Engaging Theories in Family Communication by Suter, Elizabeth A.; Floyd, Kory; Hintz, Elizabeth A.;

Short description:

This third edition is a comprehensive and accessible overview of the theories that form the foundation of the family communication field. It is ideal for advanced undergraduate and graduate students and scholars studying family communication, interpersonal communication, and more

Long description:

Bringing together the work of 60 contributors who represent both leading voices in family communication scholarship and an inspiring new generation of scholars shaping the field’s future, this third edition is a comprehensive and accessible overview of the theories that form the foundation of the family communication field.

The book begins with an overview chapter including an updated empirical analysis of family communication research from 1990 to 2024. Twenty-seven theory chapters follow. Each chapter is dedicated to a single theory and follows a consistent structure, allowing readers to engage deeply with individual theories and draw comparisons between multiple theories. The third edition offers two new sections. (Meta)Theoretical Perspectives includes critical feminism, discourse dependence, systems theory, social constructionism, and natural selection. Looking Ahead features a multi-authored chapter that addresses emerging developments in the study of Black families, Indigenous perspectives, the Global South, Latina/o/x perspectives, and quantitative criticalism. This third edition features ten theories new to this edition, six of which were developed within the discipline of communication studies.

Ideal for advanced undergraduate and graduate students studying family communication, this text is also relevant for scholars and students of personal relationships, interpersonal communication, and family studies.
Theories from the second edition that are not included in this third edition can be downloaded from the book’s website: www.routledge.com/9781041013181.

“Engaging Theories in Family Communication: Multiple Perspectives (3rd ed.) contains comprehensive and insightful chapters covering theoretical perspectives on family communication research in a way that is accessible and applicable. This edition includes well-established theories and emerging conceptual and theoretical perspectives that are inclusive of a wide range of family types and experiences. It is an ideal resource for students studying family communication and for scholars seeking a primer in the field.”

Pamela J. Lannutti, Widener University, USA

“Covering consequential theories across the metatheoretical spectrum, this book provides an approachable and engaging overview of the diverse intellectual landscape of family communication. These chapters offer clear introductions to classic and new theories, serving as a valuable resource for new students and seasoned scholars alike.”

Andrew Ledbetter, Texas Christian University, USA

“This text provides a comprehensive overview of central theories of family communication while introducing essential viewpoints and paradigmatic traditions. Required reading for students who are interested in learning more about the field!”

Mackensie Minniear, University of Georgia, USA

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction: The Landscape of Paradigm and Theory in Family Communication Research  Part 1: (Meta)Theoretical Perspectives in Family Communication Research  2. Critical Feminist Family Communication Theory: Gender, Critique, and Praxis  3. Discourse Dependent Theory: Constituting “Family” through Language  4. General Systems Theory: A Worldview Applied to Family Interactions  5. Social Construction Theory: Communication Co-Creating Families  6. Theory of Natural Selection: An Evolutionary Approach to Family Communication  Part II: Theoretical Perspectives in Family Communication Research  7. Advocacy Communication Theory: Family Communication as an Early Site of Resistance  8. Affection Exchange Theory: A Bio-Evolutionary Look at Affectionate Communication  9. Attachment Theory in Families: The Role of Communication  10. Communicated Narrative Sense-Making Theory: Linking Storytelling and Well-Being  11. Communication Accommodation Theory and Communication Theory of Identity: Individual Identities and Family Relationships  12. Communication Privacy Management Theory: Understanding Families  13. Communication Theory of Resilience: Untangling Adaptive-Transformative Processes When Families Anticipate or Experience Loss and Disruption  14. Communicative Relational Distancing Theory: Navigating Distance in Personal Relationships  15. Confirmation Theory: Family Relational Climates and Child Development  16. Critical Communication and Race Theory: Embedding Family Processes Within Wider Systems of Race and Racism  17. Family Communication Patterns Theory: A Grand Theory of Family Communication  18. Intergroup Communication Theoretical Perspective: Understanding and Recognizing Identity and Difference in Family Relationships  19. Intersectionality theory: Moving the margins for (Black) family communication  20. Minority Stress Theory: Family as a Site of Both Support and Strain  21. Narrative Performance Theory: Making Stories, Doing Family  22. Queer Theory: Challenging Heteronormative Expectations of Family  23. Relational Dialectics Theory: Critically Examining Talk Within and About Family  24. Relational Turbulence Theory: Understanding Family Communication During Times of Change  25. Social Learning Theory: Modeling and Communication within the Family  26. Theory of Communicative (Dis)enfranchisement: Ramifications, Reification, and Resistance  27. Theory of Memorable Messages: Applications for Family Communication  28. Theory of Resilience and Relational Load: Understanding the Communication of Stress and Resilience in Families  Part III: Looking Ahead  29. Emerging Conceptual and Theoretical Perspectives  Black Families: Traditions, Practices, and Possibilities  Global South Perspectives of Family Communication: Beyond Eurocentrism  Indigenous Perspectives in Family Communication Studies: Alternative Understandings for Ways of Being and Communicating in Families  Latina/o/x Perspectives: Historical Contexts and Future Directions  Quantitative Criticalism: Using Statistical Methods to Expose Systemic Inequalities