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    %SYMBOLIC OBJECTIVE BEHAVIOR SUBJECTIVE MEANING 890702

     Most  human behavior has an objective aspect  to  the
behavior,   because  the  behavior may be  seen  by  other
humans,  and there can be virtually universal agreement as
to the actions which occurred;  e.g.,  that Jack took five
steps towards the north.

     In addition to the objective aspect of human behavior
there  is  a  symbolic aspect to much of  human  behavior.
Human  acts often have intended and/or perceived  symbolic
meaning.   Jack's five steps towards the north might  have
the  symbolic value of indicating acceptance of  induction
into  the  armed forces with all that such  induction  may
mean.

     The  intended  and/or perceived symbolic  meaning  of
human  behavior is not an objective reality;  it does  not
exist apart from the actor and/or perceiver.  The symbolic
meaning  of human actions is created by the actors  and/or
perceivers,   it does not reside in the objective  objects
and/or  in  their  objective  relationships  as  they  are
understood and analyzed by physical scientists.

     The  symbolic meaning of human behavior is  reflexive
in  that  it  points back to the actor as  a  person  with
conscious  and/or unconscious intended meanings which  are
associated  with behaviors as perceived by  others,   with
others' own  conscious  and/or  unconscious  intentions  i
their perceptions of behaviors.

     Much  of  human behavior is essentially  symbolic  in
character.  All use of spoken, written,  and sung words of
verbal  languages  is human behavior which is  essentially
symbolic  in  character.   Such  behavior  has  a   purely
objective  aspect  to it,  but what is important  to  most
humans  is to be found in the perceptions of the  intended
symbolic meaning assigned to the objective behavior.

     When  people  use formal languages it is possible  to
know  with  a fair degree of certainty what  the  intended
meaning of the symbolic behavior is;  but the certainty is
not  complete.   People  do  not  always  have   identical
understandings   of   the   meanings   of   symbols   used
individually  or  in  concert.   Even  with  the  best  of
intentions  and  the highest levels of  mutual  trust  and
understanding  the  best of friends do misunderstand  each
other  on  occasion.  They cannot be sure every time  that
they  have understood each other's symbolic behavior  even
as regards the use of formal language.

     Misunderstanding  of  the use of formal  language  is
much  more common when people do not know each other well,
do  not use formal language in quite the same way in  open
and honest communications,  and/or do not trust each other
and  engage  in  various levels  of  misleading  behavior.
Formal language can be used to mislead; even to tell lies.
Lies  are not objective realities because the  meaning  of
symbolic  behavior  is not an objective  reality  existing
independently    of    the   participants   in    symbolic
communication.  Not even universal agreement regarding the
meaning  of some behavior can cause that meaning to be  an
objective reality in the manner of the objective realities
of physical scientists.  Apart from the reflexive behavior
of  the human participants in the agreement,  the  meaning
would not exist.

     People   communicate   a  great  deal  of   important
information  through  language  which is  not  formalized;
e.g., through facial expressions,  body gestures/postures,
bodily  contact,   manner of presence,  etc.   It  is  not
possible to confirm with certainty the meaning of symbolic
behavior  which  makes use of informal language,  for  the
meanings  of  informal symbols are not defined  in  a  way
which can be entered into a dictionary with precision. The
meaning of informal symbolic communications is created  as
much in the perception,  as in the behavior.  It is highly
reflexive  behavior  in which confirmation resides  in  an
extended    pattern   of   reflexive   behavior    between
communicants;  not in agreement about the significance  of
each   individual   symbolic  action.    Even   when   the
participants  are fully agreed as to the meaning of  their
behavior, the meaning is not an objective reality existing
apart from their perception.

                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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