Table Of ContentHuman Communication
The Basic Course
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Human Communication
The Basic Course
Fourteenth Edition
Joseph A. DeVito
Hunter College of the City University of New York
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: DeVito, Joseph A., author.
Title: Human communication: the basic course/Joseph A. DeVito.
Description: Fourteenth edition. | Hoboken, NJ: Pearson Higher Education, 2016.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016036694 | ISBN 9780134407081 | ISBN 0134407083
Subjects: LCSH: Communication.
Classification: LCC P90.D485 2016 | DDC 302.2—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016036694
1 16
Student Edition
ISBN-10: 0-13-440708-3
ISBN-13: 978-0-13-440708-1
Books a la Carte
ISBN-10: 0-13-440940-X
ISBN-13: 978-0-13-440940-5
Brief Contents 7
Part One Foundations of Human Communication
1
Fundamentals of Human Communication 1
2
Culture and Communication 25
3
Perception of Self and Others 48
4
Listening in Human Communication 78
5
Verbal Messages 98
6
Nonverbal Messages 118
Part Two Interpersonal, Small Group, and Organizational Communication
7
Interpersonal Communication and Conversation 145
8
Interpersonal Relationship Stages and Theories 168
9
Friends, Lovers, and Families 190
10
Small Group Communication 208
11
Members and Leaders 227
12
Human Communication in the Workplace: Organizational Communication 243
13 Interpersonal, Group, and Workplace Conflict 263
Part Three Public Speaking
14
Public Speaking Topics, Audiences, and Research 282
15
Supporting and Organizing Your Speech 309
16
Style and Delivery in Public Speaking 342
17
The Informative Speech 364
18
The Persuasive Speech 379
Appendix of Speeches: Public Speaking Sample Assistants 403
Glossary 422
References 436
Index 456
Credits 475
v
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Contents 7
Welcome to Human Communication: 2
Culture and Communication 25
The Basic Course xiv
The Nature of Culture 26
Part One Foundations of Human Sex and Gender 27
Communication 1 The Transmission of Culture 27
The Importance of Culture in Communication 27
1 The Aim of a Cultural Perspective 29
Fundamentals of Human
Cultural Differences 31
Communication 1
Individual and Collective Orientation 32
The Nature of Human Communication 2 High- and Low-Context Cultures 32
The Forms of Human Communication 2 High- and Low-Power-Distance Cultures 33
The Benefits of Studying Human Communication 4 Masculine and Feminine Cultures 33
The Myths of Human Communication 6 High- and Low-Ambiguity-Tolerant Cultures 34
Elements of Human Communication 7 Long- and Short-Term Orientation 35
Communication Contexts 7 Indulence and Restraint 36
Source–Receiver 8 Intercultural Communication 36
Messages 8 The Nature and Forms of Intercultural
Communication 37
Channels 9
Improving Intercultural Communication 39
Noise 9
Summary 45 • Key Terms 46 • Exercises and
Effects 10
Questions 46
Principles of Human Communication 10
3
Communication is Purposeful 10 Perception of Self and Others 48
Communication is Transactional 11
Self-Concept, Self-Awareness, and Self-Esteem 49
Communication is a Package of Signals 13
Self-Concept 49
Communication is a Process of Adjustment 13
Self-Awareness 50
Communication Involves Content and Relationship
Dimensions 13 Self-Esteem 52
Communication is Ambiguous 14 Self-Disclosure 55
Communication is Punctuated 16 Factors Influencing Self-Disclosure 56
Communication is Inevitable, Irreversible, The Rewards and Dangers of Self-Disclosure 58
and Unrepeatable 16 Guidelines for Self-Disclosure 59
The Competent Communicator 17 Perception 60
The Competent Communicator Makes Stage 1: Stimulation 61
Reasoned Choices 18 Stage 2: Organization 61
The Competent Communicator Thinks Critically Stage 3: Interpretation–Evaluation 62
and Mindfully 18
Stage 4: Memory 63
The Competent Communicator is an Effective Code
Stage 5: Recall 63
Switcher 18
Forming Impressions 64
The Competent Communicator is Culturally
Impression Formation Processes 64
Sensitive 19
Increasing Accuracy in Impression Formation 68
The Competent Communicator is Ethical 20
The Competent Communicator is an Effective Managing Impressions 69
Listener 20 To Be Liked: Affinity-Seeking and Politeness
The Competent Communicator is Media Literate 20 Strategies 70
Summary 22 • Key Terms 23 • Exercises and To Be Believed: Credibility Strategies 71
Questions 23 To Excuse Failure: Self-Handicapping Strategies 71
vii
viii Contents
To Secure Help: Self-Deprecating Strategies 72 6
Nonverbal Messages 118
To Hide Faults: Self-Monitoring Strategies 73
To Be Followed: Influencing Strategies 73 The Principles of Nonverbal Communication 119
To Confirm Self-Image: Image-Confirming Nonverbal Messages Interact with Verbal Messages 120
Strategies 73 Nonverbal Messages Help Manage Impressions 120
Summary 74 • Key Terms 75 • Exercises and Nonverbal Messages Help Form Relationships 121
Questions 75
Nonverbal Messages Help Structure Conversation 122
Nonverbal Messages Can Influence and Deceive 122
4
Listening in Human Communication 78
Nonverbal Messages Are Crucial for Emotional
Expression 123
The Importance and Process of Listening 79
Ten Channels of Nonverbal Communication 123
The Importance of Listening 79
Body Communication 123
The Process of Listening 80
Facial Communication 124
Listening Barriers 85
Eye Communication 126
Physical and Mental Distractions 85
Space Communication 127
Biases and Prejudices 85
Artifactual Communication 129
Lack of Appropriate Focus 85
Touch Communication 131
Premature Judgement 85
Paralanguage 132
Hearing Impairment 87
Silence 132
Styles of Effective Listening 87
Time Communication 133
Empathic Listening 88
Smell Communication 135
Polite Listening 88
Culture and Nonverbal Communication 136
Critical Listening 90
Gesture and Culture 136
Active Listening 90
Facial Expression and Culture 136
Listening, Culture, and Gender 92
Eye Communication and Culture 137
Culture and Listening 92
Colors and Culture 137
Gender and Listening 93
Touch and Culture 138
Summary 95 • Key Terms 95 • Exercises and
Questions 96 Paralanguage, Silence, and Culture 138
Time and Culture 139
5
Verbal Messages 98 Nonverbal Communication Competence 139
Encoding Skills 139
Principles of Verbal Messages 99
Decoding Skills 140
Meanings Are in People 99
Summary 142 • Key Terms 143 • Exercises and
Meanings Are Both Denotative and Connotative 99 Questions 143
Meanings Depend on Context 100
Messages Vary in Politeness 101
Part Two
Messages Can Be Onymous or Anonymous 102 Interpersonal, Small
Messages Vary in Assertiveness 102 Group, and Organizational
Messages Can Decieve 103 Communication 145
Disconfirmation and Confirmation 106
Racism 106 7
Interpersonal Communication
Heterosexism 107
and Conversation 145
Ageism 108
Sexism 109 The Nature of Interpersonal Communication
Cultural Identifiers 109 and Conversation 146
Using Verbal Messages Effectively 111 Definition of Interpersonal Communication 146
Intensional Orientation 111 The Interpersonal Continuum 146
Allness 112 The Stages of Conversation 147
Fact–Inference Confusion 112 Principles of Conversation and Interpersonal
Static Evaluation 113 Communication 148
Indiscrimination 113 The Principle of Turn-Taking 148
Polarization 114 The Principle of Dialogue 149
Summary 115 • Key Terms 115 • Exercises and The Principle of Immediacy 150
Questions 116 The Principle of Flexibility 151
Contents ix
The Principle of Politeness: Conversation is (Usually) Virtual Groups and Teams 210
Polite 151 Advantages and Disadvantages of Groups 210
Everyday Conversations 153 Small Group Apprehension 212
Making Small Talk 153 Small Group Stages, Formats, Culture, and Power 212
Introducing People 155 Small Group Stages 212
Making Excuses 157 Small Group Formats 213
Apologizing 158 Small Group Culture 214
Giving and Receiving Compliments 160 Small Group Power 216
Giving and Receiving Advice 162 Brainstorming and Focus Groups 218
Summary 165 • Key Terms 165 • Exercises and
Brainstorming Groups 218
Questions 166
Focus Groups 219
8 Problem-Solving Groups 219
Interpersonal Relationship Stages
The Problem-Solving Sequence 220
and Theories 168
Problem-Solving Groups at Work 223
Interpersonal Relationships 169 Summary 225 • Key Terms 226 • Exercises and
Questions 226
Advantages and Disadvantages of Interpersonal
Relationships 169
11
Members and Leaders 227
Relationship Stages 171
Contact 171
Membership in Small Group Communication 228
Relationship Theories 176
Member Roles 228
Attraction Theory 176
Interaction Process Analysis 230
Relationship Rules Theory 178
Member Functions and Skills 230
Relationship Dialectics Theory 180
Leadership in Small Group Communication 232
Social Exchange Theory 181
Myths About Leadership 233
Equity Theory 182
Approaches to Leadership 233
The Dark Side of Interpersonal Relationships 184
Functions and Skills of Leadership 236
Jealousy 184
Membership, Leadership, and Culture 238
Relationship Violence 185
Individualism and Collectivism 238
Summary 187 • Key Terms 188 • Exercises and
Member Roles 239
Questions 188
Belief Systems 239
9 Friends, Lovers, and Families 190 Leadership Style 239
Summary 241 • Key Terms 241 • Exercises and
Friendships 191 Questions 242
Friendship Types 191
12
Friends with Benefits 191 Human Communication in
Friendship and Communication 192 the Workplace: Organizational
Friendships, Culture, Gender, and Technology 194 Communication 243
Romantic Relationships 195
Organizations 244
Love Types 195
The Importance of Organizational
Love and Communication 197
Communication 244
Love, Culture, Gender, and Technology 197
The Nature of an Organization 244
Families 199
Characteristics of Organizations 245
Couple and Family Types 200
Organizational Messages 249
Family Characteristics 202
Formal Communication 249
Families and Communication 203
Informal Organizational Communication:
Families, Culture, Gender, and Technology 203
The Grapevine 251
Summary 205 • Key Terms 206 • Exercises and
Communication Channels in Organizations 252
Questions 206
Communication Networks 252
10 Information Overload 253
Small Group Communication 208
Information Isolation 253
Preliminaries to Small Group Communication 209 Organizational Message Competence 254
The Small Group 209 Organizational Relationships 254
The Team 209 Mentoring 254
