Reaching Out: Interpersonal Effectiveness and Self-Actualization

by David W. Johnson

Reaching Out: Interpersonal Effectiveness and Self-Actualization, 10e

David W. Johnson, University of Minnesota

 

Now in its tenth edition, Reaching Out, the most comprehensive, practical and applied text available on interpersonal skills, remains squarely focused on the dynamics found in virtually all interpersonal relationships. With new information about online interaction and relationships, expanded content on barriers to communication, and revised content throughout, the text continues to keep pace with the latest theories, sources of interpersonal communication, and research in the field. With an engaging and an accessible  style that makes the content come alive for readers, this text is an especially effective resource for learning about and teaching the basic interpersonal skills. No matter what occupations or relationships students undertake, their success will largely be determined by how skilled they are interpersonally. With this effective resource for learning about the basic interpersonal skills, its audience will begin a journey of continuous improvement.

 

The book’s special features include:

NEW coverage of online interactions and relationships.

Chapter 10, Barriers to Interpersonal Effectiveness, now covers anxiety and fear, shyness, self-blame, and stereotyping and prejudice, as well as the importance of optimism in overcoming potential barriers.

Skill-building exercises, examples, and theory-to-practice applications–extend readers’ understanding of chapter content.

Discussionof how to express anger in constructive ways–equips readers with valuable applications to this difficult aspect of managing relationships.

The latest and most exciting theory and research on all aspects of communicating effectively–including Self-Disclosure (Chapter 2), Developing and Maintaining Trust (Chapter 3), Increasing Your Communication Skills (Chapter 4), and Resolving Interpersonal Conflicts (Chapter 8).

The skills and knowledge to: a) get to know and trust each other; b) communicate with each other accurately and unambiguously; c) resolve conflicts and relationship problems constructively; and d) encourage and appreciate diversity.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology

410 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1972

Reviews

[Amanda Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a required book for Physc 100 - self actualization and inter-personal effectiveness. It's a good read and very understandable. It also has a lot of self development ideas/quizzes, ect in it.

[Randi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book for a Graduate Counseling Self class at SUNY Brockport, NY. It was excellent. It's an easy read and it has so many very basic insights into interpersonal relationships. Should be a must read for high school and college students.

[Jessica López-Barkl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the textbook I'm currently using for my Speech 102 class. It is very useful and kind of like an Augusto Boal book . So...if you work in any at-risk populations or want to work on communication skills...this is a good workbook.

[Semi-Academic Eric]

4e

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a textbook for school and was honestly one of the better ones I've read. Short easy to read chapters, lots of exercises to immerse yourself in the material and short quizzes to self-test.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read most, but not all, of this book. I would like to finish the later chapters at another time, but it is a textbook, so perhaps by reading an updated version. I found that some of the material I have transcribed and exercises I've done are valuable for review, but some of it can be found in good books on managing teams of people, and especially any good material you can find on improving your *listening skills.* Your listening skills are probably the best thing you have to offer and use. They are not "questioning skills."

This book helped correct my misapprehension of what trust is, and made me better prepared to make bids and reach out to build it with others. I had become so used to people just overlooking me in their quest of personal interests that I was no longer prepared to trust anyone who didn't make clear bids for my attention. Now I pay closer attention to reciprocity, and abandon those who don't offer it - but now I try to bid first, try twice, and then try again if they let an effort lapse. I realized I have more to offer, and need to offer more and more often, than I was doing since getting so gun-shy. Using the specifics laid out in this book about how trust is built, lost, and recovered, I'm less prone to assume I have trust issues that *I* need to fix. I'm actually doing OK. This was a very valuable part of the book to read.