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Human Communication in Society, 6th edition

Published by Pearson (April 1, 2021) © 2022

  • Jess K. Alberts
  • Thomas K. Nakayama Northeastern University
  • Judith N. Martin Arizona State University

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For courses in Introduction to Communication.

An overview of communication that balances individual and social factors

Human Communication in Society engages students in exploring the implications of communication in their daily lives. Providing a balance between theory and applications, the authors highlight the tension between individual and societal forces and encourage students to recognize the value of multiple perspectives in understanding communication.

The 6th Edition offers a new chapter on the in-person conversation skills needed to complement the constant connectivity of social media, as well as coverage of the communication challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hallmark features of this title

  • To reinforce the authors' emphasis on ethics, each chapter includes one or more detailed sections discussing ethical issues relevant to that chapter's topic.
  • Alternative View boxes offer perspectives that challenge mainstream thinking or offer an interpretation of a chapter-related topic counter to conventional wisdom.
  • Communication in Society boxes serve to reinforce the connection between the individual and society.
  • Did You Know? boxes offer examples of chapter-related material that students may find surprising or unfamiliar.
  • Apply What You Know questions prompt students to work through challenging concepts.
  • Critical thinking prompts encourage students to reflect on how major concepts connect with their everyday experiences.

New and updated features of this title

  • NEW: A new chapter on in-person conversation emphasizes the importance of conversational skills needed to complement the constant connectivity of interactive and social media.
  • UPDATED: References in each chapter have been updated to reflect the most recent available research on the topics addressed.
  • UPDATED: The authors have incorporated fresh examples that address contemporary events and trends, including the communication challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, to help students connect course concepts to their personal experiences.

Features of Revel for the 6th Edition

  • UPDATED: Videos throughout the narrative show how ethics, culture, language and listening skills shape the act of communication. Accompanying video self-checks for many of the videos enable students to test their knowledge. New video topics include listening skills in the classroom, code switching, social media's impact on communication and the value of effective group communication.
  • Critical thinking activities prompt students to apply their personal experiences to the concepts within the text.
  • Animated figures help students understand hard-to-grasp concepts through interactive visualizations.
  • It Happened to Me boxes offer real-life accounts of student experiences that illustrate key concepts. Embedded audio narratives bring these stories to life, adding dimension and reinforcing learning in a way that a printed text cannot.

PART I: UNDERSTANDING HUMAN COMMUNICATION PROCESSES

  1. Introduction to Human Communication
  2. Perspectives on Human Communication
  3. Communicating Identities
  4. Communicating, Perceiving, and Understanding

PART II: DEVELOPING EFFECTIVE HUMAN COMMUNICATION SKILLS

  1. Verbal Communication
  2. Nonverbal Communication
  3. Listening and Responding

PART III: COMMUNICATING IN CONTEXT

  1. Communicating across Cultures
  2. Communicating in Close Relationships
  3. Small Group Communication
  4. Communicating in Organizations
  5. Rhetorical Communication
  6. Mass Media and Communication
  7. Communicating through Social and Other Interactive Media

About our authors

Jess Alberts is President's Professor in the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication at Arizona State University. She is an interpretive scholar who focuses on interpersonal communication and specializes in the study of conflict.

Thomas Nakayama is a professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Northeastern University. He is a critical scholar who focuses on rhetoric and intercultural communication.

Judith Martin is professor emerita in the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication at Arizona State University. She is a social scientist whose expertise is in intercultural communication.

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