Interpersonal Messages, 4th edition

Published by Pearson (May 1, 2019) © 2020
Joseph A. DeVito

Title overview

For courses in Interpersonal Communication.

Provide lively, accessible insights into interpersonal skill development

Interpersonal Messages provides students with numerous strategies for improving their communication and relationship skills. Author Joseph DeVito delivers comprehensive coverage, real-life examples and a strong focus on skill building. Emphasizing themes such as social media, culture and politeness, DeVito promotes successful communication in every area of students' personal, social and professional lives.

The 4th Edition includes the latest research as well as updated examples. New Cultural Maps highlight the crucial role that culture plays in our interactions.

Hallmark features of this title

  • Social Media boxes encourage students to think critically about how social media has impacted our behavior.
  • Viewpoints photos with accompanying captions prompt readers to consider a variety of issues, many of which focus on the themes of social media, the workplace and culture.
  • Ethical Messages boxes prompt students to apply ethical principles to various scenarios.
  • Ethical Choice Points encourage readers to consider their interpersonal communication choices in different contexts.
  • The text emphasizes politeness as an important skill for successful communication, through coverage of topics such as politeness cues of good listeners and nonverbal messages.
  • Throughout the text, the author highlights the crucial role that culture plays in our interactions.

New and updated features of this title

  • NEW: Cultural Maps cover such issues as ambiguity tolerance, indulgence and restraint, and long- and short-term orientation.
  • UPDATED: Learning objectives highlight major concepts and help students build their skills for 3 major levels of thinking: knowledge, application and problem solving.
  • NEW: In a Nutshell summary tables and bulleted lists throughout the text summarize major sections, making it easier for students to review content and commit it to memory.
  • NEW: New and revised figures and models help illustrate such concepts as self-concept, perception, impression management, the power of nonverbal communication and conflict management.
  • UPDATED: Skill Development Exercises now appear at the end of each chapter. New topics include using impression management strategies, responding to empathy, estimating height, using nonverbal messages, making small talk, making introductions, apologizing, giving and receiving compliments, and giving and receiving advice.
  • UPDATED: Interpersonal Choice Points present brief scenarios and invite students to identify, evaluate, and write about their communication choices. In the 4th Edition, these are more closely aligned with the chapter learning objectives.

Key features

Highlights of the DIGITAL UPDATE for Revel (available for Fall 2019 classes)

Instructors, contact your sales rep to ensure you have the most recent version of the course.

  • NEW: Videos on social media enhance coverage of key contemporary topics.
  • NEW: Additional videos illustrate critical content throughout each chapter.
  • NEW: Additional interactives integrated throughout each chapter bring concepts to life.
  • UPDATED: The latest research and citations have been incorporated throughout the narrative.

Features of Revel for the 4th Edition; published 2016

  • Video quizzes offer students opportunities to further their knowledge by applying concepts and testing their understanding. Instructors can share videos accompanied by time-stamped multiple-choice questions. 
  • Shared multimedia assignments make it easy for instructors and students to post and respond to videos and other media. Students can also record and upload their own presentations for grading, comments, or peer review. 

Table of contents

PART I: PRELIMINARIES TO INTERPERSONAL MESSAGES
1. Foundations of Interpersonal Communication
2. Culture and Interpersonal Communication
3. Perception of Self and Others
4. Listening in Interpersonal Communication

PART II: INTERPERSONAL MESSAGES IN CONTEXT
5. Verbal Messages
6. Nonverbal Messages
7. Emotional Messages
8. Conversation Messages
9. Interpersonal Relationships
10. Interpersonal Relationship Types and Theories
11. Interpersonal Conflict Management

Author bios

About our authors

Joseph A. DeVito received a BA from Hunter College in 1960 (with a major in speech and a minor in Spanish), an MA from Temple University in 1962 (with a major in speech along with some sociology), and a PhD from the University of Illinois in 1964 (with a major in speech and a minor in linguistics). After receiving his PhD, DeVito returned to his alma mater, Hunter College-in-the-Bronx [which later became Lehman College], to teach. Later, he moved to Queens College and then to Hunter (from which he retired from full-time teaching), all within the City University of New York. During his teaching career, DeVito taught a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate courses, with a concentration on the undergraduate level and mainly on the introductory courses.

At various times, DeVito has served on the editorial boards of Quarterly Journal of Speech, Communication Monographs, Communication Education, Communication Quarterly, Journal of Communication and Etc: A Review of General Semantics. He has also served as consulting editor to publishers: Random House, Harper & Row, Waveland Press and HarperCollins. He also served as ETS coordinator of the committee to construct the DANTES Public Speaking Test for the Educational Testing Service. A prolific author, DeVito has written or edited more than 20 books in the field of communication, including The Interpersonal Communication Book, Human Communication: The Basic Course and Essentials of Human Communication, all published by Pearson.

Loading...Loading...Loading...