New Directions in Interpersonal Communication Research

by Sandi W. Smith

• ISBN13: 9781412959414
• ISBN10: 1412959411
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-02-25
• Publisher: SAGE Publications, Inc

Summary

Presenting today's cutting-edge interpersonal communication research and reflecting on the changes that have occurred over the past three decades, New Directions in Interpersonal Communication Research is relevant and useful to a broad audience, from advanced undergraduate students to the most experienced researchers in the area. By telling the 'œstories' of research, this volume's contributors avoid the dry, encyclopedic style that is typical of chapters in handbooks. This new collection showcases the vital, collaborative, and interdisciplinary interpersonal communication research that is being conducted today. Editors Sandi W. Smith and Steven R. Wilson bring together a combination of established and newer scholars, as well as 'œboundary spanners'-those who are applying interpersonal theories and concepts to areas such as family, health, intercultural, organizational, and mediated communication-to illustrate the wealth and breadth of this area of study and research. Each chapter has clear applied value with an emphasis on doing theoretically driven work that has implications for social issues and problems. Key Features Offers a broad overview of interpersonal communication as an area of study, situating it historically, discussing advances in theory as well as application, and including a broad range of metatheoretical perspectives Traces evolving trends during the past 30 years that have shaped the study of interpersonal communication and continue to make it relevant, including issues about the larger society (such as globalization and technology), about the communication discipline (such as fractionalization), and about interpersonal communication in particular (such as a focus on 'œdarker' topics) Includes topics that range from evolutionary and dialectical perspectives on interpersonal communication, to uncertainty and turbulence in interpersonal relationships, to comforting and destructive patterns of communication Illustrates how interpersonal communication research can be applied to such diverse topics as information management and privacy, family adaptation to medical diagnoses, and how writing blogs affects self-esteem Tells the background stories of contributors' research programs, including why the topic matters, what they found, where their work is going, and lessons learnedNew Directions in Interpersonal Communication Research is intended as a core text for graduate and upper-level undergraduate courses in Interpersonal Communication, Relational Communication, and Communication Theory.

Table of Contents

Foreword: Commentary on New Directions in Interpersonal Communication

Evolving Trends in Interpersonal Communication Research

Metatheoretical Approaches to Interpersonal Communication Research

Evolutionary Perspectives on Interpersonal Relationships

Relational Dialectics Theory, Applied

Basic Interpersonal Processes

Relational Uncertainty and Interpersonal Communication

Uncertainty and Information Management in Interpersonal Contexts

Turbulence in Relational Transitions

Workplace Relationships and Membership Negotiation

The Light and Dark Sides of Interpersonal Communication

Explaining Recipient Responses to Supportive Messages: Development and Tests of a Dual-Process Theory

Toward a Communication Theory of the Demand/Withdraw Pattern of Interaction in Interpersonal Relationships

Advances in Deception Detection

Hurtful Communication: Current Research and Future Directions

Relationships, Media, and Culture

Culture and Interpersonal Relationships

New Technologies and New Directions in Online Relating

Interpersonal Relationships on Television: A Look at Three Key Attributes

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