One of the Persistent Themes in the Theories Examined in a First

question 17

Essay

One of the persistent themes in the theories examined in A First Look is that people communicate more effectively when they become highly aware of the specific communicative processes they are involved in. Many of the theoretical perspectives in this book seek to replace natural and habitual modes of speaking and listening with rational, more analytical approaches that can make us better able to negotiate the challenges of communication. What theories do you believe should be included on such a list? As a group, what seem to be their principal characteristics, as well as their strengths and weaknesses?

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Definitions:

Unexpected Return

The difference between the actual return of an investment and the expected return, usually arising from unexpected factors or events.

Expected Return

The anticipated return on an investment, accounting for the probabilities of different outcomes, including gains and losses.

Total Return

The overall financial benefit (or loss) of an investment over a specified period, including both capital gains and dividends.

Beta

A scale for calculating the instability, or regular risk, of a security or combined investments relative to the market in its entirety.