This book takes a cultural approach to relationships: the cultures, communities and groups we live in to shape our interpersonal communication, relationships and identities. In each of these contexts, power relations shape how interactions occur and it is through the lens of culture that we can most clearly see how power works in our lives and our relationships.

A cultural approach to interpersonal communication also is important because in today’s globalized world, we no longer live in isolated communities; we live in multicultural societies. Each of us needs to understand how to navigate in a heterogeneous world; to do that we need to understand how others feel and how others communicate. In this way we may come to understand our own values and beliefs better. Sharing power and using our cognitive abilities to understand the changing world we live in may help us live more sustainable, more ethical and happier lives.

Carol Corbin is retired Professor of Communication at Cape Breton University. She has a PhD from Iowa State University. Her areas of interest and research include media studies, community, and the environment. Her most recent publication is Wild Island Nature: Hunting Island State Park and Saint Phillips Island (Lydia Inglett, 2022). Carol lives in Weymouth, NS.

Carol Corbin's profile page

Dawn White has a BA and is the lab coordinator the communication department at Cape Breton University. She oversees the learning experiences of hundreds of students every year

Dawn White's profile page