TABLE OF CONTENTS Exercises xv C h apt e r 1 The Importance of Interpersonal Skills 1 The Power of Interpersonal Skills 2 The Relationship Imperative 2 Why Improve Your Interpersonal Skills 6 Interpersonal Skills and Relationships 13 Difficulties in Forming Relationships 19 What’s in This Book 24 The Application of Social Science Research to Interpersonal Skills 26 Learning Interpersonal Skills 29 Accepting the Invitation 32 ¿ Comprehension Test A 32 ¿ Comprehension Test B 33 Summary 38 Answers 39 C h apt e r 2 Appropriate Self-Disclosure: Getting to Know Each Other 40 Introduction 41 Being Open with and to Other People 47 Self-Disclosure and Self-Awareness 53 Self-Awareness Through Feedback from Others 59 Self-Disclosure and Self-Acceptance 63 Self-Disclosure and Self-Presentation 65 ¿ Comprehension Test A 90 ¿ Comprehension Test B 91 Summary 93 Answers 95 C h apt e r 3 Developing and Maintaining Trust 96 Introduction 97 Developing and Maintaining Trust 98 Building Interpersonal Trust 100 Being Trusting and Trustworthy 101 Trust and Communication 102 Destroying Trust 103 Reestablishing Trust After It Has Been Broken 104 Trusting Appropriately 104 Trusting as a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy 106 Personal Proclivity to Trust 106 Trust in Friendships 106 ¿ Comprehension Test 106 Chapter Review 123 Summary 125 Answers 125 C h apt e r 4 Increasing Your Communication Skills 126 Introduction 127 What Is Communication? 127 Effective Communication versus Misunderstandings 131 ¿ Comprehension Test A 134 Sending Messages Effectively 136 ¿ Comprehension Test B 138 ¿ Comprehension Test C 151 ¿ Improving Your Receiving Skills 152 Theory on Listening and Responding 155 ¿ Comprehension Test D 157 Theory on Selective Perception in Listening and Responding 159 ¿ Comprehension Test E 160 ¿ Comprehension Test F 161 Toward Improved Communication Skills 164 Communicating Online 164 Chapter Review 167 Summary 169 Answers 170 C h apt e r 5 Expressing Your Feelings Verbally 171 The Power of Feeling 172 Saying What You Feel 172 What’s Going on Inside? 174 ¿ Comprehension Test A 179 When Feelings Are Not Expressed 180 ¿ Comprehension Test B 181 Expressing Your Feelings Verbally 182 ¿ Comprehension Test C 184 Checking Your Perception of Another’s Feelings 191 Chapter Review 193 Summary 194 Answers 195 C h apt e r 6 Expressing Your Feelings Nonverbally 196 Introduction 197 Nonverbal Communication 198 Characteristics of Nonverbal Communication 198 The Importance of Congruence Between Verbal and Nonverbal Messages 201 Status and Power in Nonverbal Expressions 202 Chapter Review 215 Summary 216 Answers 216 C h apt e r 7 Helpful Listening and Responding 217 Responding to Another Person’s Problems 218 Intentions Underlying the Responses 226 ¿ Comprehension Test A 234 Helping People Solve Their Problems 235 Listening and Responding Alternatives 236 ¿ Comprehension Test B 238 Phrasing an Accurate Understanding Response 238 Chapter Review 249 Summary 250 Answers 251 C h apt e r 8 Resolving Interpersonal Conflict 252 Inevitability of Conflicts 253 Understanding Conflicts of Interest 253 Mastering the Conflict Strategies 258 ¿ Comprehension Test 263 Negotiating to Solve the Problem 264 Try, Try Again 271 Refusal Skills: This Issue Is Not Negotiable 271 Conflicts Online 271 Chapter Review 284 Summary 286 Answers 286 C h apt e r 9 Anger, Stress, and Managing Feelings 287 The Nature of Stress 288 Managing Stress Through Social Support Systems 289 The Nature and Value of Anger 290 ¿ Comprehension Test 295 Rules for Managing Anger Constructively 295 Eliminating Unwanted Feelings from Your Life 309 Forgiveness 319 How to Deal with an Angry Person 321 Anger and Negotiations 324 Chapter Review 326 Summary 327 Answers 327 C h apt e r 10 Barriers to Interpersonal Effectiveness 328 Introduction 329 Managing Fear and Anxiety 329 Managing Shyness 336 Mistakes and Self-Talk 342 Managing Failure 344 Reducing Stereotyping and Prejudice 344 Overcoming the Barriers: Being Optimistic 350 Review Test 351 Summary 352 Answers 352 C h apt e r 11 Epilogue 353 Importance of Interpersonal Skills 354 Interpersonal Effectiveness, Self-Actualization, and Interpersonal Skills 357 Looking Forward 362 Summary of Interpersonal Skills 364 Appendix 369 Glossary 373 References 380 Index 383

Let yourself be guided by the most proven, comprehensive, practical, and applied text available on interpersonal skills.  Be captivated by the engaging, accessible language, the compelling content and uniquely authentic exercises that only enhance the practicality of this best-selling resource. Throughout, the integration of current, sound research and theory with incredibly practical exercises come together for an experiential approach to learning about and teaching the basic interpersonal skills. Now in its Eleventh Edition , Reaching Out continues to keep pace with the latest theories, sources of interpersonal communication, and research in the field of psychological knowledge on how to build and maintain relationships. As it has done for decades now, Johnson’s preeminent work will guide and prepare all types of students for a myriad of occupations, helping them to develop and refine their own level of interpersonal skills in a unique and engaging manner.   New to this edition: Material on pets as social enhancers, interpersonal skills, manners, civility, and online relationships. A revised presentation and discussion of the Johari window. Additional examples and scenarios that represent types of communication methods of defining them. New sections on social media networks and online communications. Expanded discussion of the developmental changes of solving conflict. An overall greater emphasis on positive psychology.  

The Eleventh Edition features: A thorough transformation of Chapter 1, with new material on pets as social enhancers, interpersonal skills, manners, civility, and online relationships. Chapter 2 features a revised presentation and discussion of the Johari window. The changes to Chapter 4 include additional examples and scenarios that represent types of communication methods of defining them and additional new sections on social media networks and online communications. Chapter 8 has also been revised, with an expanded discussion of the developmental changes of solving conflict. Throughout the text, readers will find revised and enhanced exercises, as well as an overall greater emphasis on positive psychology.