Research & References

The most important reference when studying religious subjects should always be the Bible. Read the verses given and read the full context (often several verses or even chapters) to ensure you fully understand the intended meaning. When compiling information for this book, though, I did utilize some books and articles that I use to teach my college communication courses. Those texts and online resources are included below for further investigation. Additionally, if you're putting together a presentation, you may find some of the linked image sites helpful. 

Please remember to be ethical in all things. This includes if you're creating a visual aid or Bible class lesson. You should never steal someone else's work without permission. You can see the Creative Commons clarification for what you're reading now at the bottom. All images in this online book are my own or are from free online resources and include alt-text to make them easier for online screen readers. All written materials are free for you to copy, adapt, and use however you'd like as long as you credit the author(s) and don't benefit commercially. 

Note:
Links below - and within the online book - are live and functional as of March 2026. 

1. Abadi, Mark. “27 Fascinating Maps That Show How Americans Speak English Differently Across the US.” Business Insider, 3 Jan. 2018, Online Link to Article 

2. Alloway, Tracy Packiam. “What 20 Seconds of Hugging Can Do for You.” Psychology Today, 19 Jan. 2022. Online Link to Article

3. DeVito, Joseph A. The Interpersonal Communication Book. 17th ed., Pearson, 2026. 

4. Ducharme, Jamie. “Why Some People Hate Being Hugged, According to Science.” Time, 27 Aug. 2018. Online Link to Article

5. Dwyer, Ryan J., Kostadin Kushlev, and Elizabeth W. Dunn. “Smartphone Use Undermines Enjoyment of Face-to-Face Social Interactions.” Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, vol. 78, 2018, pp. 233–239. Online Link to Article.

6. Guerrero, Laura K., and Kory Floyd. Nonverbal Communication in Close Relationships. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2006.

7. Hargie, Owen. Skilled Interpersonal Interaction: Research, Theory, and Practice. Routledge, 2011.

8. McGonigal, Kelly. “Smile Your Way Out of Stress?” Psychology Today, 1 Aug. 2012. Online Link to Article

9. Patterson, Kerry, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler, and Emily Gregory. Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High. 3rd ed., McGraw Hill, 2021.

10. Przybylski, Andrew K., and Netta Weinstein. “Can You Connect with Me Now? How the Presence of Mobile Communication Technology Influences Face-to-Face Conversation Quality.” Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, vol. 30, no. 3, 2013, pp. 237–246. Online Link to Article

11. Rea, Shilo. “Hugs Help Protect Against Stress and Infection, Say Carnegie Mellon Researchers.” Carnegie Mellon University News, 17 Dec. 2014. Online Link to Article

12. Stark, Shauna, Craig Stark, Brian Wong, and Mitchell F. Brin. “Modulation of Amygdala Activity for Emotional Faces Due to Botulinum Toxin Type A Injections That Prevent Frowning.” Scientific Reports, vol. 13, 2023. Online Link to Article

13. Szpunar, Karl K., et al. “The Effect of Video Playback Speed on Learning and
    Mind-Wandering in Younger and Older Adults.” Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition, 2023. Online Link to Article