Vita
Alan Leslie Sillars
Title:Professor
Address: Department of Communication Studies
University of Montana
Missoula, Montana 59812
Telephone:(406)2434463
E-mail:
Education:Ph.D. Communication Arts, University of Wisconsin,1980
M.A. Communication Arts, University of Wisconsin,1976
B.A. Speech Communication, California StateUniversity, Humboldt, 1974
History Major, California State University, Northridge
Teaching Experience
Other Affiliations
Visiting Professor, Department of Communication Arts and Sciences, Penn State University, 2016
Visiting Research Fellow, School of Communication, Journalism, and Marketing, Massey University, Albany, New Zealand, 2015
Foreign Scholar, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, 2013
Visiting Professor, University of Nebraska, 2011
Guest Scholar, Faculty of Letters, Kumamoto University,Kumamoto, Japan, 1996-1997
Assistant Professor, Department of Communication, Ohio StateUniversity, 19811986
Assistant Professor, Department of Speech Communication,West Virginia University, 19791981
Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Wisconsin,19741979
Research Interests
Communication and Conflict
Interpersonal Perception and Communication
Family Communication
Journal Articles
Smith, R. A., Sillars, A., Chesnut, R., & Zhu, Xun (2017). Investigating married adults’ communal coping with genetic health risk and perceived discrimination. Communication Monographs. Advance online publication. Doi:10.1080/03637751.2017.1404618
Minniear, M., Sillars, A., & Shuy, K. (2017). Risky business: Disclosures of risky behavior among emerging adults in the digital age. Communication Reports, 0, 1-13. Advance online publication. doi:10.1080/08934215.2017.1310271
Cho, M. K., & Sillars, A. (2015). Face threat and facework strategies when family (health) secrets are revealed: A comparison of South Korea and the United States. Journal of Communication, 65, 535-557.doi: 10.1111/jcom.12161
McLaren, R. M. & Sillars, A. L. (2014). Hurtful episodes in parent–adolescent relationships: How accounts and attributions contribute to the difficulty of talking about hurt. Communication Monographs, 81, 359-385. doi: 10.1080/03637751.2014.933244
Sillars, A., Holman, A., Richards, A., Jacobs, K., Koerner, A., & Reynolds-Dyk, A. (2014). Conversation and conformity orientations as predictors of observed conflict tactics in parent-adolescent discussions. Journal of Family Communication.14,16-31.doi: 10.1080/15267431.2013.857327
Roggensack, K., & Sillars, A. (2014). Agreement and understanding about honesty and deception rules in romantic relationships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 31, 178-199. doi: 10.1177/0265407513489914
Richards, A., & Sillars, A. (2014). Imagined interactions as predictors of secret revelation and health. Communication Research,41, 236-256. doi: 10.1177/0093650212438392
Holman, A. J., & Sillars, A. (2012). Talk about “hooking up”: The influence of college student social networks on non-relationship sex. Health Communication, 27, 205-216.
Jacobs, K., & Sillars, A. (2012). Sibling support during post-divorce adjustment: An idiographic analysis of support forms, functions, and relationship types. Journal of Family Communication, 12, 167-187.
Sillars, A., Smith, T., Koerner, A. (2010). Misattributions contributing to empathic (in)accuracy during parent-adolescent conflict discussions. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 27, 727-747.
Sillars, A., Koerner, A., Fitzpatrick, M. A. (2005). Communication and understanding in parent-adolescent relationships. Human Communication Research, 31, 102-128.
Sillars, A., Roberts, L.J., Leonard, K. E. & Dun, T.(2000). Cognition during marital conflict: The relationship of thought and talk. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 17, 479-502.
Sillars, A., Shellen, W., McIntosh, A., & Pomegrante, M. (1997). Relational characteristics of language: Elaboration and differentiation in marital conversations. Western Journal of Communication, 61, 403-422.
Sillars, A. L., Folwell, A. L., Hill, K. C., Maki, B. K., Hurst, A. P., & Casano, R. A. (1994). Marital communication and the persistence of misunderstanding. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 11, 611-617.
Sillars, A. L., Burggraf, C. S., Yost, S., & Zietlow, P. H.(1992). Conversational themes and marital relationship definitions. Human Communication Research, 19, 124-154.
Sillars, A. L., Weisberg, J., Burggraf, C. S. & Zietlow, P. H.(1990). Communication and understanding revisited: Married couples' understanding and recall of conversations. Communication Research, 17, 500502.
Cegala, D. J. & Sillars, A. L. (1989). Further examination of nonverbal manifestations of interaction involvement. Communication Reports, 2, 3947.
Zietlow, P. H. & Sillars, A. L. (1988). Life stage differences in communication during marital conflicts. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 5, 223245.
Burggraf, C. S. & Sillars, A. L. (1987). A critical examination of sex differences in marital communication. Communication Monographs, 54, 276294.
Sillars, A., Weisberg, J., Burggraf, C. & Wilson, E. (1987). Content themes in marital conversations. Human Communication Research, 13, 495528.
Pike, G. R. & Sillars, A. L. (1985). Reciprocity of marital communication. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 2, 303324.
Sillars, A. L., Pike, G. R., Jones, T. S. & Murphy, M. A.(1984). Communication and understanding in marriage. Human Communication Research, 3, 317350.
Sillars, A. L. & Scott, M. D.(1983). Interpersonal perception between intimates: An integrative review. Human Communication Research, 10, 153176.
Sillars, A. L., Pike, G. R., Jones, T. S. & Redmon, K. (1983). Communication and conflict in marriage. In R. Bostrom(Ed.), Communication yearbook 7 (pp. 414429). BeverlyHills:Sage.
Sillars, A. L. & Parry, D. (1982). Stress, cognition and communication in interpersonal conflicts. Communication Research, 9, 201226.
Sillars, A. L., Coletti, S. F., Parry, D. & Rogers, M. A.(1982). Coding verbal conflict tactics: Nonverbal and perceptual correlates of the "avoidancedistributiveintegrative" distinction. Human Communication Research, 9, 8395.
Sillars, A. L. (1980). Attributions and communication in roommate conflicts. Communication Monographs, 42, 180220.
Sillars, A. L. (1980). The sequential and distributional structure of conflict as a function of attributions concerning the locus of causality and stability of conflicts. In D. Nimmo (Ed.), Communication Yearbook 4 (pp. 217235). New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Press.
Sillars, A. L. (1980). The stranger and the spouse as target persons for compliancegaining strategies: A subjective expected utility model. Human Communication Research, 6,265279.
Sillars, A. L. (1974). Expression and control in human interaction: Perspective on humanistic psychology. Western Speech, 18, 269277.
Chapters
Sillars, A. (in press). VTCS: Verbal Tactics Coding Scheme. In E. Brauner, M. Boos, & M. Kolbe (Eds.), Cambridge handbook of group interaction analysis.New York: Cambridge University Press.
Sillars, A. & Vangelisti, A. L. (in press). Communication: Basic properties and their relevance to relationship research. In A.L. Vangelisti & D. Perlman (Eds.),The Cambridge handbook of personal relationships (2nd Ed.). New York: Cambridge University Press.
Sillars, A., & Overall, N. C. (2016). Coding observed interaction (pp. 199-216). In C. A. VanLear & D. J. Canary (Eds.), Researching communication interaction behavior: A sourcebook of methods and measures. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Sillars, A., & McLaren, R. M. (2015). Understanding and conflict. In C. R. Berger & M. E. Roloff (Eds.), International encyclopedia of interpersonal communication. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell.DOI: 10.1002/9781118540190
Sillars, A., & McLaren, R. M. (2015). Attribution in conflict. In C. R. Berger & M. E. Roloff (Eds.), International encyclopedia of interpersonal communication. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell.DOI: 10.1002/9781118540190
Sillars, A., & Canary, D. J. (2013). Conflict and relational quality in families. In A. L. Vangelisti (Ed.), Routledge handbook of family communication (2nd ed.) (pp. 338-357). New York: Routledge.
Canary, D. J., Lakey, S. G., & Sillars, A. L. (2013). Managing conflict in a competent manner: A mindful look at events that matter. In J. Oetzel and S. Ting-Toomey (Eds.), The Sage handbook of communication and conflict (2nd ed.) (pp. 263-289). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Sillars, A. (2011). Motivated misunderstanding in family conflict discussions. In J. L. Smith, W., Ickes, J. Hall, & S. Hodges (Eds.), Managing interpersonal sensitivity: Knowing when—and when not—to understand others (pp. 193-213). Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers.
Sillars, A., & Vangelisti, A. L. (2009). Communication processes, verbal. In H. Reiss & S. Sprecher (Eds.), Encyclopedia of human relationships (pp. 267-272). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Sillars, A. L. (2009). Interpersonal conflict. In C. Berger, M. Roloff, & D. R. Roskos-Ewoldsen (Eds.). Handbook of communication science (2nd ed.)(pp. 273-289). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Sillars, A. & Vangelisti, A. L. (2006). Communication: Basic properties and their relevance to relationship research. In A.L. Vangelisti & D. Perlman (Eds.),The Cambridge handbook of personal relationships (pp. 331-351). New York: Cambridge University Press.
Sillars, A., Canary, D. J., & Tafoya, M. (2004). Communication, conflict, and the quality of family relationships. In A. L. Vangelisti (Ed.), Handbook of family communication (pp. 413-446). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
Sillars, A., Leonard, K. E., Roberts, L. J., & Dun, T. (2002). Cognition and communication during marital conflict: How alcohol affects subjective coding of interaction in aggressive and nonaggressive couples. In P. Noller and J. A. Feeney (Eds.), Understanding marriage: Developments in the study of couple interaction (pp. 85-112). Cambridge University Press.
Sillars, A. Roberts, L., Dun, T., & Leonard, K. (2001). Stepping into the stream of thought: Cognition during marital conflict. In V. Manusov & J. H. Harvey (Eds.), Attribution, communication behavior, and close relationships (pp. 193-210). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Sillars, A. L. (1998). (Mis)understanding. In B. H. Spitzberg & W. R. Cupach (Eds.), The dark side of relationships (pp. 73-102). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Sillars, A. L. (1995). Communication and family culture. In M. A. Fitzpatrick & A. L. Vangelisti (Eds.), Perspectives on family communication (pp. 375-399). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Sillars, A. L. & Wilmot, W. W. (1994). Communication strategies in conflict and mediation. In J. Wiemann & J. A. Daly (Eds.), Strategic interpersonal communication (pp.163-190). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Sillars, A. L. & Zietlow, P. H. (1993). Investigations of marital communication and life span development. In N. Coupland & J. Nussbaum (Eds.), Discourse and lifespan development (pp.237-261). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Canary, D. J. & Sillars, A. L. (1992). Arguments between satisfied versus dissatisfied married couples. In W.Benoit, D. Hample & P. Benoit (Eds.). Readings in argumentation. Mouton de Gruyter.
Sillars, A. L. (1991). Behavioral observation. In B. M. Montgomery & S. Duck (Eds.), Studying interpersonal interaction. New York: The Guilford Press.
Sillars, A. L. & Wilmot, W. W. (1989). Marital communication across the life span. In J. F. Nussbaum (Ed.), Lifespan communication: Normative issues (pp. 225253). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Wilmot, W. W. & Sillars, A. L. (1989). Developmental issues in personal relationships. In J. F. Nussbaum (Ed.), Lifespan communication: Normative issues (pp. 119135). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Sillars, A. L. & Kalbfleisch, P. (1989). Implicit and explicit decision making styles in couples. In D. Brinberg & J. Jaccard (Eds.), Dyadic decision making (pp.179215). New York: SpringerVerlag.
Sillars, A. L. (1989). Communication, uncertainty and understanding in marriage. In B. Dervin, L. Grossberg, B. O'Keefe & E. Wartella (Eds.), Rethinking communication: Vol. 2. Paradigm exemplars. (pp. 307328). Newbury Park,CA: Sage.
Sillars, A. L. & Weisberg, J. (1987). Conflict as a social skill. In M. E. Roloff & G. R. Miller (Eds.). Interpersonal processes: New directions in communication research (pp.140171). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Sillars, A. L. (1985). Interpersonal perception in relationships. In W. J. Ickes (Ed.), Compatible and incompatible relationships (pp.277305). New York: SpringerVerlag.
Sillars, A. L. (1982). Attribution and communication: Are people "naive scientists" or just naive? In M. E. Roloff & C. R. Berger (Eds.), Social cognition and communication (pp.73106). Beverly Hills: Sage.
Sillars, A. L. (1981). Attributions and interpersonal conflict resolution. In J. H. Harvey, W. J. Ickes & R. F. Kidd (Eds.), New directions in attribution research, Volume 3(pp.279305). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Folger, J. P. & Sillars, A. L. (1980). Relational coding andperceptions of dominance. In B. W. Morse & L. A. Phelps (Eds.), Interpersonal communication: A relational perspective (322333). New York: Burgess.
Published Lectures and Conference Proceedings
Sillars, A. L. (2002). For better or for worse: Re-thinking the role of “misperception” and communication in close relationships and families. 17th annual B. Aubrey Fisher Memorial Lecture, University of Utah.
Canary, D. J., Brossmann, B. G., Sillars, A. L. & LoVette, S. (1987). Married couples' argument structures and sequences:A comparison of satisfied and dissatisfied dyads. In J. W. Wenzel, M. O. Sillars, & G. B. Walker (Eds.), Argumentation and critical practices: Proceedings of the Fifth Summer Conference on Argumentation. Annandale, VA:Speech Communication Association Publications.
Sillars, A. L. (1985). The semantics of family relationships. In K. Galvin (Ed.), Proceedings of the Northwestern Symposium on Family Communication. Annandale, VA: Speech Communication Association Publications.
Sillars, A. L. & Pike, G. R. (1983). Reciprocity of communication and the "social skills" approach to marriage. In D. Zarefsky, M. O. Sillars & J. Rhodes (Eds.), Proceedings of the Third Summer Conference on Argumentation. Annandale, VA: Speech Communication Association Publications.
Sillars, A. L. (1974). William Kunstler and the rhetoric of racial guilt. In E. C. Mannis (Ed.), Conference in Rhetorical Criticism, California State University, Hayward.
Book Reviews
Sillars, A. L. (1997). Review of Relating: Dialogues & dialectics, by L. A. Baxter & B. M. Montgomery. Journal of Communication, 199-201.
Sillars, A. L. (1990). Review of Perspectives on marital interaction, by P. Noller & M. A. Fitzpatrick (Eds.). Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 7, 285287.
Sillars, A. L. (1984). Review of Language and social knowledge: Uncertainty in interpersonal relations, by C. R. Berger & J.J. Bradac. Quarterly Journal of Speech, 70, 332325.
Coding Manuals
Sillars, A., & Smith, T. (2014). Interaction cognition coding scheme: Parent-adolescent version. Unpublished manuscript, University of Montana.
Sillars, A., Dun, T., & Roberts, L. J. (1999). Interaction cognition coding scheme. Unpublished manuscript, University of Montana.
Sillars, A. L. (1986). Procedures for coding interpersonal conflict:The Verbal Tactics Coding Scheme (VTCS). Unpublished manuscript, University of Montana.
Papers
Presentation of research papers with various coauthors at the following conventions, symposiums and seminars:
Alta Summer Conference on Argumentation, Salt Lake City, 1983, 1987.
Fresno Conference on Communication (for student papers), 1974.
Hayward Conference on Rhetorical Criticism (for studentpapers), 1974.
International Communication Association convention, San Francisco, 1976; Chicago, 1978; Philadelphia, 1979;Acapulco, Mexico, 1980; Boston, 1982; Dallas, 1983; Phoenix, 2012; Seattle, 2014.
International Network on Personal Relationships, Williamsburg,Virginia, 1995, Louisville, Kentucky, 1999.
International Society for the Study of Personal Relationships,Banff, Canada, 1996, Sarasota Springs, New York, 1998.
Nags Head Conference on Close Relationships, HighlandBeach, Florida.
Northwestern Symposium on Family Communication, Evanston,1984.
Northwestern Symposium on Social Cognition andCommunication, Evanston, 1981.
Ohio Speech Communication Association convention, Columbus, 1982.
National Communication Association convention, Washington,D. C., 1977; San Antonio, 1979; Anaheim, 1981; Washington D. C., 1983; Chicago, 1984; Denver, 1985; Chicago, 1986; San Francisco, 1989; Chicago, 1992; Seattle, 2000; Chicago, , 2005; San Antonio, 2006; Chicago, 2007; San Diego, 2008, San Francisco, 2010, Washington, D. C., 2013, Las Vegas, 2015, Philadelphi, 2016, Dallas, 2017.
Western Speech Communication Association convention, SaltLake City, 1987.
Academic Honors
Mark L. Knapp Award in Interpersonal Communication, 2015. Awarded by the Interpersonal Communication Division of the National Communication Association for career contributions to the study of interpersonal communication.
Bernard J. Brommel Award for Outstanding Scholarship or Distinguished Service in Family Communication, 2013. Awarded by the Family Communication Division of the National Communication Association.
Franklin H. Knower Award, 2005. The award is given annually by the Interpersonal Communication Division of the National Communication Association for the outstanding article published on interpersonal communication. Awarded for: Sillars, A., Roberts, L.J., Leonard, K. E. & Dun, T., (2000). Cognition during marital conflict: The relationship of thought and talk. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 17, 479-502.
Franklin H. Knower Award, 1999. Awarded by the Interpersonal Communication Division of the National Communication Association for: Sillars, A. L. (1998). (Mis)understanding. In B. H. Spitzberg & W. R. Cupach (Eds.), The dark side of relationships (pp. 73-102). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Nominated by the faculty of Communication Studies for theUniversity of Montana Academic Administrator Award, 2000.
Top Paper Award, Interpersonal Communication Division, National Communication Association, San Francisco, 2010.
Top Four Paper, Commission on Family Communication, SpeechCommunication Association convention, Chicago, 1992.
Top Four Paper, Interpersonal and Small Group InteractionDivision, Speech Communication Association convention,San Francisco, 1989.
Top Rated Paper, Interpersonal Communication Division, WesternSpeech Communication Association convention, Salt Lake City, Utah, February, 1987.
Top Three Paper, Interpersonal and Small Group InteractionDivision, Speech Communication Association convention,Chicago, 1986.
Top Four Paper, Interpersonal and Small Group InteractionDivision, Speech Communication Association convention,Denver, 1985.
Top Three Paper, Interpersonal and Small Group InteractionDivision, Speech Communication Association convention,Washington, D.C., 1983.
Top Five Paper, Interpersonal Communication Division,International Communication Association convention, Dallas,1983.
Top Rated Paper, Communication and Rhetorical Theory Division,Speech Communication Association convention, 1981.
Top Three Paper, Interpersonal Communication Division,International Communication Association convention,Acapulco, Mexico, 1980.
Top Student Paper, Interpersonal and Small Group InteractionDivision, Speech Communication Association convention, San Antonio, 1979.
Frankenberger Graduate Research Award, Department ofCommunication Arts, University of Wisconsin, 1976, 1977.
Outstanding Academic Achievement Citation, awarded by the facultyof the Speech Communication Department, California StateUniversity, Humboldt, 1974.
Top Paper Award, California State University, Hayward Conferencein Rhetorical Criticism (for student papers), 1974.
Top Paper Award, California State University, Fresno Conference in Communication (for student papers), 1974.
Grants
Teaching Grant, Excellent Foreign Scholars Program, Fudan University, Democratic People’s Republic of China
Sabbatical, University of Montana, 1995-1996, 2003-2004, 2012-2013.
“Interpersonal perception in parent-adolescent relationships.University of Montana Small Research Grant, 1995.
Faculty Development Grant, University of Montana, 1992.
"Marital communication and conflict in young, middleagedand elderly couples." University of Montana Small ResearchGrant, 1987.
"Communicative accuracy in married couples." Ohio StateUniversity Graduate School, 19821984.
Conflict Mediation Training
“The mediation process,” (40 hour training seminar), CDRAssociates, Boulder Colorado, 1992
“Divorce mediation theory and practice,” University of WisconsinMadison/Extension, Sept. 26-27, Oct. 9-10, 1995
Professional Service and Experience
Editor-in-Chief, Communication Monographs (2004-2007)
Editorial Boards:
Central States Speech Journal (19821985)
Communication Monographs (19891992; 2015-present)
Communication Education (19841986)
Communication Reports (2014-present)
Communication Research (1988 and 1996 specialissues; 2010-present)
Communication Theory (2002-2005)
Human Communication Research (19821984)
International and InterculturalCommunication Annual(Vol. 15, 19881989)
Journal of Applied Communication Research (special issue, 2010)
Journal of Family Communication (special issue, 2013,2014-2017)
Personal Relationships (1999-2002)
Western Journal of Communication(19871990, 1999-2002, 2014-present)
Guest reviewer for the following journals:
Child Development
Communication Monographs
Communication Quarterly
Communication Reports
Communication Research
Communication Studies
Communication Theory
Human Communication Research
Journal of Adolescence
Journal of Applied Communication Research
Journal of Broadcasting
Journal of Family Communication
Journal of Family Issues
Journal of Family Theory and Review
Journal of International and Intercultural Communication
Journal of Language and Social Psychology
Journal of Nonverbal Behavior
Journal of Social and Personal Relationships
Journal of Personality
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology
Management Communication Quarterly
Personal Relationships
Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
Progress in Communication Sciences
Quarterly Journal of Speech
Review of Communication
Review of Personality and Social Psychology
Social Science and Medicine
Southern Communication Journal
Southern Speech Communication Journal
Western Journal of Communication
Western Journal of Speech Communication
Editorial Consultant for the following publishers:
Academic Press (1992)
Erlbaum (1990)
Gorsuch Scarisbrick (1992, 1993)
Lawrence Erlbaum (19891990)
Harper and Row (1982)
St. Martin's Press (1989, 1991, 1992)
W. C. Brown (1984, 1986)
Wadsworth (1982, 1985, 1986)
Waveland Press (1984)
Paper referee for the following conventions:
Central States Speech Association convention, Chicago, 1984
International Association for Conflict Management,Communication and Conflict Track, 1989
International Communication Association convention, Interpersonal Communication Division, 1985
National Communication Association convention, Interpersonal Communication Division, 1981, 1985, 2014, 2017
Speech Communication Association convention, Student Papers Division, Chicago, 1984
Speech Communication Association convention, Communicationand Rhetorical Theory Division, 1982
Western Speech Communication Association convention, Interpersonal Communication Division, 1987
Western States Communication Association convention, Interpersonal Communication Division, 2010
Panel critic/respondent at the following conventions:
International Communication Association convention, Interpersonal Communication Division, San Francisco, 1984.
National Communication Association convention, FamilyCommunication Division, Seattle, 2000.
National Communication Association convention, poster sessions, San Antonio, 2006.
National Communication Association convention, San Diego, 2008.
National Communication Association convention, Philadelphia, 2016.
National Communication Association convention, Dallas, 2017.
Northwest Communication Association convention, Coeur d’Alene, 2002.
Ohio Speech Communication Association convention, Columbus,
1985.
Speech Communication Association convention, FamilyCommunication Division, San Antonio, 1995.
Speech Communication Association convention,Commissionon Family Communication, Chicago, 1992.
Speech Communication Association convention,Interpersonal and Small Group Interaction Division,Chicago, 1990.
Speech Communication Association convention, Interpersonaland Small Group Interaction Division, New Orleans, 1988.
Speech Communication Association convention, Interpersonal
and Small Group Interaction Division, Chicago, 1984.
Speech Communication Association convention, Interpersonaland Small Group Interaction division, Anaheim, 1981.
Temple University Conference on Conflict Intervention: Perspectives on process, 1987.