Interpersonal Communication and You An Introduction

Focused on student self-reflection, application, and adaptive learning, Interpersonal Communication and You asks you to measure concepts against your own personal experiences as you build essential skills to further improve your interpersonal life.

Dr. Steven McCornack is Associate Professor of Communication at Michigan State University, where he also serves as the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Honors Advisor, and Faculty Advisor to the Undergraduate Communication Association. His research interests include deception, message production, and family communication. Dr. McCornack teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on interpersonal communication, relational communication, and language/discourse. Since he began at MSU in 1988, he has received several awards for undergraduate teaching excellence, including the Amoco Foundation Excellence in Teaching Award, a Lilly Endowment Teaching Fellowship, the MSU Teacher/Scholar Award, and the MSU Alumni Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award. Dr. McCornack was MSU's 1999 and 2010 nominee for the Carnegie Foundation United States Professor of the Year Award. Dr. McCornack received his B.A. from the University of Washington and his M.A. and PhD from the University of Illinois.

1. Introducing Interpersonal Communication

What Is Communication?

What Is Interpersonal Communication?

What Is Interpersonal Communication Competence?

Issues in Interpersonal Communication

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Part One. Interpersonal Essentials

2. Considering Self

The Components of Self

The Sources of Self

Presenting Your Self

The Relational Self

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3. Perceiving Others

Perception as a Process

Influences on Perception

Forming Impressions of Others

Improving Your Perception of Others

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4. Experiencing and Expressing Emotions

The Nature of Emotion

Forces Shaping Emotion

Managing Your Emotional Experience and Expression

Emotional Challenges

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Part Two. Interpersonal Skills

5. Understanding Culture

What is Culture?

Cultural Influences on Communication

Creating Intercultural Competence

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6. Listening Actively

Listening. A Five-Step Process

The Five Functions of Listening

Understanding Listening Styles

Preventing Incompetent Listening

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7. Communicating Verbally

Characteristics of Verbal Communication

Functions of Verbal Communication

Cooperative Verbal Communication

Barriers to Cooperative Verbal Communication

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8. Communicating Nonverbally

Principles of Nonverbal Communication

Nonverbal Communication Codes

Functions of Nonverbal Communication

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9. Managing Conflict and Power

Conflict and Interpersonal Communication

Power and Conflict

Handling Conflict

Conflict Endings

Challenges to Handling Conflict

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Part Three. Interpersonal Relationships

10. Relationships with Romantic Partners

Defining Romantic Relationships

Romantic Attraction

Relationship Development and Deterioration

Maintaining Romantic Relationships

Romantic Relationship Challenges

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11. Relationships with Family Members

Defining Family

Communicating in Families

Maintaining Family Relationships

Family Relationship Challenges

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12. Relationships with Friends

The Nature of Friendship

Types of Friendship

Maintaining Friendship

Friendship Challenges

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