For use with any communications text or as a reference, BASIC READINOS IN INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION offers readings that presuppose no prior educational experience with their conceptual notions or their applications. Basic in intent. yet sophisticated in approach, they provide the foundation for appreciation and understanding of the complex process of human communication behavior. In making the selection. the editors have been influenced by those concepts they view as basic lo the study of interpersonal communication: a persons need for interaction, the process of person-perception, interpersonal response-sets, those situation variables that influence interaction, message variables that influence out-comes of interaction, and behaviors that may act as serious barriers to interactional goals. The opening section presents a brief examination of the basic principles of interpersonal communication; the concluding section contains specific suggestions for improving interpersonal relationships.