Bridging Differences

Effective Intergroup Communication

The Fourth Edition of Bridging Differences: Effective Intergroup Communication builds on the strengths of the previous editions and provides state-of-the-art knowledge about intergroup communication. This new edition brings a strong skills-oriented approach to improving communication effectiveness between people from different groups (e.g., cultures, ethnic groups, social classes).

Bridging Differences is based on the assumption that the processes operating when we communicate with people from other groups are the same processes operating when we communicate with people from our own groups. Author William B. Gudykunst has written this book from the perspective of "communicating with strangers" and addresses how factors related to our group memberships (e.g., inaccurate and unfavorable stereotypes of members of other cultures and ethnic groups) can cause us to misinterpret the messages we receive from members of those groups.

New to the Fourth Edition:

• Expanded discussions of several topics such as changing intergroup expectations; cultural differences in attribution processes; cultural and ethnic differences in conflict; cultural differences in indirect messages; cultural differences in uncertainty management; empathy; ethnic and cultural identities; face and its relationship to conflict management; intergroup communication effectiveness; intergroup conflict; intergroup biases; negotiating means; perceptual processes; and prejudice
• New material has been added on civic engagement; community in public life; diversity and community; the content of stereotypes; communication in romantic relationships; cultural differences in effective communication; and theoretical explanations for prejudice
• Pedagogical features include end-of-chapter study questions, self-assessment questionnaires, open-ended questions to stimulate readers to think about their implicit theories, and written skill exercises to increase students' skill development

Designed for students taking courses in Intercultural Communication or Intergroup Communication, Bridging Differences is also useful for many courses in Cultural Studies, Anthropology, Sociology, and Management.