Book Title: Communication in the Real World: An Introduction to Communication Studies

Book Description

Communication studies lead us to investigate and challenge our understandings of behavior and meaning in ways that engage our personal and professional lives. Communication studies contribute daily to relationships with family members, friends, colleagues, and students, in addition to myriad workers, public employees, and strangers with whom we regularly engage. On whatever level is appropriate, we feel better about life when these interactions are successful. This text will help you develop a fundamental skill for your professional and personal success and will advance you on the path toward becoming a successful communicator.

This revised edition of the book builds upon the solid foundation of the previous edition to both reflect the latest social scientific research findings in the study of communication, while also acknowledging some of the unique challenges we are all facing in this social media saturated, post-pandemic, generative AI world.  This new edition features new sections on Computer-Mediated Communication, the halo and horn effects, the predictive brain model of perception, John Gottman’s research on conflict, Relational Dialectics Theory, and small group problem solving. In addition, the sections on the models of communication, rhetoric, nonverbal communication, speech organization, and others were rewritten to add new information and/or increase their clarity.

Welcome to communication studies—prepare to evolve.