Communication in Our Lives, Eighth Edition
By Julia T. Wood
Contents
Preface xviii
About the Author xxiv
Introduction xxv
PART I: FOUNDATIONS OF COMMUNICATION
1. The World of Communication 1
Why Study Communication? 2
Defining Communication 3
Values of Communication 4
Personal Identity and Health 4
Relationship Values 5
Professional Values 5
Cultural Values 6
Models of Communication 8
Linear Models 8
Interactive Models 8
Transactional Models 10
The Breadth of the Communication Field 11
Interpersonal Communication 11
Group Communication 12
Organizational Communication 12
Health Communication 12
Mass Communication and Digital Media 12
Public Communication 13
Intercultural Communication 14
Unifying Themes in the Field 15
Symbols 15
Meaning 15
Critical Thinking 15
Ethics and Communication 16
Careers in Communication 17
Research 17
Education 18
Media Production, Analysis, and Criticism 18
Training and Consulting 18
Human Relations and Management 19
Digital Media and Communication 20
Chapter Summary 21
Case Study: A Model Speech of Self-Introduction 21
2. Perception and Communication 25
Human Perception 26
Selection 26
Organization 28
Interpretation 31
Influences on Perception 33
Physiology 33
Culture 34
Social and Professional Roles 36
Cognitive Abilities 36
Digital Media and Perception 38
Guidelines for Effective Perception 39
Perceptions, Communication, and Abstraction 39
Chapter Summary 43
Case Study: College Success 43
3. Communication and Personal Identity 46
What Is the Self? 47
The Self Arises in Communication with Others 47
The Self Is Multidimensional 53
The Self Is a Process 53
We Internalize and Act from Social Perspectives 54
Social Perspectives on the Self Are Changeable 58
Digital Media and Personal Identity 59
Guidelines for Enhancing the Self 60
Make a Strong Commitment to Improve Yourself 60
Gain Knowledge as a Basis for Personal Change 60
Set Realistic Goals 61
Self-Disclose When Appropriate 62
Accept That You Are in Process 62
Create a Supportive Context for Change 63
Chapter Summary 64
Case Study: Parental Teachings 64
4. Listening Effectively 67
The Listening Process 69
Being Mindful 69
Physically Receiving Messages 70
Selecting and Organizing Material 71
Interpreting Communication 71
Responding 72
Remembering 72
Obstacles to Effective Listening 72
External Obstacles 72
Internal Obstacles 74
Forms of Nonlistening 76
Pseudolistening 76
Monopolizing 76
Selective Listening 77
Defensive Listening 77
Ambushing 77
Literal Listening 78
Digital Media and Listening 78
Guidelines for Effective Listening 78
Informational and Critical Listening 79
Relational Listening 80
Other Purposes of Listening 83
Chapter Summary 84
Case Study: Family Hour 84
5. The Verbal Dimension of Communication 89
Features of Symbols 90
Symbols Are Arbitrary 90
Symbols Are Ambiguous 91
Symbols Are Abstract 91
Principles of Verbal Communication 92
Interpretation Creates Meaning 92
Communication Is Rule Guided 93
Punctuation Affects Meaning 94
Symbolic Abilities 95
Symbols Define 95
Symbols Evaluate 97
Symbols Organize Perceptions 97
Symbols Allow Hypothetical Thought 98
Symbols Allow Self-Reflection 99
Digital Media and Verbal Communication 100
Guidelines for Effective Verbal Communication 100
Engage in Dual Perspective 100
Own Your Feelings and Thoughts 101
Respect What Others Say About Their Feelings and Ideas 102
Strive for Accuracy and Clarity 103
Chapter Summary 105
Case Study: The Roommates 105
PART II: CONTEXTS OF INTERACTION
6. The Nonverbal Dimension of
Communication 109
Principles of Nonverbal Communication 110
Similar to and Different from Verbal Communication 110
Supplements or Replaces Verbal Communication 112
Regulates Interaction 112
Establishes Relationship-Level Meanings 113
Reflects Cultural Values 114
Types of Nonverbal Communication 115
Kinesics 115
Haptics 116
Physical Appearance 117
Artifacts 118
Proxemics 119
Environmental Factors 120
Chronemics 120
Paralanguage 121
Silence 122
Digital Media and Nonverbal Communication 122
Guidelines for Improving Nonverbal Communication 124
Monitor Your Nonverbal Communication 124
Interpret Others’ Nonverbal Communication Tentatively 124
Chapter Summary 126
Case Study: Nonverbal Cues 126
7. Communication in Personal Relationships 131
Defining Personal Relationships 132
Uniqueness 132
Commitment 132
Relationship Rules 133
Affected by Contexts 133
Relational Dialectics 134
The Evolutionary Course of Personal Relationships 135
Friendships 136
Romantic Relationships 137
Digital Media and Personal Relationships 141
Guidelines for Maintaining Healthy Personal Relationships 141
Manage Distance 142
Create Equitable Romantic Relationships 142
Resist Violence and Abuse Between Intimates 144
Negotiate Safer Sex 145
Chapter Summary 146
Case Study: Growing Together 146
8. Communication in Groups and Teams 149
Understanding Groups and Teams 150
Potential Limitations and Strengths of Groups 152
Potential Limitations of Groups 152
Potential Strengths of Groups 153
Features of Small Groups 155
Cohesion 155
Group Size 155
Power Structure 156
Interaction Patterns 157
Group Norms 157
Digital Media and Group Communication 158
Guidelines for Communicating in Groups and Teams 159
Participate Constructively 159
Provide Leadership 162
Manage Conflict Constructively 163
Chapter Summary 165
Case Study: The Class Gift 165
9. Communication in Organizations 169
Key Features of Organizations 170
Structure 171
Communication Networks 171
Links to External Environments 172
Organizational Culture 172
Vocabularies 173
Stories 175
Rites and Rituals 176
Structures 178
Digital Media and Organizational Communication 180
Guidelines for Effective Communication in Organizations 181
Balance Investments in Work and the Rest of Your Life 181
Manage Personal Relationships on the Job 183
Chapter Summary 185
Case Study: Ed Misses the Banquet 185
10. Communication and Culture 188
Understanding Culture 189
Cultures Are Systems 189
Cultures Vary on Five Dimensions 191
Cultures Are Dynamic 192
Multiple Social Communities Coexist Within a Single Culture 193
Communication’s Relationship to Culture and Social
Communities 197
Communication Expresses and Sustains Cultures 197
We Learn Culture in the Process of Communicating 199
Digital Media, Cultures, and Social Communities 200
Guidelines for Improving Communication Between Cultures
and Social Communities 200
Resist the Ethnocentric Bias 200
Recognize That Interacting with Diverse People Is a Process 201
Chapter Summary 204
Case Study: The Job Interview 204
11. Media and Media Literacy 209
The Nature and Scope of Media 210
Mass Media 210
Social Media 210
Understanding How Media_Work 212
Understanding Mass Media 212
Understanding Social Media 216
Guidelines for Enhancing Your Effectiveness with Mass
and Digital Media 221
Understand the Influence of Media 221
Access to Media 221
Analyze Media 222
Critically Evaluate Media Messages 223
Respond Actively 224
Chapter Summary 226
Case Study: Online Relationships 226
PART III: PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
12. Planning Public Speaking 230
Public Speaking Is Enlarged Conversation 232
Choose and Refine a Topic 233
Choose Your Topic 233
Define Your General and Specific Purposes in Speaking 235
Develop a Thesis Statement 237
Analyze Your Audience 239
Demographic Audience Analysis 239
Situational Audience Analysis 241
Digital Media and Planning Public Speaking 242
Chapter Summary 243
Case Study: A Model Speech of Introduction 244
13. Researching and Developing Support
for Public Speeches 247
Conducting Research 248
Online Research 248
Library Research 248
Interviews 250
Surveys 250
Using Evidence to Support Ideas 252
Statistics 252
Examples 253
Comparisons 255
Quotations 255
Visual Aids 257
Digital Media and Researching and Developing
Speeches 261
Chapter Summary 263
Case Study: Understanding Hurricanes 264
14. Organizing and Presenting Public
Speeches 269
Organizing Speeches 270
Outlining Speeches 271
Organizing the Body of a Speech 272
Designing the Introduction 279
Craft the Conclusion 281
Build in Transitions 282
Presenting Public Speeches 283
Building Speaking Confidence 283
Causes of Communication Apprehension 284
Managing Communication Apprehension 284
Oral Style 285
Styles of Delivery 285
Practice 287
Digital Media and Speech Organization and Delivery 288
Chapter Summary 290
Case Study: Analyzing Delivery: Speech of Self-Introduction 291
15. Informative Speaking 294
The Nature of Informative Speaking 295
Informative Speaking in Everyday Life 295
Comparing Informative and Persuasive Speaking 296
Guidelines for Effective Informative Speaking 298
Provide Listeners with a Clear Thesis Statement 298
Connect with Listeners’ Values and Experiences 298
Motivate Listeners to Want Information 299
Build Credibility with Listeners 299
Adapt to Diverse Listeners 299
Organize So Listeners Can Follow Easily 300
Design Your Speech to Enhance Learning and Retention 301
Involve Listeners 303
Use Effective and Ethical Supporting Materials 304
Digital Media and Informative Speaking 305
Chapter Summary 306
Case Study: Informative Speech: Anytown USA 307
16. Persuasive Speaking 311
Understanding Persuasive Speaking 312
The Three Pillars of Persuasion 314
Ethos 314
Pathos 316
Logos 317
Building Credibility 319
Understanding Credibility 319
Types of Credibility 319
Developing Credibility 320
Enhancing Credibility 321
Organizing Speeches for Persuasive Impact 321
The Motivated Sequence Pattern 321
One-Sided and Two-Sided Presentations 324
Digital Media and Persuasive Speaking 325
Guidelines for Effective Persuasive Speeches 325
Create Common Ground with Listeners 325
Adapt to Listeners 326
Avoid Fallacious Reasoning 327
Chapter Summary 330
Case Study: Persuasive Speech: No Child Left Behind: Addressing the
School Dropout Rate Among Latinos 330
Closing: Pulling Ideas Together 335
Appendix A Annotated Sample Speeches 339
Water 339
Brandon Perry 339
Martin Luther King Jr. Remembrance Speech: Transcript of 2010
Speech 341
Barack Obama 341
“The Dun Dun Drum” 347
Joshua Valentine 347
Appendix B Interviewing 349
Understanding Communication in Interviews 349
Types and Purposes of Interviews 349
The Structure of Interviews 351
Styles of Interviewing 353
Forms of Questions in Interviews 355
Guidelines for Communicating Effectively in Interviews 357
Prepare 357
Managing Illegal Questions in Interviews 358
Chapter Summary 361
Case Study: Tough Questions 361
Glossary 364
References 373
Index 389