Contents
Preface iii
PART ONE Basic Communication Processes
1 Communication: Essential Human Behavior 3
We Must Communicate: The Functional Perspective 4
Expressing Affiliation 5
Achieving Goals 6
Influencing Others 7
What About You? Assessing Your Control Needs 8
How We Communicate 9
Characteristics of Communication 9
Assessing Communicative Value 12
Communicating Competently 12
Competent Communication Is Process Oriented 13
Competent Communication Is Appropriate and Effective 15
Competent Communication Involves Communication Skills 16
Competent Communication Involves Using Technology 17
Modeling Communication 17
The Linear Model 18
The Interaction Model 18
The Competent Communication Model 19
The Study of Communication 23
LearningCurve bedfordstmartins.com/commandyou
Your Reference: A Study Tool 27
2 Perceiving the Self and Others 29
Perception: Making Sense of Your World 30
Selecting Information 31
Schemas: Organizing Perceptions 31
Attributions: Interpreting Your Perceptions 33
Improving Your Perceptions 34
Perception in a Diverse World 35
The Cultural Context 35
Perceptual Barriers 35
Cognition: Perceiving Ourselves 37
Self-Concept: Who You Think You Are 37
Self-Esteem: How You Feel About Yourself 39
Self-Efficacy: Assessing Your Own Abilities 40
Assessing Our Perceptions of Self 42
Behavior: Managing Our Identities 43
Self-Presentation 43
Self-Disclosure 45
What About You? Self-Monitoring Test 46
Technology: Managing the Self and Perceptions 47
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Your Reference: A Study Tool 49
3 Communication and Culture 51
Understanding Culture 52
Culture Is Learned 52
Culture Affects Communication 53
Intercultural Communication Matters 53
Communication and Cultural Variations 55
High- and Low-Context Cultures 56
Collectivist and Individualist Orientations 56
Comfort with Uncertainty 57
Masculine and Feminine Orientations 58
Approaches to Power Distance 58
Time Orientation 59
Value of Emotional Expression 60
Understanding Group Affiliations 60
What About You? Discovering Your Cultural Values 61
Co-cultural Communication 61
Social Identity and Intergroup Communication 64
Intercultural Communication Challenges 66
Anxiety 66
Ethnocentrism 67
Discrimination 67
Improving Intercultural Communication 68
Be Mindful 68
Desire to Learn 69
Overcome Intergroup Biases 69
Accommodate Appropriately 70
Practice Your Skills 71
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Your Reference: A Study Tool 73
4 Verbal Communication 75
The Nature of Language 76
Language Is Symbolic 76
Words Have Multiple Meanings 76
Thought Informs Language 77
Language Is Ruled by Grammar 78
Language Is Bound by Context 78
The Functions of Language 78
Using Language as a Means of Control 79
Using Language to Share Information 80
Using Language to Express Feelings 80
Using Language to Express Creativity 80
Using Language as Ritual 81
Problems with Language 81
Abstraction and Meaning 81
Situation and Meaning 82
The Limits of Labeling 83
What About You? How Vague Are You? 84
The Dangers of Biased Language 86
Profanity, Rudeness, and Civility 86
Language in Context 87
The Relational Context 88
The Situational Context 88
The Cultural Context 89
Mediated Contexts 92
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Your Reference: A Study Tool 95
5 Nonverbal Communication 97
The Nature of Nonverbal Communication 98
Nonverbal Behavior Is Communicative 98
Nonverbal Communication Is Often Spontaneous and Unintentional 99
Nonverbal Communication Is Ambiguous 99
Nonverbal Communication Is More Believable Than Verbal Communication 100
Functions of Nonverbal Communication 101
Reinforcing Verbal Messages 101
Substituting Verbal Messages 101
Contradicting Verbal Messages 101
Regulating Interactions 102
Creating Immediacy 102
Deceiving Others 103
Nonverbal Communication Codes 104
Gestures and Body Movements 104
Facial Expressions 105
Eye Behavior 106
Voice 106
Physical Appearance 108
Space and Environment 108
What About You? You and Your Artifacts 109
Touch 111
Time Orientation 112
Influences on Nonverbal Communication 113
Culture and Nonverbal Communication 113
Mediated Nonverbal Communication 114
The Situational Context 115
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Your Reference: A Study Tool 117
6 Listening 119
How We Listen 120
The Listening Process 120
Personal Listening Preferences 122
Why We Listen 123
Meeting Listening Goals 123
The Value of Listening Well 125
Listening Challenges 128
Environmental Factors 128
Hearing and Processing Challenges 128
Multitasking 129
Boredom and Overexcitement 130
Attitudes About Listening 130
Unethical Listening Behaviors 131
What About You? Your Listening Apprehension 132
Listening in Context 134
The Relational and Situational Listening Contexts 135
The Cultural Listening Context 135
The Technology Listening Context 137
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Your Reference: A Study Tool 139
PART TWO Interpersonal Communication
7 Developing and Maintaining Relationships 141
Types of Interpersonal Relationships 142
Family 143
Friendship 145
Romantic Relationships 145
Online Relationships 148
Why We Form Relationships 149
Functions of Relationships 149
Interpersonal Attraction 150
Managing Relationship Dynamics 152
Costs and Rewards 152
What About You? Determining Your Own Costs and Rewards 153
Reducing Uncertainty 154
Dialectical Tensions 155
Self-Disclosure and Interpersonal Relationships 157
Social Penetration Theory 157
Communication Privacy Management 157
Strategic Topic Avoidance 158
Stages of a Relationship 159
Initiating Stage 159
Exploratory Stage 159
Intensification Stage 160
Stable Stage 160
Declining Stage 160
Relationship Repair 162
Termination Stage 162
Reconciliation 163
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Your Reference: A Study Tool 165
8 Managing Conflict in Relationships 167
Understanding Conflict 168
Unproductive Conflict 168
Productive Conflict 169
Conflict Triggers 170
Inaccurate Perceptions 171
Incompatible Goals 171
Unbalanced Costs and Rewards 171
Provocation 171
Factors Affecting Conflict 172
Power Dynamics 172
Attitudes Toward Conflict 173
Communication Climate 174
Culture and Conflict 174
Communication Channel 177
Online Anonymity and Conflict 178
Strategies for Managing Conflict 179
Escapist Strategies 180
Challenging Strategies 181
Cooperative Strategies 181
What About You? Hitting Above and Below the Belt 182
Conflict Outcomes 184
Compromise 184
Win-Win 184
Lose-Lose 185
Separation 185
Allocation of Power 186
LearningCurve bedfordstmartins.com/commandyou
Your Reference: A Study Tool 187
PART THREE Group Communication
9 Communicating in Groups 189
Understanding Groups 190
Characteristics of Groups 190
Group Types 191
Group Development 192
Group Size and Communication 194
Size and Complexity 194
Size and the Formation of Cliques 195
Group Size and Social Loafing 196
Group Networks 197
Understanding Group Roles 199
Task Roles 199
Social Roles 200
Antigroup Roles 200
Role Conflict 201
Additional Factors Affecting Group Communication 201
Cohesion 201
Groupthink 202
Norms 203
Clarity of Goals 204
Individual Differences 205
What About You? How Well Do You Interact in a Group Setting? 206
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Your Reference: A Study Tool 209
10 Leadership and Decision Making in Groups 211
Understanding Group Leadership 212
Five Sources of Power 212
Shared Leadership 214
Leadership Styles 214
What About You? What Type of Leader Are You? 216
Competence and Ethics 217
Culture and Group Leadership 218
Gender and Leadership 218
Context and Power Distance 219
Decision Making in Groups 219
Forces That Shape a Group’s Decisions 220
The Problem-Solving Process 220
Leadership in Meetings 223
Planning Meetings Effectively 224
Managing Meetings Effectively 225
Using Technology in Meetings 227
Evaluating Group Performance 228
Informational Considerations 228
Procedural Effectiveness 228
Interpersonal Performance 229
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Your Reference: A Study Tool 231
PART FOUR Public Speaking
11 Preparing and Researching Presentations 233
The Power of Public Speaking 234
Clarifying the General Purpose of Your Speech 235
Informative Speeches 235
• Sample Speech: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Fireside Chat on the Bank Crisis 236
Persuasive Speeches 237
• Sample Speech: Ricky Martin, Speech at the Vienna Forum 237
Special-Occasion Speeches 238
Analyzing Your Audience 238
• Sample Speech: Bruce Springsteen, U2 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction 239
Considering Audience Expectations and Situational Factors 240
Considering Audience Demographics 240
Anticipating Your Audience’s Response 242
Choosing Your Topic 243
Finding a Topic That Intrigues You 243
Brainstorming and Clustering 243
Narrowing Your Topic 244
Determining the Specific Purpose of Your Speech 244
Developing a Thesis Statement 245
Researching the Topic 245
Types of Information to Consider 246
Researching Supporting Material 247
Evaluating Supporting Material 249
What About You? Assessing Your Sources 251
Ethical Speaking: Taking Responsibility for Your Speech 251
Recognizing Plagiarism 252
Taking Accurate Notes 252
Speaking Ethically and Responsibly 254
LearningCurve bedfordstmartins.com/commandyou
Your Reference: A Study Tool 257
12 Organizing, Writing, and Outlining Presentations 259
Organizing Your Speech Points 260
Identifying Your Main Points 260
Supporting Your Main Points 261
Arranging Your Points 262
Connecting Your Points 264
Using Language That Works 266
Respect Your Audience 266
Keep It Simple 266
Use Vivid Language 266
Incorporate Repetition, Allusion, and Comparisons 267
• Sample Speech: Sojourner Truth, Ain’t I a Woman? 268
Writing a Strong Introduction 268
Capture Your Audience’s Attention 269
Introduce Your Purpose and Topic 271
Preview Your Main Points 271
Connect with Your Audience 271
Writing a Strong Conclusion 272
Signal the End 272
Reinforce Your Topic, Purpose, and Main Points 272
Make an Impact 272
Challenge the Audience to Respond 273
Outlining Your Speech 273
Essentials of Outlining 274
Styles of Outlines 275
From Preparation Outline to Speaking Outline 276
What About You? Assessing Your Outline 277
• Sample Speech Outline: From Preparation Outline to Speaking Outline 278
LearningCurve bedfordstmartins.com/commandyou
Your Reference: A Study Tool 285
13 Delivering Presentations 287
Understanding and Addressing Anxiety 288
Identifying Anxiety Triggers 288
Building Your Confidence 289
Methods of Delivery 291
Speaking from Manuscript 291
Speaking from Memory 291
Speaking Spontaneously 292
Speaking Extemporaneously 292
Guidelines for Effective Delivery 293
Effective Vocal Delivery 294
Effective Visual Delivery 295
Connecting with Your Audience 297
Effective Presentation Aids 299
The Function of Presentation Aids 299
Types of Presentation Aids 299
Practicing Your Speech 303
Remember Your Speaking Outline 303
Practice Using Presentation Aids 303
Simulate the Situation 303
What About You? Assessing Your Practice Session 304
Practice Your Delivery 305
LearningCurve bedfordstmartins.com/commandyou
Your Reference: A Study Tool 307
14 Informative Speaking 309
The Goals of Informative Speaking 310
Meeting the Audience’s Informational Needs 310
Informing, Not Persuading 311
Speaking Appropriately and Ethically 312
Topics for Informative Presentations 313
People 313
Places 313
Objects and Phenomena 313
Events 314
Processes 314
Concepts 315
Issues 315
Plans and Policies 316
Approaches to Conveying Information 316
Description 316
Demonstration 317
Definition 317
Explanation 318
Guidelines for Informative Speeches 319
Create Information Hunger 319
Make It Easy 320
What About You? Assessing Your Informative Speech 326
• Sample Student Informative Speech: Zachary Dominque, The History and Sport of Mountain Biking 327
Learning Curve bedfordstmartins.com/commandyou
Your Reference: A Study Tool 333
15 Persuasive Speaking 335
The Goals of Persuasive Speaking 336
Developing a Persuasive Topic and Thesis 337
Propositions of Fact 337
Propositions of Value 338
Propositions of Policy 338
Persuading Your Audience 338
Understanding Your Audience’s Disposition 339
Understanding Your Audience’s Needs 340
Understanding What Is Relevant to Your Audience 341
Strategies for Persuasive Speaking 342
Ethos 343
Logos 343
Pathos 344
Logical Fallacies 345
Organizing Patterns in Persuasive Speaking 347
Problem-Solution Pattern 347
Refutational Organizational Pattern 348
Comparative Advantage Pattern 349
Monroe’s Motivated Sequence 350
What About You? Assessing Your Persuasive Speech 351
• Sample Student Persuasive Speech: Una Chua, Preventing Cyberbullying 352
LearningCurve bedfordstmartins.com/commandyou
Your Reference: A Study Tool 359
Appendix A: Competent Interviewing 361
The Nature of Interviews 362
Types of Interviews 363
The Information-Gathering Interview 363
The Appraisal Interview 364
The Problem-Solving Interview 364
The Exit Interview 364
The Persuasive Interview 365
The Service-Oriented Interview 365
The Selection Interview 365
The Format of an Interview 366
The Opening 366
The Questions 367
The Conclusion 370
Understanding Roles and Responsibilities in Interviews 371
Roles and Responsibilities of the Interviewer 372
Roles and Responsibilities of the Interviewee 372
The Job Interview 374
Getting the Interview 375
During the Interview 378
What About You? Your Career Preparation 383
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Your Reference: A Study Tool 385
Appendix B: Understanding Mass and Mediated Communication 387
The Nature of Media 388
Defining Mass and Mediated Communication 388
The Pervasiveness of Media 389
Understanding Mass Media Messages 389
The Business of Media 389
Free Speech and Media Bias 392
Effects of Mass Media 395
Selectivity and the Active Audience 395
Influences on Attitudes and Behaviors 397
Converging Media Technologies 399
Democratic and Social Participation 399
Barriers to Participation 400
Becoming a More Mindful Media Consumer 401
Monitor Your Media Use and Exposure 401
Consider the Source of Media Messages 401
Be Aware of Media Effects 402
Understand the Grammar of Media 402
Actively Evaluate Media Messages 402
What About You? Your Media Diet 403
LearningCurve bedfordstmartins.com/commandyou
Your Reference: A Study Tool 405
Glossary G-1
References R-1
Index I-1