The most widely-used textbook for the communication theory course, A First Look at Communication Theoryanalyzes the major communication theories at a level that is appropriate for both lower- and upper-level courses. The theories represented in the text reflect a mix of foundational and recent scholarship and strike a balance of scientific and interpretive approaches.

Preface for Instructors

Division One: Overview

Chapter 1: Launching Your Study of Communication Theory

Chapter 2: Talk About Theory

Chapter 3: Weighing the Words

Chapter 4: Mapping the Territory (Seven Traditions in the Field of Communication Theory)

Division Two: Interpersonal Communication

Interpersonal Messages

Chapter 5: Symbolic Interactionism of George Herbert Mead

Chapter 6 : Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM) of W. Barnett Pearce & Vernon Cronen

Chapter 7: Expectancy Violations Theory of Judee Burgoon

Chapter 8 : Constructivism of Jesse Delia

Relationship Development

Chapter 9: Social Penetration Theory of Irwin Altman & Dalmas Taylor

Chapter 10: Uncertainty Reduction Theory of Charles Berger

Chapter 11: Social Information Processing Theory of Joseph Walther

Relationship Maintenance

Chapter 12: Relational Dialectics of Leslie Baxter & Barbara Montgomery

Chapter 13: Communication Privacy Management Theory of Sandra Petronio

Chapter 14: The Interactional View of Paul Watzlawick

Influence

Chapter 15: Social Judgment Theory of Muzafer Sherif

Chapter 16: Elaboration Likelihood Model of Richard Petty & John Cacioppo

Chapter 17: Cognitive Dissonance Theory of Leon Festinger

Division Three: Group and Public Communication

Group Communication

Chapter 18: Functional Perspective on Group Decision Making of Randy Hirokawa & Dennis Gouran

Chapter 19: Symbolic Convergence Theory of Ernest Bormann

Organizational Communication

Chapter 20: Cultural Approach to Organizations of Clifford Geertz & Michael Pacanowsky

Chapter 21: Critical Theory of Communication in Organizations of Stanly Deetz

Public Rhetoric

Chapter 22: The Rhetoric of Aristotle

Chapter 23: Dramatism of Kenneth Burke

Chapter 24: Narrative Paradigm of Walter Fisher

Division Four: Mass Communication

Media and Culture

Chapter 25: Media Ecology of Marshall McLuhan

Chapter 26: Semiotics of Roland Barthes

Chapter 27: Cultural Studies of Stuart Hall

Media Effects

Chapter 28: Uses and Gratifications of Elihu Katz

Chapter 29: Cultivation Theory of George Gerbner

Chapter 30: Agenda-Setting Theory of Maxwell McCombs & Donald Shaw

Division Five: Cultural Context

Intercultural Communication

Chapter 31: Communication Accommodation Theory of Howard Giles

Chapter 32: Face-Negotiation Theory of Stella Ting Toomey

Chapter 33: Speech Codes Theory of Gerry Philipsen

Gender and Communication

Chapter 34: Genderlect Styles of Deborah Tannen

Chapter 35: Standpoint Theory of Sandra Harding & Julia Wood

Chapter 36: Muted Group Theory of Cheris Kramarae

Division Six: Integration

Chapter 37: Common Threads in Comm Theories

Appendix A: Abstracts of Theories

Appendix B: Feature Films that Illustrate Communication Theories

Appendix C: NCA Credo for Ethical Communication

Endnotes

Credits and Acknowledgements

Index

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