An innovative, student-friendly textbook covering the major elements of the field of Family Communication Family Communication, a rapidly growing sub-discipline within Communication Studies, explores the processes and factors involved in family interactions and relationships. Communication in Family Contexts is a clear and accessible survey of the essential principles, theories, and concepts of the field. Unlike textbooks that present a vast amount of material across only a few chapters this innovative textbook features brief, easily-understood chapters ideally-suited for undergraduate courses on the subject. The text provides concise yet comprehensive coverage of a diverse range of topics, from fundamental aspects of caretaking and sibling communication, to topics not covered in other textbooks such as estrangement and marginalization. 33 chapters cover theories of family communication, family communication processes, and communicating in family relationships. The authors, noted researchers and educators in the field, complement discussions of standard topics with those of growing contemporary interest, such as LGBTQ family communication, step-family and half-sibling relationships, and the influence of technology on family. This textbook: Provides a well-rounded examination of the major elements of Family Communication studies Explains the foundational theories of the field, including Family Communication Patterns Theory and Relational Dialectics Theory Features numerous practical application exercises to enable students apply theory to practice Includes a complete set pedagogical features, such as case studies, visualizations and models of theories, illustrations, and discussion questions Offers a flexible organizational structure that allows instructors to pick and choose chapters to meet the needs of their courses Communication in Family Contexts: Theories and Processes is an important resource for instructors and students in the field of family communication, the wider discipline of Communication Studies, and related areas such as social psychology and sociology.

An innovative, student-friendly textbook covering the major elements of the field of Family CommunicationFamily Communication, a rapidly growing sub-discipline within Communication Studies, explores the processes and factors involved in family interactions and relationships. Communication in Family Contexts is a clear and accessible survey of the essential principles, theories, and concepts of the field. Unlike textbooks that present a vast amount of material across only a few chapters--this innovative textbook features brief, easily-understood chapters ideally-suited for undergraduate courses on the subject.The text provides concise yet comprehensive coverage of a diverse range of topics, from fundamental aspects of caretaking and sibling communication, to topics not covered in other textbooks such as estrangement and marginalization. 33 chapters cover theories of family communication, family communication processes, and communicating in family relationships. The authors, noted researchers and educators in the field, complement discussions of standard topics with those of growing contemporary interest, such as LGBTQ family communication, step-family and half-sibling relationships, and the influence of technology on family. This textbook:* Provides a well-rounded examination of the major elements of Family Communication studies* Explains the foundational theories of the field, including Family Communication Patterns Theory and Relational Dialectics Theory* Features numerous practical application exercises to enable students apply theory to practice* Includes a complete set pedagogical features, such as case studies, visualizations and models of theories, illustrations, and discussion questions* Offers a flexible organizational structure that allows instructors to pick and choose chapters to meet the needs of their coursesCommunication in Family Contexts: Theories and Processes is an important resource for instructors and students in the field of family communication, the wider discipline of Communication Studies, and related areas such as social psychology and sociology.

Preface xiMeet the Authors xvMeet the Case Study Contributors xviiAcknowledgments xxiAbout the Companion Website xxiiiChapter 1: An Introduction to Communication in Family Contexts 1Chapter 2: Research Paradigms and Methods that Inform Family Communication Research 7Part I: Theories of Family Communication 17Chapter 3: Affection Exchange Theory 19Chapter 4: Communication Privacy Management Theory 27Chapter 5: Family Communication Patterns Theory 35Chapter 6: Family Systems Theory 43Chapter 7: Narrative Theories 49Chapter 8: Social Cognitive Theory 57Chapter 9: Relational Dialectics Theory 63Part II: Family Communication Processes 75Foundational Processes 77Chapter 10: Caregiving in Families 79Chapter 11: Conflict and Forgiveness 87Chapter 12: Coping and Resilience in Families 101Chapter 13: Difficult Family Conversations 109Chapter 14: Discourse Dependence 119Chapter 15: Family Distancing 127Chapter 16: Information Management and Disclosure in Families 137Chapter 17: Supportive Communication in Families 145Chapter 18: Uncertainty Management 157Major Family Transitions 165Chapter 19: Cohabitation and Marriage 167Chapter 20: Delaying, Forgoing, and Transitioning to Parenthood 175Chapter 21: Divorce and Dissolution 185Chapter 22: Remarriage and Stepfamily Formation 193Part III: Communicating in Family Relationships 201Family and Relationship Types 203Chapter 23: Communication and Adoptive Families 205Chapter 24: In-Law Relationships 215Chapter 25: Intergenerational Relationships 223Chapter 26: LGBTQ Families 235Chapter 27: Parent-Child Relationships 241Chapter 28: Partner Relationships 253Chapter 29: Sibling Relationships 263Chapter 30: Voluntary Kin Families 271Family Communication in Context 275Chapter 31: Family Communication in Health Contexts 277Chapter 32: Family Communication in Organizational Contexts 287Chapter 33: Family Communication in Technological Contexts 299Author Index 311Subject Index 315