A first look at communication theory

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.

• Division 1 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 2 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 3 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 4 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 5 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 6 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