Relational Communication

Relational Communication: An Interactional Perspective to the Study of Process and Form brings together in one volume a full treatment of the relational communication perspective on the study of relationships. This perspective takes to heart the formative nature of communication by focusing on the codefined patterns of interaction by which members jointly create their relationship.


This book provides a strong theoretical foundation to the research approach and also offers a step-by-step guide for carrying out the research procedures. It is a complete guide for the beginner or experienced researcher. The contributed chapters are written by researchers from psychology, clinical psychology, marital and family therapy, as well as marital, health, and organizational communication. Several of the studies on marital interaction are based on both American and Spanish research samples, offering a cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural application of the perspective.


Part I opens with a discussion of the theoretical foundation and epistemological grounding of the perspective and then moves on to the observational research methods involved in applying the perspective's interactional approach. Part II presents a set of programmatic research exemplars that describe the application of the relational communication approach in different relational contexts, from marital to organizational settings. Part III offers a reflective overview of the research perspective.


This book is appropriate for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, scholars, and researchers in communication. It will also be of interest to professionals, students, teachers and researchers in the fields of marital relations and family study, social and clinical psychology, family therapy, social work, and marital and family counseling programs.