Family Communication Cohesion and Change

"Family Communication: Cohesion and Change," 7/e Kathleen M. Galvin, "Northwestern University" Carma L. Bylund, "Memorial"" Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center" Bernard J. Brommel, "Northeastern Illinois University"" " "Family Communication: Cohesion and Change" examines the communication processes within families and how they affect and are affected by larger social systems. By viewing the family as a communication system with identifiable patterns, the authors encourage students to observe family interaction patterns analytically and relate communication theories to family interaction. Using a framework of family functions, first-person narratives, and current research, "Family Communication: Cohesion and Change" emphasizes the diversity of today's families in terms of structure, ethnic patterns, and developmental experiences. Features: Includes research on sibling relations, divorce, remarriage, and family violence. Features discussions of the most common issues and current trends in the field including religion, economics, jealousy, abuse, family well-being, and multigenerational families. Emphasizes the enormous diversity of families today in terms of both structure and cultural heritage. Explains theoretical structures clearly -- including systems theory, dialectical theory, and symbolic interaction. Develops in detail the concept of family narratives and family rituals as creators of meaning in family communication, a concept to which all students can relate. Offers a unique emphasis on power and decision making through a decision-making model and coverage of abusive conflict patterns. New to This Edition: Introduces the concept of discourse-dependent families, so students gain an understanding of how family identity is increasingly constructed through language. Includes a new section on communication and family well-being to help students appreciate the profound effects of family interactions on physical and mental health. Reduces the emphasis on general interpersonal communication so students spend less time reviewing concepts with which they are already familiar. Links the home environment to media usage (Chapter 12), so students comprehend the influence that different media can have on families, depending on the expertise of individual members.Galvin, Kathleen M. is the author of 'Family Communication Cohesion and Change', published 2007 under ISBN 9780205498222 and ISBN 0205498221.