Synopses & Reviews
The most widely-used textbook for the communication theory course, A First Look at Communication Theory analyzes the major communication theories at a level that is appropriate for both lower- and upper-level courses. The 32 theories represented in the text reflect a mix of foundational and recent scholarship and strike a balance of scientific and interpretive approaches.
About the Author
Em Griffin is Professor of Communication at Wheaton College in Illinois, where he has taught for the past twenty-six years and has been chosen Teacher of the Year. He received his bachelors degree in political science from the University of Michigan, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Communication from Northwestern University. His research interest centers on the development of close friendships. Professor Griffin is the author of three applied communication books: The Mind Changers analyzes practical techniques of persuasion; Getting Together offers research-based suggestions for effective group leadership; and Making Friends describes the way that quality interpersonal communication can build close relationships. He also speaks and leads workshops on these topics in the United States, Singapore, and the Philippines. Professor Griffins wife, Jean, is an artist. They have two adult children, Jim and Sharon.
Table of Contents
Division One: Overview 1. Launching Your Study of Communication Theory 2. Talk About Theory 3. Weighing the Words 4. Mapping the Territory (Seven Traditions in the Field of Communication Theory)
Division Two: Interpersonal Communication Interpersonal Messages 5. Symbolic Interactionism of George Herbert Mead 6. Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM) of W. Barnett Pearce and Vernon Cronen 7. Expectancy Violations Theory of Judee Burgoon 8. Constructivism of Jesse Delia Relationship Development 9. Social Penetration Theory of Irwin Altman and Dalmas Taylor 10. Uncertainty Reduction Theory of Charles Berger 11. Social Information Processing Theory of Joseph Walther Relationship Maintenance 12. Relational Dialectics of Leslie Baxter and Barbara Montgomery 13. The Interactional View of Paul Watzlawick Influence 14. Social Judgment Theory of Muzafer Sherif 15. Elaboration Likelihood Model Richard Petty and John Cacioppo 16. Cognitive Dissonance Theory of Leon Festinger Division Three: Group and Public Communication Group Decision Making 17. Functional Perspective on Group Decision Making of Randy Hirokawa and Dennis Gouran 18. Adaptive Structuration Theory of Marshall Scott Poole Organizational Communication 19. Cultural Approach to Organizations of Clifford Geertz and Michael Pacanowsky 20. Critical Theory of Communication Approach to Organizations of Stan Deetz Public Rhetoric 21. The Rhetoric of Aristotle 22. Dramatism of Kenneth Burke 23. Narrative Paradigm of Walter Fisher Ethical Reflections
Division Four: Mass Communication Media and Culture 24. Media Ecology of Marshall McLuhan 25. Semiotics of Roland Barthes 26. Cultural Studies of Stuart Hall Media Effects 27. Cultivation Theory of George Gerbner 28. Agenda-Setting Theory of Maxwell McCombs and Donald Shaw 29. Spiral of Silence of Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann
Division Five: Cultural Context Intercultural Communication 30. Communication Accommodation Theory of Howard Giles 31. Face-Negotiation Theory of Stella Ting-Toomey 32. Speech Codes Theory of Gerry Philipsen Gender and Communication 33. Genderlect Styles of Deborah Tannen 34. Standpoint Theory of Sandra Harding and Julia Wood 35. Muted Group Theory of Cheris Kramarae
Division Six: Integration Communication Theory 36. Common Threads in Communication Theories
Appendix A. Abstracts of Theories Appendix B. Feature Films that Illustrate Communication Theory Appendix C. National Communication Association Credo for Ethical Communication Endnotes Credits and Acknowledgements Index