Persuading People to Have Safer Sex offers a lucid, in-depth, student-friendly and academically thorough discussion of AIDS prevention and health persuasion. In so doing it provides an introduction to the ways that social scientific research can be brought to bear on a daunting health problem. Covering many aspects of the AIDS crisis, the book introduces readers to the severity of the AIDS problem and explains the epidemiology of the disease. It discusses why persuasion is so important, explicates cognitive theories of AIDS prevention, and notes the role emotions and communication play in safer sex prevention. It also discusses: *functions that unsafe sex plays in peoples' lives; *why people, notably minority women, frequently choose to engage in unsafe sex; and *social factors underlying the spread of AIDS in urban America and portions of Africa. As a resource for introducing students to the role that theory and research play in health communication and psychology, the volume is appropriate for use in communication, journalism, social psychology, and public health courses, and will be of value to scholars, researchers, and all who seek to understand the use of persuasion in changing behavior.

This volume explores the application of persuasion theory and research to HIV/AIDS prevention, focusing on changing attitudes and behaviors. It is intended for students and scholars applying theory to health or AIDS prevention.

This guide for every sexually-active person, heterosexual or homosexual, offers complete information on condoms--including the new female condom--features actual scripts for overcoming a lover's objections to using a condom, and provides, in simple language, the specifics on all forms of birth control.

This exciting new textbook is a compilation of communication case studies that identify the most salient issues regarding communication about sex in relationships. The text provides a basis for developing tangible communication skills, clearer understandings of how interpersonal concepts and theories play into practice, and an examination of ideas not often considered by students. Understanding interpersonal communication elements of sexual relationships is an indispensable component of any model of an overall healthy human sexual development. Moreover, being able to transform such understandings into practice in relationships is a leap toward being able to have the kind of meaningful communication with sexual partners that can potentially improve relationships, encourage safer sex practices, highlight responsible family planning, and work against limits of gendered and cultured expectations related to sex and sexuality. Twenty-one case studies from leading researchers in sexuality from Communication Studies, Sex Science, English and Medicine focus on interpersonal communication, cultural aspects of sexuality, media influences, health, and dark side of communication while building communication skills about these difficult to discuss topics. Each chapter features a series of possible discussion questions and a reference list of the resources that were used as a knowledge-base for composing that case study.

The Dynamics of Persuasion provides a comprehensive and up-to-date introduction to persuasive communication and attitude change. Offering a thorough discussion of classic and contemporary theories of persuasion, this text explores the structure and functions of attitudes, consistency between attitude and behavior, and issues in attitude measurement.

This popular text provides a comprehensive introduction to the study of persuasive messages and their effects. Concepts and methods from communication and social psychology are seamlessly integrated to give students a solid grasp of foundational issues in persuasion research, the core features of persuasive transactions, and major models of persuasive communication. Distinguished by its clear organization and wealth of concrete examples, this is an ideal text for advanced undergraduate- and graduate-level courses for students with a basic understanding of quantitative research methods.

This book presents research that identifies the most salient issues related to communication about sex in relationships and explores these issues in a format that will improve the understanding and practice of sexual communication. What is missing in sex education? An understanding of relationship issues, an understanding of how to communicate with partners, and an understanding of gender differences that affect communication between the sexes. Sex Talk: The Role of Communication in Intimate Relationships was written to inform, influence, and expand individuals' understanding of sexual communication and the dynamics of sexual relationships. It explains why sex talk is important and details how to successfully talk about sex in various types of relationships and stages of relationship development. The book presents research about sex talk in short- and long-term relationships and in marriage. It offers information bearing on casual sexual relationships, friends-with-benefits, and new sexual relationships, as well as on how to discuss sex with adolescents and with health care providers. Each chapter opens with a vignette that explores a communication problem related to sex talk and ends with practical advice on how to improve or start conversations about sex.