Composing Relationships Communication in Everyday Life (with InfoTrac)

by Wood, Julia T.; Duck, Steve

• ISBN13: 9780534517199
• ISBN10: 0534517196
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-04-12
• Publisher: Cengage Learning

Summary

The routine interactions we have day-in, day-out are the ones that most decisively shape our identities and the quality and durability of our relationships. In COMPOSING RELATIONSHIPS: COMMUNICATION IN EVERYDAY LIFE (WITH INFOTRAC) you'll see how relationships grow primarily out of so-called small talk between friends and romantic partners, rituals in families, and commonplace norms in organizations.

Table of Contents

Preface	xii
About the Contributors	xv
Introduction Composing Relationships: Communication in Everyday Life	1	(2)
Julia T. Wood
Steve Duck
Figuring the Ground and Grounding the Figure	3	(3)
Figuring the Ground	4	(1)
Grounding the Figure	5	(1)
Choosing Your Focus	5	(1)
What Is ``Routine'' Interaction?	6	(5)
How Does Everyday Talk Work?	7	(2)
What Does Routine Communication Do?	9	(2)
The Organization of the Book	11	(2)
Chapter Format	11	(2)
References	13	(2)
PART I EVERYDAY COMMUNICATION IN PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
The Play, Playfulness, and the Players: Everyday Interaction as Improvised Rehearsal of Relationships	15	(9)
Steve Duck
Scene One	15	(2)
Reflections on the Dialogue	17	(1)
Scene Two	18	(2)
Reflections on the Dialogue	20	(2)
Scene Three/Further Reflections	22	(1)
References	23	(1)
Chopping the Carrots: Creating Intimacy Moment by Moment	24	(12)
Julia T. Wood
Reflections on the Dialogue	30	(4)
Affirming Each Other	31	(1)
Coordinating Interaction	32	(1)
Weaving Past and Future into the Present	32	(1)
Embodying the Relationship	33	(1)
Conclusion	34	(1)
References	35	(1)
Cat Walk Conversations: Everyday Communication in Dating Relationships	36	(10)
Marianne Dainton
Reflections on the Dialogue	39	(5)
Social Networks and Relationships	40	(1)
Jealousy	41	(1)
Rituals	41	(2)
Commitment and Investment	43	(1)
Conclusion	44	(1)
References	45	(1)
``He Started It!'': Everyday Communication in Parenting	46	(9)
Timothy M. Muehlhoff
Reflections on the Dialogue	49	(4)
Family Rules	49	(1)
Family Stories	50	(1)
Communication Spirals	51	(2)
Perspective-Taking	53	(1)
Nonverbal Communication	53	(1)
Conclusion	53	(1)
References	54	(1)
``Them's Fightin' Words'': Naming in Everyday Talk between Siblings	55	(10)
John H. Nicholson
Episode 1	55	(1)
Episode 2	56	(1)
Episode 3	56	(1)
Reflections on the Episodes	56	(6)
The Importance of Naming	57	(5)
Closing Thoughts	62	(1)
References	63	(2)
The Cat Puzzle Recovered: Composing Relationships through Family Ritual	65	(11)
Carol Bruess
Anna Hoefs
Reflections on the Dialogue	71	(3)
Ritual: Figure or Ground?	71	(1)
The Function of Ritual: Grounding Our Families	72	(1)
Composing Our Relationships during Ritual Events	73	(1)
Conclusion	74	(1)
References	75	(1)
PART II EVERYDAY COMMUNICATION IN SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS
Hanging Out and Doing Lunch: Enacting Friendship Closeness	76	(10)
Sandra Metts
Reflections on the Dialogue	81	(3)
Enacting Closeness	81	(3)
Conclusion	84	(1)
References	84	(2)
Shopping for and with Friends: Everyday Communication at the Shopping Mall	86	(10)
Dawn O. Braithwaite
Jody Koenig Kellas
Reflections on the Story	91	(3)
References	94	(2)
<where r u?><here u?>: Everyday Communication with Relational Technologies	96	(14)
Walter J. Carl
Reflections on the Dialogue	101	(6)
Everyday Communication Using Relational Technologies	105	(2)
Conclusion	107	(1)
Acknowledgments	107	(1)
References	108	(2)
Relational Life in the 21st Century: Managing People, Time, and Distance	110	(9)
Erin M. Sahlstein
Reflections on the Dialogue	114	(1)
Relational Dialectics in Everyday Life	114	(3)
Contradictions and Relating	114	(3)
The Totality of Relationships	117	(1)
Conclusion	117	(1)
References	118	(1)
He Has Two Mommies: Constructing Lesbian Families in Social Conversation	119	(9)
Elizabeth A. Suter
Reflections on the Dialogue	123	(3)
Confirming and Disconfirming Identities	124	(2)
Conclusion	126	(1)
References	127	(1)
Sorority Sisters Speaking Social Support	128	(9)
Megan K. Foley
Reflections on the Dialogue	131	(4)
Listening	132	(1)
Reality Confirmation	132	(1)
Emotional Support	133	(1)
Emotional Challenge	134	(1)
Conclusion	135	(1)
References	136	(1)
PART III EVERYDAY COMMUNICATION IN WORKPLACE RELATIONSHIPS
Cabbages and Headache Cures: Work Stories within the Family	137	(9)
Cheryl Cockburn-Wootten
Theodore E. Zorn
Reflections on the Story	139	(5)
Why Narratives Are Important	139	(1)
The Socializing Function of Stories	140	(1)
The Identity and Relational Functions of Stories	141	(2)
Bridging Work and Domestic Life	143	(1)
The Evolution of a Story	144	(1)
Conclusion	144	(1)
References	144	(2)
Communicating Race at WeighCo	146	(10)
Brenda J. Allen
Reflections on the Interactions	150	(4)
Race Matters	150	(2)
Power Dynamics	152	(1)
The Transformative Potential of Workplace Relationships	153	(1)
Conclusion	154	(1)
References	154	(2)
Helpful Professional Relating: Constructing Mentoring Relationships through Everyday Talk	156	(10)
Michael L. Hecht
Jennifer R. Warren
Reflections on the Dialogue	161	(3)
Mentoring Relationships	162	(1)
Mentoring/Advising as Helpful Professional Relating	163	(1)
Conclusion	164	(1)
References	165	(1)
Constructing Working-Class Masculinity in the Workplace	166	(9)
Dennis K. Mumby
Reflections	170	(4)
Organizational Culture: Power and Resistance	171	(2)
Gendered Organizational Culture	173	(1)
References	174	(1)
Composing Relationships at Work: Three Minutes at a Wholesale Produce Market	175	(11)
Hartmut B. Mokros
The Setting	175	(1)
The Performance	176	(4)
Review of the Performance	180	(4)
Noticing the Complexities of Social Interaction: Microanalysis	180	(1)
The Interaction Order	180	(2)
Metacommunication	182	(1)
Play and Signaling Play	183	(1)
References	184	(2)
Who Am I Right Now?: Negotiating Familial and Professional Roles	186	(8)
Leah D. Totten
Reflections on the Dialogue	190	(3)
Identity Management	190	(2)
Boundary Work	192	(1)
Gender Stereotypes	192	(1)
Conclusion	193	(1)
References	193	(1)
Glossary	194	(5)
Index	199