09:01:02:08:10 Page 1 Page 1 Skilled interpersonal communication Fifth edition There is a fundamental, powerful and universal desire amongst humans to interact with others. People have a deep-seated need to communicate, and the greater their ability in this regard the more satisfying and rewarding their lives will be. The contribution of skilled interpersonal communication to success in both personal and professional contexts is now widely recognised and extensively researched. As such, knowledge of various types of skills, and of their effects in social interaction, is crucial for effective interpersonal functioning. Previous editions have established Skilled Interpersonal Communication as the foremost textbook on communication. This thoroughly revised and expanded fi fth edition builds on this success to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date review of the current research, theory and practice in this burgeoning fi eld of study. The fi rst two chapters introduce the reader to the nature of skilled interpersonal communication and review the main theoretical perspectives. Subsequent chapters provide detailed accounts of the 14 main skill areas, namely: nonverbal communi- cation; reinforcement; questioning; refl ecting; listening; explaining; self-disclosure; set induction and closure; assertiveness; infl uencing; negotiating; and interacting in and leading group discussions. Written by one of the foremost international experts in the fi eld and founded solidly on research, this book provides a key reference for the study of interpersonal communication. This theoretically informed, yet practically oriented text will be of interest both to students of interpersonal communication in general, and to qualifi ed personnel and trainees in many fi elds. Owen Hargie is Professor of Communication at the University of Ulster, and visiting Professor at Robert Gordon University Aberdeen and University of Chester. He is an elected Member of the prestigious Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters, and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. He has published over 20 books and 120 book chapters and journal articles. 09:01:02:08:10 Page 3 Page 3 Skilled interpersonal communication Research, theory and practice Fifth edition Owen Hargie ROUTLEDGE 09:01:02:08:10 Page 4 Page 4 Published in 2011 by Routledge 27 Church Road, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 2FA Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge 270 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor nonverbal communication; reinforcement; questioning; refl ecting; listening; explaining; self- disclosure; set induction; closure; assertiveness; infl uencing; negotiating; interacting in and leading group discussions. However, from a personal perspective, the most signifi cant change is the absence of my former co-author, colleague and close friend, David Dickson, who passed away xiii 09:01:02:08:10 Page 14 Page 14 on 24 May 2008. David and I were school pals, university friends and close work colleagues. He was a constant source of inspiration, wisdom, support, creativity and unending good humour. His untimely death meant that his absence was particularly deeply felt in this fi fth edition. In fact, David had begun working on the new edition before his death and his contributions are evidenced throughout the book. I also remember with great fondness and affection another close friend, and co- author of the fi rst three editions of this text, the late Christine Saunders. As with David, Christines contributions are widely refl ected in this new edition. Working on this publication was a lonely task following the years of fun and camaraderie with Christine and David when producing the earlier editions. I miss them and think of them often. Their infl uence pervades the book and it has been a privilege for me to produce this new edition in their memory. However, while I recognise with gratitude and affection their role in forming and shaping this text, I also fully accept sole responsibility for any of its fl aws. I would also like to acknowledge the assistance provided by the School of Communication, University of Ulster. Thanks also to all those members of staff at the university, and at other centres, who have been involved in, and contributed to, the evolution of Communication programmes. The support, advice and encouragement of these colleagues are refl ected throughout this book. The invaluable feedback provided by trainees enrolled on skills programmes is also recognised. A special note of thanks is given to the editorial staff at Routledge for all their help, support and expertise. Words of appreciation are due to Philip Burch and David Barr, Graphic Design Technicians in the School of Communication at the University of Ulster for their skill in producing some of the more intricate diagrams. Finally, I am indebted to my wife, Patricia, who provided the necessary motivation and love to sustain me throughout the producti