The Dark Side of Family Communication

This text provides for the first time in book form an exploration of the communicative aspects of the darker side of family life, ranging from, for example, severe acts of violence to more subtle forms of conflict. In addition to offering a working definition of the concept of the "dark side" in the family context, the authors propose the Darkness Model of Family Communication that integrates relevant literature in new and significant ways. Researchers, teachers and advanced students alike will benefit from the holistic and theoretical approach to the topic advanced through this volume. Readers are also encouraged to process the material by reviewing discussion questions and the case study of the Moore family at the end of each chapter.

Chapter topics include:

• an overview of the "dark side" of family communication
• individual influences on the darkness of family communication
• the dark side of dyadic family life
• familial interaction structure and the dark side
• dark family communication in a context of darkness - socio-cultural influences on family life
• concluding reflections on the study of dark family communication

The Dark Side of Family Communication offers an integrative understanding of the dark side of family communication and a theoretical mechanism for understanding related scholarship. It will be essential reading for all students and scholars of family communication.

List of Tables and Figures
Prologue
Chapter 1: Conceptualizing the "Dark Side" of Family Communication
Chapter 2: Individual Influence on the Darkness of Family Communication
Chapter 3: The Dark Side of Dyadic Family Life
Chapter 4: Familial Interaction Structure and the Dark Side
Chapter 5: Dark Family Communication in a Context of Darkness's Sociocultural Influences on Family Life
Chapter 6: Concluding Thoughts
Bibliography
Index "In this volume Loreen N. Olson, Elizabeth A. Baiocchi-Wagner, Jessica M. W. Kratzer, and Sarah E. Symonds shed much needed light on the dark side of family communication. By unearthing the layers of familial relating to reveal numerous caverns of darkness, they generate new landscapes for students and scholars of the dark side and family communication."
Erin Willer, University of Denver

"Much has been written on the ‘dark side' of communication. This is the first book actually to define what dark communication is, explain how it forms, identify what effect it has, recommend how to ‘brighten it,' and tie all this together in a Darkness Model of Family Communication."
Dudley Cahn, SUNY at New Paltz

Loreen N. Olson is an Associate Professor of Communication Studies at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro.
Elizabeth A. Baiocchi-Wagner is Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia
Jessica M. W. Kratzer is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech and Theatre at Middle Tennessee State University
Sarah E. Symonds is a doctoral candidate at the University of Missouri-Columbia