COMM 4322 - Dark Side of Interpersonal Communication

Credit(s): 3

Many of us in communication courses recognize the positive behaviors we engage in to make our relationships successful. However, relationships with romantic partners, friends, family and coworkers/supervisors also can include a number of behaviors that damage our relationships and abilities to communicate effectively and appropriately. We encounter jealousy and envy, aggression, hurt, abuse, lying, teasing and bullying, infidelity, uncertainty and secrecy, and criticisms and complaints in a variety of relationship contexts. We’ll examine these topics, as well as theories of the dark side, for what we know about the ways they damage relationships, what we can do to avoid (or overcome) them, and what studying the dark side of communication means for employers.