Interpersonal Communication

How do people communicate with each other in their face-to-face meetings and conversations? This book provides a comprehensive introduction for students of the how and why of interpersonal communication. Peter Hartley uses research and theory from social psychology, sociology and linguistics to provide a framework for understanding how we use language, gestures and facial expressions to communicate. The book is divided into three parts. Part one outlines the main concepts necessary to understand both the skills and processes of interpersonal communication. Part two looks at these processes in more detail and discusses their everyday applications and implications. For example, what evidence is there to support the claim that our gestures and facial expressions reveal to others what we really mean? Can we trust our first impressions of people, or should we be more cautious? Part three examines situations - for example, interaction between groups of people - where more than interpersonal communication is involved. This book should be of interest to introductory students and teachers in communication studies and social psychology.