Celebrating the work and contributions of Dolf Zillmann, this volume explores the theories and research on communication and emotion. It is intended for scholars and students in psychology, communication, and related areas of social science.

This collection serves two important functions: it synthesizes theory and research in the vital and vibrant area of communication and emotion, and it highlights the scholarly work and contributions of Dolf Zillmann, the preeminent contributor to this area of inquiry. As one of the most productive and influential scholars in the annals of communication inquiry, Zillmann is well known for his contributions in the areas of communication, emotion, media effects, and aggression. Editors Jennings Bryant, David Roskos-Ewoldsen, and Joanne Cantor have collected groundbreaking essays from scholars active in the field, all of whom studied under or worked with Zillmann during his exemplary career. The contributions included here acknowledge the significance of Zillmann's work and identify many of the intellectual streams that contributed to his scholarship. Utilizing both psychology and communication perspectives, this volume covers the current literature in communication and emotion, with a focus on key theories, media effects, and entertainment theory. As a comprehensive synthesis of theory and research in communication and emotion, it will be of great interest to scholars in communication theory, cognitive and social psychology, and psychophysiology. With a concluding state-of-the-art chapter by Dolf Zillmann himself, this volume offers a thorough and distinctive examination of communication and emotion scholarship, and it will serve as an invaluable resource for current and future generations of scholars.

"the book's true riches. And these are several. First, the range of subjects investigated mirrors the impressive breadth of Zillman's research in media use and gratification. All the major promontories of the mass media-news, sports, entertainment-are explored, as are the outcroppings of violence, pornography, eroticism, and horror. Second, the high overall quality of these essays makes them a good introduction to the scope of contemporary communication research. Especially useful are the essays' literature reviews and bibliographies, which comprise a handy reference to major works in the field. The most significant aspect of the book, however, is methodological; it charts the breadth of Zillman's multidisciplinary approach."—Communication Research Trends