OpenStax Entrepreneurship

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"This textbook is intended for use in introductory Entrepreneurship classes at the undergraduate level. Due to the wide range of audiences and course approaches, the book is designed to be as flexible as possible. Theoretical and practical aspects are presented in a balanced manner, and specific com...

Humor as an Aggressive Communication

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Sample It is easy to recall those moments when hearing a funny joke or listening to an entertaining anecdote had us doubled over in hysterical laughter, a red face and wide smile presenting clear evidence of our amusement. Equally as memorable, however, are instances when a joke or comment has ma...

Introduction to Environmental Science

Author(s): Rebecca Bourgault

Introduction to Environmental Science engages students with the scientific process and fundamental principles of environmental science, and provides an introductory analysis of several of the most important environmental issues of our time. The text focuses primarily on the physical environment and ...

Modern American Military History

Author(s): Robert F Ritchie, Herbert S. Pieper

American Military History explores a new ideological worldview of American military.  Advocates of various social changes desiring acceptance use the military as a vehicle for expression at the beckoning of the president. Without question, the American military has opened doors for those left outsid...

Making Sense of End-of-Life Care Decisions in Families: An Application of Relational Dialectics Theory

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Abstract End-of-life (EOL) care planning and decision making is a complex area in health communication that has important implications for families. Relational dialectics theory (RDT) can reveal how competing discourses emerge in family communication surrounding EOL care and shape the meaning of ...

Verbal Aggressiveness and Frustration-Aggression-Displacement Theory

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Abstract What is Frustration-Aggression-Displacement Theory? Berkowitz (1989) reformulated the theory that was originally proposed by Dollard, Doob, Mower and Sears (1939). The Berkowitz reformulation of the theory provides a useful framework for understanding the way that some aggression takes p...

The Media in Our Daily Lives, Preliminary Edition

Author(s): Jennifer Louise Gregg

There are very few things adults agree on. The media is one of them: we agree it’s everywhere. It is embedded in our daily lives and informs how we perceive reality and the world. It’s nearly impossible to avoid and is accessible, in some form or other, to everyone. What we don’t agree on? How it af...

Moving Across Disciplines and Genres: Reading Identity in Illness Narratives and Reflective Writing Texts

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Sample For this chapter, we propose to discuss the concept of identity within the two text genres of life writing and reflective writing, situated within the larger field of illness narratives. We consider the concept of identity construction an ideal entry point for our analyses since both the r...

Risk Perceptions and Uncertainty in Parental Concerns about Childhood Vaccination

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Abstract Media reports linking the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism, as well as other reports of the thimerosal controversy, have increased levels of public distrust in vaccination. This distrust has led some parents to choose not to vaccinate their children as recommended by their ...

Organizational Sensemaking in a Mixed-Media Environment: The Case of Paula Deen

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Abstract The rise of online media has changed not only the way organizations communicate with external stakeholders, but also the way that organizational crises are created, perpetuated, and managed (Sweetser & Metzgar, 2007; Choi & Lin, 2009). The 24/7 news cycle, combined with the “every-person...