| This advanced text carefully examines state-of-the-art research and theories of family communication and family relationships. In addition to presenting cutting-edge research, authors Chris Segrin and Jeanne Flora focus on classic theories and research findings that have influenced and revolutionized the way scholars conceptualize family interaction. Showing that answers to many questions about family communication can be found in current scientific research, the book introduces readers to fundamental issues in the study of family communication; explores what is known about communication in different types of families and family relationships; and examines problematic issues in family communication.
Family Communication offers a thorough and up-to-date presentation of scientific research in family communication for students and teachers of family communication, as well as professionals who work with families. Undergraduate readers will find the text to be accessible, engaging and easy to understand while graduate students and professionals will utilize the work as a comprehensive reference to classic and contemporary research on family communication and relationships.
Family Communication carefully examines state-of-the-art research and theories of family communication and family relationships. In addition to presenting cutting-edge research, we focus as well on classic theories and research findings that have influenced and revolutionized the way scholars conceptualize family interaction. This book was written to fulfill the need for a text that presented a thorough and up-to-date presentation of scientific research in family communication for teachers and students of family communication as well as for professionals who work with families. Toward that end, we critically selected and evaluated research and translated that knowledge into a language that is understandable to abroad range of readers. Undergraduate readers should find the information easy to understand, whereas advanced readers, such as graduate students and professionals, will also find it a useful reference to classic and contemporary research on family communication and relationships.
The study of family communication has a long tradition. Some of the most influential works in the field were conducted around the time of World War II and are still influencing the way scholars think about families today. The past 15 years have witnessed more exciting new developments in the field of family communication that are fundamentally reshaping the way people think about functional and dysfunctional family interaction. New developments are providing badly needed information about current family problems. With recent attention and increased focus on problems such as divorce, child abuse, domestic violence, and mental health problems, scholars, therapists, members of the clergy, and students of communication have begun to realize that these problems are in fact communication problems. By better understanding the forms, functions, and processes of family communication, people hope to be able to comprehend how and why these problems exist, and perhaps begin to take steps toward preventing them in the future. In addition to concerns about family problems, people also hope to understand issues such as what makes for a happy marriage, what parenting techniques are associated with positive child outcomes, and how to maintain meaningful relationships with family members over the entire life span. These too are fundamentally communication issues. |