The sixth edition has been extensively revised with the guidance of our Editorial Board for Diversity, Inclusion, and Culturally Responsive Pedagogy. This team of seven communication scholars has advised the authors and editors throughout the revision to ensure that Reflect & Relate speaks to all students and instructors. With the board’s guidance, coverage and examples throughout the book have been updated to ensure that a rich variety of perspectives are represented.

Coverage of culture has been updated in Chapter 5 and throughout the text. This edition has been updated to reflect current research on culture, with revised coverage of intersectionality and prejudice in Chapter 5 and an emphasis on embracing cultural difference to dismantle perceived distance. Throughout the text, new examples illustrate the influence of culture on self and perception. This edition includes many new and revised Focus on Culture features, which further spotlight the importance of culture—and of communicating competently with a diverse array of people of various identities and cultural backgrounds.

Revised coverage of mediated communication meets students where they are--online--and connects with issues relationships, health and wellness. New topics like phubbing, workplace telepressure, and the impact of mobile devices on intimacy and disclosure can be found in every chapter. This content reflects issues of concern for today’s students and represents the very best scholarship.

New chapter openers spotlight diverse and compelling stories, including a discussion of playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda’s use of language to promote inclusion and interest in U.S. history in his Broadway smash-hit Hamilton; a look at Fred Rogers’s active listening to break down racial barriers in Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood; and the legend of Zhinu and Niulang (the Cowherd and the Weaver), its significance as a story of romance, and its influence on the modern-day Qixi festival in China.

Now available with Achieve! The Achieve courseware for Reflect & Relate sets the standard for driving student learning in your interpersonal communication course with powerful learning content, engaging activities, and actionable insights and analytics. Achieve brings together an interactive e-textbook, Making Relationship Choices video activities, numerous videos illustrating concepts, LearningCurve adaptive quizzing and other assessments, learning activities, and extensive instructor resources–all within a new, enhanced technology platform carefully built over the past five years.