Corporate Reputation and the Discipline of Interpersonal Communication

Although interpersonal communication (IC) might seem like a somewhat unlikely contributor to the study of corporate reputation, the influence of interpersonal communication theories is evident in much of the language used to describe reputations. This chapter begins with a brief orientation to the origins of IC. Definitions of reputation are introduced to demonstrate how ideas from interpersonal communication are reflected in those definitions. Next, three major theoretical orientations in interpersonal communication namely social cognition, social exchange theory, and impression management are discussed as primary contributors to the study of reputation. The final section of the chapter identifies the limitations of applying interpersonal communication theory to the study of reputation. 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Corporate Reputation and the Discipline of Interpersonal Communication Chapter