PSY274H5 Lecture Notes - Animal Communication, Fixed Action Pattern, Alarm Call
Document Summary
Readings for today"s lecture: chapters 1, 3, 6. In print form (handicap wheelchair sign: traffic light communicates information functioning in a way like a living agent would communicate the idea of go or stop , singing (what is the relationship between singing and communication) One organism transmits information: to another: but this too vague. Vocal-auditory: predominant in terms of communication (particularly in human history) There are different ways to approach this: consider the function of communication. What is the effect of this information: consider the form the information takes. Non-human animals communication = very limited in terms of effect produced. Mating call + potential response: threads related to territory. Human communication extremely broad range of effects possible: social effects hierarchy, emotional effects, requesting information, disputing information, confirming information. A helpful distinction here: peirce"s classification of signs . In his view: sign = stimulus pattern that has some meaning.