Overview

This book highlights hidden unintentional biases, emotional defense mechanisms, and responses in haste. By revealing these preconceived notions present in message choices, Xiaowei Shi and Steven Mortenson demonstrate techniques to help prevent communication from becoming problematic. In a conversational style, the authors extend their interdisciplinary theoretic perspectives by introducing concepts and practices of supportive confrontation and argumentative interaction management. Through examining those automatic responses and reactions in our everyday conversation with friends, coworkers, and loved ones, this book engages the readers to confront their own hidden preferences and underlying beliefs about gender, relationships, and themselves with a new eye. The book moves beyond prior work on rational choice model in strategic communication by considering actual human attributes. Shi and Mortenson offer new insights into communication “noises” and how to engage in communication during a difficult life event or on a difficult subject in a more skillful manner. Scholars of social psychology, interpersonal communication, and communication training and development will find this book of particular interest.

Full Product Details

9781793637963

Table of Contents

Reviews

Drawing on decades of scholarship including their own research findings, as well as stories from their personal and professional lives, Shi and Mortenson highlight key lessons about communicating skillfully in difficult situations - e.g., how doing so requires that we become aware of our own emotions and biases, pursue communicative tasks in ways that uphold identities and relationships, remain open to being influenced by others, and recognize the value but also limits of mindfulness. Given that the authors address some of the most vital social and interpersonal issues facing us today, Unquestioned Ease will be a useful resource for communication scholars as well as advanced undergraduate and graduate students. --Steven R. Wilson, University of South Florida Shi and Mortenson's new book, Unquestioned Ease: Confronting Automaticity in Everyday Communication, is a welcome contribution to the communication studies literature on dual processing, system 1 and 2, and thinking, fast and slow. Much remains to be learned. In addition to ongoing research on the characteristics of these basic processes, it is not clear how and how much humans will be able to consciously control systems that operate largely outside consciousness. It is also unclear when and how effort to exert such control is adaptive; we know little about how this growing literature can inform communication practices. In this context, Shi and Mortenson's efforts are surely necessary and potentially important. --Austin Babrow, Professor Emeritus, University of Ohio

Author Information

Xiaowei Shi associate professor in the department of Communication Studies at Middle Tennessee State University. Steve Mortenson is associate professor at the University of Delaware.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available