Communication isn’t always easy. Mark L. Knapp is here to help. Mark Knapp, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin is so well known for his work in the field of communication, there is an award named after him. The Mark L. Knapp Award in short, recognizes people who have made significant scholarly contributions to studies in the communication field especially interpersonal communication. Knapp served in the U.S. Army before attending the University of Kansas and receiving his bachelors and Masters degree, and his PhD from Pennsylvania State University. He was employed at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee from 1965–1970; Purdue University from 1970–1980; the State University of New York at New Paltz from1980–1983; the University of Vermont in 1983; and the University of Texas at Austin from 1983–2008. He even received teaching awards at every university he taught at. Knapp is best known for his works in interpersonal communication and human relationships, and he also was the former editor of Human Communication Research and was the president of both the ICA and NCA . Knapp is the author of Nonverbal Communication in Human Interaction, Lying and Deception in Human Interaction, Interpersonal Communication and Human Relationships, and co-edited the Handbook of Interpersonal Communication. Knapp is not only an author in the communication field, but also created something called, “The Relationship Model”…
Though Knapp is presumably a genius, his Relationship Model is simplistic, but also profound in a way. I always say, “In relationships, you either marry or you break up”, but would have never thought to think of it as a model like this. After reading about Knapp’s credentials in the communication community, I am intrigued to give his books a read.
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