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COMM 504 Interpersonal Communication Spring 2008
9-11:50 am Thursdays
Instructor: Margaret McLaughlin
Office: 309 D ASC
Telephone: 213-740-3938
Office Hours: by appointment; call home phone or email any time
Textbook: The Cambridge Handbook of Personal Relationships
Anita L. Vangelisti and Daniel Perlman, Eds.
Course Description: Study of theories of communication in interpersonal relationships, including interpersonal attraction in friendships and romantic relationships, uncertainty reduction, person perception, social support, nonverbal communication and interpersonal conflict. Interpersonal communication in contexts such as computer-mediated interaction and intergenerational communication. Special topics according to students’ current interests.
Assignments: Data-based term paper on topic from readings; responsibility for discussion leadership/preparation of abstracts of weekly readings two-three times during semester.
Term Paper Timetable
Discussion and hypotheses section TBD
Methods section due TBD
IRB application due TBD
Results Section due TBD
Final Paper due TBD
Weekly Readings
January 17
Chapters 1, 2, 3 Cambridge Handbook (do not need to read before class)
January 24 Goals and Knowledge Structures in Social Interaction
Cambridge Handbook, Chapter 19, Social Cognition in Intimate Relationships
Holmes, J. G. (2000). Social Relationships: The Nature and Function of Relational Schemas. European Journal of Social Psychology, 30(4), 447-495
January 31 Personality and Interpersonal Communication
Cambridge Handbook, Chapter 13, Personality and Relationships: A Temperament Perspective
Zayas, V., Shoda, Y., & Ayduk, O. N. (2002). Personality in Context: An Interpersonal Systems Perspective. Journal of Personality, 70(6), 851-900.
Jensen-Campbell, L. A., Gleason, K. A., Adams, R. et al. (2003). Interpersonal Conflict, Agreeableness, and Personality Development. Journal of Personality, 71(6), 1059-1086.
February 7 Language and Interpersonal Communication
Cambridge Handbook, Chapter 18, Communication: Basic Properties and Their Relevance to Relationship Research
Cambridge Handbook, Chapter 22, Self-Disclosure in Personal Relationships
Cambridge Handbook, Chapter 23, Close Relationships and Social Support: Implications for the Measurement of Social Support
Palomares, N. A. (2004). Gender Schematicity, Gender Identity Salience, and Gender-linked Language Use. Human Communication Research, 30(4), 556-588.
Alberts, J. K, Yoshimura, C. G., Rabby, M., & Loschiavo, R. (2005). Mapping the Topography of Couples’ Daily Conversation. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 22, 299-322.
February 14 Online Social Networks
Cambridge Handbook, Chapter 35, Social Networks and Personal Communities
Stuzman, F., An Evaluation of Identity-Sharing Behavior in Social Network Communities
boyd, d.(2004). Friendster and Publicly Articulated Social Networking. Conference on Human Factors and Computing Systems.
Backstrom, L., Huttenlocher, D., Kleinberg, J. & Lan, X. (2006). Group formation in large social networks: membership, growth and evolution. Paper presented at KDD ’06 August 2006
Ellison, Nicole, Charles Steinfield, and Cliff Lampe. 2006. "Spatially Bounded Online Social Networks and Social Capital: The Role of Facebook." Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Communication Association, Dresden, June 19-23.
Golder, Scott, Dennis Wilkinson, and Bernardo Huberman. Rhythms of Social Interaction: Messaging within a Massive Online Network.
February 21 Emotional Communication
Cambridge Handbook, Chapter 20, Emotion in Theories of Close Relationships
Feeney, J. A. (2004). Hurt Feelings in Couple Relationships: Towards Integrative Models of the Negative Effects of Hurtful Events. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 21, 487-508.
Richards, J. M., Butler, E., & Gross, J. J. (2003). Emotion Regulation in Romantic Relationships: The Cognitive Consequences of Concealing Feelings.
Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 20, 599-620.
Austin, E. J. (2005). Emotional Intelligence and Emotional Information Processing. Personality and Individual Differences, 39(2), 403-414.
Brackett, M. A., Mayer, J. D., & Warner, R. M. (2004). Emotional Intelligence and Its Relation to Everyday Behaviour. Personality and Individual Differences, 36(6), 1387-1402
February 28 Social Identity Theory
Haslam, S. A., Ryan, M. K., Postmes, T., Spears, R., Jetten, J., & Webley, P. (2006). Categorizing at the group-level in response to intragroup social comparisons: a self-categorization theory integration of self-evaluation and social identity motives. European Journal of Social Psychology, 36, 297-314
Tanis, M., * Postmes, T. (2005).A social identity approach to trust: interpersonal perception, group membership and trusting behaviour. European Journal of Social Psychology,35, 413-424
Onorato, R. S., & Turner, J. C. (2004).Fluidity in the self-concept: the shift from personal to social identity. European Journal of Social Psychology, 34. 257-278.
Rown, R. (2000). Social identity theory: past achievements, current problems and future challenges. European Journal of Social Psychology, 3-, 745-778.
Yuie, M. (2003).Intergroup comparison versus intragroup relationships: A cross-cultural examination of social identity theory in North American and East Asian cultural contexts
Social Psychology Quarterly. Special Issue: Social identity: Sociological and social psychological perspectives, 66(2), 166-183.
March 6 Dating and Mate Selection
Cambridge Handbook, Chapter 7, From Courtship to Universal Properties: Research on Dating and Mate Selection, 1950-2003
Morr, M. C., & Mongeau, P. A. (2004). First-Date Expectations: The Impact of Sex of Initiator, Alcohol Consumption, and Relationship Type. Communication Research, 31(1), 3-35.
Coupland, J. (2000). Past the 'Perfect Kind of Age'? Styling Selves and Relationships in Over-50s Dating Advertisements. Journal of Communication, 50, 9-30.
Henderson, V. R., Hennessy, M., Barrett, D. W., et al. (2005). When Risky is Attractive: Sensation Seeking and Romantic Partner Selection.
Personality and Individual Differences, 38(2), 311-325.
Sprecher, S., & Regan, P. C. (2002). Liking Some Things (in Some People) More than Others: Partner Preferences in Romantic Relationships and Friendships
Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 19, 463-481.
Knobloch, L. (2006). Relational Uncertainty and Message Production Within Courtship: Features of Date Request Messages. Human Communication Research, 32. 244-273.
March 13 Interpersonal Attraction and Romance
Cambridge Handbook, Chapter 32, Romantic Love
Morry, M. (2005). Relationship Satisfaction as a Predictor of Similarity Ratings: A Test of the Attraction-similarity Hypothesis. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 22(4), 561-584.
Geher, G., Bloodworth, R., Mason, J., Stoaks, C., et al. (2005). Motivational Underpinnings of Romantic Partner Perceptions: Psychological and Physiological Evidence. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 22, 255-281.
Aloni, M., & Bernieri, F. J.(2004). Is Love Blind? The Effects of Experience and Infatuation on the Perception of Love.Journal of Nonverbal Behavior,
28(4), 287-296.
Yum, Y. (2004). Culture and Self-construal as Predictors of Responses to Accommodative Dilemmas in Dating Relationships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 21, 817-835.
March 20 No Class Spring Break
March 27 Interpersonal Attraction and Romance, cont’d
Cambridge Handbook, Chapter 31, Relationship Satisfaction
Cambridge Handbook, Chapter 34, Intimacy in Personal Relationships
Aleman, M. W. (2005). Embracing and Resisting Romantic Fantasies as the Rhetorical Vision on a SeniorNet Discussion Board. Journal of Communication, 55(1), 5-21.
Knoblock, L. K., & Carpenter-Theune, K. e. (2004). Topic Avoidance in Developing Romantic Relationships: Associations with Intimacy and Relational Uncertainty. Communication Research, 31(2), 173-205.
O’Farrell, K. J., Rosenthal, E. N., & O’Neal, E. C. (2003). Relationship Satisfaction and Responsiveness to Nonmates’ Flirtation: Testing an Evolutionary Explanation. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 20, 663-674.
Holmberg, D., & MacKenzie, S. (2002). So Far, So Good: Scripts for Romantic Relationship Development as Predictors of Relational Well-being. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships,19, 777-796.
April 3 Interpersonal Conflict and Relationship Threats
Cambridge Handbook, Chapter 24, Understanding Couple Conflict
Cambridge Handbook, Chapter 29, Temptations and Threat: Extradyadic Relationships and Jealousy
Solomon, D. H., & Knobloch, L. (2004). A Model of Relational Turbulence: The Role of Intimacy, Relational Uncertainty, and Interference from Partners in appraisals of Irritations. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 21, 795-816.
Weger, Jr., H. (2005). Disconfirming Communication and Self-verification in Marriage: Associations among the Demand/withdraw Interaction Pattern, Feeling Understood, and Marital Satisfaction. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 22, 19-31.
Kowalski, R. M., Walker, S., Wilkinson, R. et al. (2003). Lying, Cheating, Complaining, and Other Aversive Interpersonal Behaviors: A Narrative Examination of the Darker Side of Relationships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 20, 471-490.
Malis, R. S., & Roloff, M. E. (2006). Demand/Withdraw Patterns in Serial Arguments: Implications for Well-Being. Human Communication Research, 32, 2, 198-216.
April 10 The Mass Media/Interpersonal Communication Relationship
Bennett, W. L, and Mannheim, J. (2006) The One-Step Flow of Communication. ANNALS, AAPSS, 608, 213-232.
Fingerson, L. (1999). Active Viewing: Girls’ Interpretation of Family Television Programs. Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, 28 (4), 389-418.
McLeod, J., Scheufele, D., & Moy, P. (1999). Community, Communication, and Participation: The Role of Mass Media and Interpersonal Discussion in Local Political Participation. Political Communication, 16, 315–336.
Pasquier, D., Buzzi, C., d’Haenens, L., & Sjöberg, U. Family Lifestyles and Media Use Patterns: An Analysis of Domestic Media among Flemish, French, Italian, and Swedish Children and Teenagers. European Journal of Communication, 1998, 13(4), 503-519.
Casas, F., Alsinet, C., Perez Tornero, J.M., Figuer, C., Gonzalez, M., & Pascual, S. (2001). Information Technologies and Communication between Parents and Children.
Livingstone, S. (2006), The Influence of Personal Influence on the Study of Audiences. ANNALS, AAPSS, 608, 233-250.
April 17 Family and Intergenerational Communication
Caughlin, J. P. (2003). Family Communication Standards: What Counts as Excellent Family Communication and How are Such Standards Associated with Family Satisfaction? Human Communication Research, 29(1), 5-40.
Smith, B. W., & Zautra, A. J. (2001). Interpersonal Sensitivity and Reactivity to Spousal Conflict in Healthy Older Women.Personality and Individual Differences, 31(6), 915-923.
Golish, T. D. (2003). Stepfamily Communication Strengths: Understanding the Ties that Bind. Human Communication Research, 29(1), 41-80.
Hsiung, R. O., & Bagozzi, R. P. (2003). Validating the Relationship Qualities of Influence and Persuasion with the Family Social Relations Model. Human Communication Research, 29(1), 81-110.
Hajek, C., & Giles, H. (2002). The Old Man Out: An Intergroup Analysis of Intergenerational Communication among Gay Men. Journal of Communication, 52(4), 698-714.
Anderson, K., Harwood, J., & Hummert, M. L. (2005). The Grandparent-grandchild Relationship: Implications for Models of Intergenerational Communication. Human Communication Research, 31(2), 268-294.
April 24 Friendship
Cambridge Handbook, Chapter 10, Relationships in Early and Middle Childhood
Cambridge Handbook, Chapter 11, Personal Relationships in Adolescence and Early Adulthood
Weisz, C., & Wood, L. F. (2005). Social Identity Support and Friendship Outcomes: A Longitudinal Study Predicting Who Will be Friends and Best friends 4 Years Later. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 22, 416-432.
Sanderson, C. A., Rahm, K. B., & Beigbeder, S. A. (2005). The Link between the Pursuit of Intimacy Goals and Satisfaction in Close Same-sex Friendships: An Examination of the Underlying Processes. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 22, 75-98.
Mendelson, M. J., & Kay, A. C. (2003). Positive Feelings in Friendship: Does Imbalance in the Relationship Matter?Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 2003, 20, 101-116.
Sias, P. M., Heath, R. G., Perry, T., et al. (2004). Narratives of Workplace Friendship Deterioration. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 2004, 21, 321-340.
May 1 Computer-Mediated Interpersonal Communication
Cambridge Handbook, Chapter 38, Personal Relationships: On and Off the Internet
Chan, D. K., & Cheng, G. (2004). A Comparison of Offline and Online Friendship Qualities at Different Stages of Relationship Development. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 21, 305-320.
Tanis, M. & T. Postmes. (2003). Social Cues and Impression Formation in CMC. Journal of Communication, 53(4), 676-693.
Dutta-Bergman, M. (2004). Interpersonal Communication after 9/11 via Telephone and Internet: A Theory of Channel Complementarity. New Media & Society, 6(5), 659-673.
Lamerichs, J., & te Molder, H. (2003) Computer-mediated Communication: From a Cognitive to a Discursive Model. New Media & Society, 5(4), 451-474.
Axelsson, A., Abelin, A., & Schroeder, R. (2003). Anyone speak Spanish? Language Encounters in Multi-user Virtual Environments and the Influence of Technology. New Media & Society, 5(4), 475-498.
O’Sullivan, P. B., & Flanagin, A. J. (2003). Reconceptualizing ‘Flaming’ and other Problematic Messages. New Media & Society, 5(1), 69-94.
Bregman, A., & Haythornthwaite, C. (2003). Radicals of Presentation: Visibility, Relation, and Co-presence in Persistent Conversation. New Media & Society, 5(1), 117-140.
Henderson, S., & Gilding, M. (2004). ‘I’ve Never Clcked this Much with Anyone in My Life’: Trust and Hyperpersonal Communication in Online Friendships. New Media & Society, 6(4), 487-506.
Bryant, J. A., Sanders-Jackson, A., & Smallwood, A. M. K. (2006). IMing, text messaging, and adolescent social networks. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 11(2), article 10.