    Disclosure
    10.2 Models of Relational Dynamics
    Stages of Relational Development
    Dialectical Tensions
    10.3 Communicating about Relationships
    Content and Relational Messages
    Maintaining and Supporting Relationships
    Repairing Damaged Relationships
    CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
    KEY TERMS
    ACTIVITIES
    FEATURES

    Dark Side of Communication: The Anguish of Abusive Relationships
    Focus on Research: Forgiveness Strategies as Relational Stage Markers
    Watch and Discuss: "Couples Swap Phones and Go through Each Other's History"
    Focus on Research: Metacomunication in Online Discussions
    Assessing Your Communication: Relational Maintenance
    At Work: Relational Repair on the Job
    Watch and Discuss: "The Power of Forgiveness"

    Chapter 11. Communication in Close Relationships: Friends, Family, and Romantic Partners
    11.1 Communication in Friendships

    Types of Friendships
    Friendships, Gender, and Communication
    Communication in Successful Friendships
    11.2 Communication in the Family
    Creating the Family through Communication
    Patterns of Family Communication
    Effective Communication in Families
    11.3 Communication in Romantic Relationships
    Characteristics of Romantic Relationships
    Effective Communication in Romantic Relationships
    CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
    KEY TERMS
    ACTIVITIES
    FEATURES

    Focus on Research: Making and Developing Friendships
    Watch and Discuss: "Can Heterosexual Men and Women Be Just Friends?"
    At Work: Social Media Relationships with Coworkers
    Assessing Your Communication: Your Family's Communication Pattern
    Focus on Research: "I'll Give You a Call": Staying in Touch with Parents Back Home"
    Watch and Discuss: "Love Languages"
    Dark Side of Communication: Pornography and Relational Quality

    Chapter 12. Managing Conflict
    12.1 What Is Conflict?

    Expressed Struggle
    Interdependence
    Perceived Incompatible Goals
    Perceived Scarce Resources
    Inevitability
    12.2 Conflict Styles
    Avoidance (Lose-Lose)
    Accommodation (Lose-Win)
    Competition (Win-Lose)
    Compromise
    Collaboration (Win-Win)
    Which Style to Use?
    12.3 Conflict in Relational Systems
    Complementary and Symmetrical Conflict
    Serial Arguments
    Toxic Conflict: The "Four Horsemen"
    Conflict Rituals
    12.4 Conflict Management in Practice
    CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
    KEY TERMS
    ACTIVITIES
    FEATURES

    Focus on Research: The Dangers of Mind-Reading Expectations
    Dark Side of Communication: Ghosting: The Ultimate Silent Treatment
    Watch and Discuss: "Signs You're the Passive Aggressive Friend"
    Assessing Your Communication: Your Method of Conflict Resolution
    Watch and Discuss: "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse"
    Focus on Research: Taking Conflict Personally
    At Work: Managing Conflict via Email

    Chapter 13. Communication Climate
    13.1 What Is a Communication Climate?
    13.2 How Communication Climates Develop

    Levels of Message Confirmation
    Causes and Effects of Defensiveness
    13.3 Creating Supportive Climates
    Evaluation Versus Description
    Control Versus Problem Orientation
    Strategy Versus Spontaneity
    Neutrality Versus Empathy
    Superiority Versus Equality
    Certainty Versus Provisionalism
    13.4 Conversation: From Monologue to Dialogue
    Casual Conversation
    Civil Dialogue
    CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
    KEY TERMS
    ACTIVITIES
    FEATURES

    Dark Side of Communication: Cyberbullying: Inflicting Pain Online
    Assessing Your Communication: Confirming and Disconfirming Communication
    Focus on Research: Phubbing: Losing Out to Your Partner's Phone
    Focus on Research: A Blurt Can Hurt
    Watch and Discuss: "Let's Try Emotional Correctness"
    At Work: Telling STAR Stories in Job Interviews
    Watch and Discuss: "What Do You Do When Someone Just Doesn't Like You?"

    Glossary
    References
    Credits
    Author Index
    Subject Index

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