How do people have relationships when they are apart, or develop them when they've never even met? From MySpace and weblogs to romance and sexuality, this book draws together a range of studies on «remote relationships», investigating the intricate, intimate ways that people forge connections online. The term 'remote' refers to the technologies that facilitate forms of communication, and also underlines the lack of physicality involved in these relationships, developed at a distance. Using empirical data, these collected essays explore a wide variety of relationships, examining the methodological and ethical issues that researchers face. Remote Relationships in a Small World, part of a new generation of online studies, responds to the need for research that focuses on social relationships.

"Taking a relational approach to the study of interpersonal communication, this best-selling text helps students better understand their relationships with romantic partners, friends, and family members. Updated with the most current research findings and advances in theory, Close Encounters, Sixth Edition offers insightful examples and case studies to show how state-of-the-art research and theory can be applied to specific issues within relationships. While maintaining the spotlight on communication, the authors also emphasize the interdisciplinary nature of the study of personal relationships by including research from such disciplines as social psychology and family studies. The book covers issues relevant to developing, maintaining, repairing, and ending relationships. Both the "bright" and "dark" sides of interpersonal communication within relationships are explored, offering a comprehensive overview of the varied dynamics of close relationships. Engaging features in every chapter help connect content to issues and experiences that resonate with students: "Tech Talk" boxes examine the influence of technology on relationships, "Around the World" boxes explore how different cultures view relationships, and "Put Yourself to the Test" self-assessments encourage students to reflect on their own relationships and communication styles"--

The rise of mobile phones has brought about a new era of technological attachment as an increasing number of people rely on their personal mobile devices to conduct their daily activities. Due to the ubiquitous nature of mobile phones, the impact of these devices on human behavior, interaction, and cognition has become a widely studied topic. The Encyclopedia of Mobile Phone Behavior is an authoritative source for scholarly research on the use of mobile phones and how these devices are revolutionizing the way individuals learn, work, and interact with one another. Featuring exhaustive coverage on a variety of topics relating to mobile phone use, behavior, and the impact of mobile devices on society and human interaction, this multi-volume encyclopedia is an essential reference source for students, researchers, IT specialists, and professionals seeking current research on the use and impact of mobile technologies on contemporary culture.

The debate on the social impact of information and communication technologies is particularly important for the study of adolescent life, because through their close association with friends and peers, adolescents develop life expectations, school aspirations, world views, and behaviors. This book presents an up-to-date review of the literature on youth sociability, relationship formation, and online communication, examining the way young people use the internet to construct or maintain their inter-personal relationships. Using a social network perspective, the book systematically explores the various effects of internet access and use on adolescents’ involvement in social, leisure and extracurricular activities, evaluating the arguments that suggest the internet is displacing other forms of social ties. The core of the book investigates the motivations for online relationship formation and the use of online communication for relationship maintenance. The final part of the book focuses on the consequences, both positive and negative, of the use of online communication, such as increased social capital and online bullying. Wired Youth is ideal for undergraduate and graduate students of adolescent psychology, youth studies, media studies and the psychology and sociology of interpersonal relationships.

"This book provides interdisciplinary perspectives utilizing a variety of research methods to uncover the fundamental components of computer-mediated communication (i.e., language, interpersonal relations/communication and information technology) which will be discussed in the following section"--Provided by publisher.

Despite the popularity of Skype with video many of us are still figuring out how to ‘do’ it. Interviews reveal that we can now run the programme but we are less certain about how to ‘perform’ in front of the webcam. Seeing ourselves in the box on the side can feel strange. We are not quite sure which bits of our bodies to display on the screen, how much to move around the room, or move the device around the room. Is it acceptable to use Skype with video at a funeral, in crowded spaces or while in bed? This book addresses how people are emotionally and affectually connecting with others audio-synchronously on the screen in a variety of different spatial contexts. Topics include Skype with video being used by grandparents to connect with grandchildren, friends and family using it for special occasions, and partners using it for romance and sex. Theories addressing bodies, gender, queerness, phenomenology and orientation inform the research. It concludes that while Skype does not offer some kind of utopian future, it does open up possibilities for existing power relations to be filtered through new lines of sight/site which are shaping what bodies can do and where.

Almost everything that matters to humans is derived from and through communication. Just because people communicate every day, however, does not mean that they are communicating competently. In fact, evidence indicates that there is a substantial need for better interpersonal skills among a significant proportion of the populace. Furthermore, "dark side" experiences in everyday life abound, and features of modern society pose new challenges that make the concept of communication competence increasingly complex. The Handbook of Communication Competence brings together scholars from across the globe to examine these various facets of communication competence, including its history, its essential components, and its applications in interpersonal, group, institutional, and societal contexts. The book provides a state-of-the-art review for scholars and graduate students, as well as practitioners in counseling, developmental, health care, educational, intercultural, and human resource management contexts, illustrating that communication competence is vital to health, relationships, and all collective human endeavors.