Essays describe common misconceptions about listening, and describe the kinds of responses that indicate effective listening. The final essay presents a new, dialogic approach to listening. Part Three addresses self expression and self disclosure in communication. They also introduce guidelines for more effective self-expression. This topic concludes with an essay which argues that open honest communication may, in certain situations, do more harm than good.
Subsequent readings explore different expressive styles, and particularly gender differences.
The first set of readings discusses communication in the context of relationships, examines relationships as a process of negotiation, and explores communication as a person-building process. Subsequent readings discuss friendship, families, and intimate relationships more specifically. Part Five explores conflict and communication across cultural differences. The first set of readings distinguishes productive from destructive conflicts, and describes some of the processes by which conflict become destructive. These readings also distinguish between defensive and supportive conflict climates, and explore ways of dealing with anger.