Designed to help students understand communication processes in relationships and develop specific skills needed to create and maintain healthy ones, the eleventh edition retains the features that have made this book so successful: a theory driven skills-based focus, an accessible tone and presentation, and numerous useful pedagogical tools. Cynthia Berryman-Fink, a new coauthor, brings fresh insights to this edition, which has a contemporary feel that will resonate with today's students and professors. Well-written and lively, Inter-Act features numerous activities that enable students to relate their everyday experiences to their studies in communication. The text illustrates how cultural, racial, and gender differences as well as electronically mediated messages alter what we should do to communicate effectively. It also emphasizes the importance of ethics in communication and encourages students to develop their analytical abilities as they think critically about the concepts presented in the text. NEW OR REVISED IN THE ELEVENTH EDITION * New: Information on relational dialectics and turning points, coordinated management of meaning, the language of cyberspace, intergenerational family communication, and communicating in a diverse workplace. * New boxed features: "The Gray Zone" offers alternative viewpoints on aspects of interpersonal communication, while "Learn About Yourself" boxes provide students with short surveys to help them understand their own communication styles. * New: More than 50% of the "Diverse Voices" selections, "Inter-Act with Technology" boxes, and "What Would You Do? A Question of Ethics" boxes are new to this edition. * Expanded: The in-text CD now features a complete student workbook with chapter outlines, key terms lists, self-tests, quizzes, and numerous activities designed to help students master the material presented in each chapter. *