There are three very different concerns of communication ethics: (1) applied speech ethics, (2) ethical rules or standards, and (3) metaethical issues. In the area of applied speech ethics, communications theorists attempt to determine whether a speech act is moral or immoral by focusing on the content and effects of specific speech acts. Specific…

Explores ethical and legal problems related to the treatment of communication apprehension and avoidance (CAA). Discusses three options for solving those problems: "cease and desist" all treatment programs; create hybrid communication/counseling programs; or create a code of ethics for CAA treatment procedures. (KEH)

Conversational style often overrides what is said, affecting who gets heard and what gets done. Women's linguistic styles often make them seem less competent and self-assured than they are. Better understanding of speech styles will make managers better listeners and communicators. (SK)

Offers suggestions for overcoming the fear of speaking in public and rules on how to give effective presentations. (SRT)

Presents a case history of a private clinical treatment of an individual for communication reticence. Focuses on rhetoritherapy which deals with inculcating effective communication skills. Illustrates the kinds of problems and strategies that characterize private treatment. (JMF)

When dealing with a real dispute based on conflicting goals rather than a misunderstanding, it is better to avoid multiple rounds of "clarifying communication." A better approach is to solicit the opposite party's concerns and critiques, thereby eliciting a sequence of constructive responses until agreement has been reached. Examples are provided.…

Describes communication in school organizations, the process of communication, communication problems, and how educational leaders can improve communication in schools. (SRT)

Describes how business organizations view the purposes and results of communication and the role of the corporate communication professional. Suggests ways to bridge the gap between academic and business worlds. (PD)

Presents an ontological understanding of the phenomenon of anxiety and makes a comparison with the phenomenon of fear. Discusses the experience of anxiety in communication situations and offers implications for communication researchers. (JMF)

Indicates the recognition on the part of chief executive officers that they are the company spokespersons and must have good communication skills in order to communicate effectively to the media and special interest groups. (EL)

Outlines some problems common to actors and teachers in generating appropriately expressive speaking voices. Basic skills discussed include loudness without tension, clarity of articulation, use of intonation, and manipulation of rate. (JMF)

Demonstrates that there are important conceptual distinctions among the constructs of reticence, shyness, communication apprehension, and unwillingness to communicate. Argues that the failure to recognize the distinctions impedes research and precludes improved methods of identifying the problems and improving treatment. (PD)

Calls for a reordering of values in the study of human communication in human organizations. Offers a preliminary discourse on a primitive theory of human communication as distinguished from an eclectic theory of organizational communication. Differences between the two types of theoretical approaches are suggested. (JMF)

This interview with Paul Watzlawick covers both his theories of communication and questions concerning therapy, politics, and truth. (JMF)

Nonverbal displays of status are often employed in argumentative interactions for the purpose of securing an advantage over an opposing speaker. These displays can be conceptualized as "implicit ad hominem fallacies" because, like all ad hominem arguments, they shift the focus of attention away from the substantive issues in dispute to…