ABSTRACT
This chapter describes three kinds of communication: behavior-correlated information emission, gestural communication, and symbolic communication. Four types of factors influence the selective organization of transactional behaviors: the intent, the person’s repertoire of possible behaviours, the current state and dynamics of the body and of regulatory and controlling thoughts and current states and dynamics of the behavioral context. Nonhuman organisms use primarily nonvocal means of communication such as emitting odors and making expressive gestures, although vocalization plays an increasing role in more advanced primates. Humans’ primary means of intentional communication is with symbol systems such as language, mathematics, and art forms. Communication uses motor behavior as the carrier of information. Communication starts with an intention to communicate some information or idea and/or an intended impact on the receivers of the communication. Communications to nonknowledgable listeners include different content than for knowledgable listeners.
