A book which examines the social exchange theories of relations between people. These theories tend to view communication as an exchange or extraction of benefit undertaken out of self interest. The book attempts to answer three questions: what are these theories and how do their assumptions differ? How do they view a variety of interpersonal communication phenomena? What are their strengths and weaknesses? "This highly readable book contributes by abstracting the substance of exchange, then attributing it to the human communication processes." -- Sociology: Review of New Books, Vol 9 No 3