What is the psychological explanation for the need to communicate?

Look at Myers-Briggs personality scale http://www.personalitypathways.com/type_inventory.html.
It will help explain how some people are non-communicative (among other personality types). As one of the quiet ones, I am fine never speaking to others. I wonder why incessant talkers waste so much energy talking! My mind is so busy that speaking and listening interfere with everything I have going on.

Not everyone can River Dance so they are forced to use other means of communication. Primitive yes…but hand signals, winks, and smiles are pretty much all you need to order take out.

@Cruiser, you are a poet!

It is sometimes thought of by evolutionary psychologists as being an extension of social grooming.

@Jewel May I take you order?? ;))

@Cruiser, wink, clap, clap, wave, point, nod, nod. :-)

“I understand white personalities are more social, and being a white, I do not see how others can remain quiet in an otherwise social setting.”

Huh? White personalities? I am not white and in a social setting you can’t shut me up! You may want to leave race out of this question. Just a suggestion.

“I understand white personalities are more social, and being a white…”
A white what?

Haha, I am not putting race into this discussion. That is a very funny misconception. For verification look up the book called The Color Code online. The colors vary, but according to The Color Code it is Blue, Yellow, White, and Red. They are different personalities that fit into these four categories.

You know… this is my first post on Fluther. I was excited because it looked like this community was more knowledgeable than others, but despite the short (though informative) first response, everyone else has not taken the post seriously. Did I ask too many questions? Was I not specific enough? Oh well!

Maybe the Need for affiliation?

@chels your correct.

@Axarraekji
Welcome to Fluther! This is a very good question. I’m aware of the Color Code as well, and I know that many of us have varying degrees of at least a couple of the colors in our makeup. I use it a lot, and find that it helps me a great deal when I strive to understand myself and others better.

I think that most humans have a need to communicate, even if it’s just to convey their needs. Saying that, there will be differing needs according to personality types.

Another widely used personality designation is the Merrill-Reid method, which categorizes people into four basic types:

Driver – communicates quickly and directly. Can be tactless. Comfortable with conflict. Focuses on objective and is decisive.
Expressive – warm and enthusiastic. Good salesmen and motivators. Sometimes would rather talk than do.
Amiable – kind and very uncomfortable with conflict. Can be quiet and soft-spoken. Often artistic and sensitive. Not decisive.
Analytical – highly detail-oriented. Tend to be critical and pessimistic. Possibly the least gregarious of the four types.

These four types of individuals will express themselves differently, and will have differing needs to understand and be understood by others.

Being social is a lot easier when you can express what it is you are thinking and feeling.

I’m still stuck on the ’ white personalities are more social’

Really…whats the data on that?

As an extraverted and outgoing type who also loves her space & peace, I can’t quite hang with all these generalizations.

WHO says whites are more social and who says that talkative types don’t have plenty worth listening to?

We all have some thing important to say.

The need for acknowledgement.

1. Define “communicate”. There are a multitude of different reasons for communication. Social? Information exchange? Otherwise purposive?

2. Why do you buy the personality type generalisations? They neither help nor clarify; at best, they obfuscate.

The world of psychology has a lot to say about personality in statistical terms. A good psychologist will avoid easy labels like “white personalities”.

I’m still stuck on the ’ white personalities are more social’
Really…whats the data on that?

You’re right, as I am still studying the personality types it looks like I jumped to conclusions. From the book: “Whites are motivated by other people’s desires. Their gentle nature and diplomacy wins them many loyal friends. Their agreeable and peaceful dispositions make them an asset to any family, friendship, or business…” I suppose I just concluded that they are more social from this, but you’re right, it appears to be just my conclusion based on information I am still learning.

As an extraverted and outgoing type who also loves her space & peace, I can’t quite hang with all these generalizations.
WHO says whites are more social and who says that talkative types don’t have plenty worth listening to?

I think all personality types are worth listening to! I am getting my information from Taylor Hartman, Ph.D., author of The Color Code

Define “communicate”. There are a multitude of different reasons for communication. Social? Information exchange? Otherwise purposive?

I was thinking oral communication for the purpose of socializing and perhaps fulfilling the five human needs, that being social, physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual. For example, you have a conversation about something relatively stimulating (to the brain), that satisfies your intellectual need; You talk to someone face to face, you are close to someone and it fulfills in some way the physical need; emotional need is met by communicating and clarifying thoughts, feelings, etc; spiritual need could be met through understanding principles of the religion through discussion, etc.

Why do you buy the personality type generalisations? They neither help nor clarify; at best, they obfuscate.
The world of psychology has a lot to say about personality in statistical terms. A good psychologist will avoid easy labels like “white personalities”.

I think I see what you mean about avoiding labels. In learning about personalities and psychology, I like to try to be specific and accurate. However, these generalizations, such as the four personality types, are a base for understanding human behavior. It is a way to simplify a topic for the purpose of coming to an understanding. It is a way to grasp the concept and then discuss the details. I have come across people who refuse to believe that everyone can be summed into four categories. But I happen to agree with the color codes and I believe that they are remarkably accurate, but I can only say that based on my observations and life experiences.
Thank you, everyone, for your questions and responses. They are helping me clarify what I am learning and what direction I need to go.

Just a quick aside here….

Are we referring to normal people, or to all people? I think that us Aspies will have our own reasons for communicating, and likely quite different reasons from most people.

Part of the answer has to be evolutionary. We have always lived in groups and are naturally concerned about our status within the group. Our ability to communicate is a key to our success. I realize the need to communicate varies from one person to another and there are extreme cases of people content to live in complete isolation. Still I think that for the most part we are born with a base level need to communicate.

@jerv Quite true. I will never fit well on any scale or study of neuro normal folks. I am not always sure why I communicate, and neither are the people I try to communicate with.

@Axarraekji: Sorry, I’m not familiar with the color code. I represent others on fluther who are not either, so thanks for clarifying. :)

And I don’t think it is about being more or less knowledgeable: different people with varying knowledge of facts/trivia come through here and sometimes they may respond to your post (knowledgeable or not), sometimes they may not, depending on who sees it and when. So, don’t take it personally if you’re not getting the “quality” of responses you are seeking.

Evolution. Communication became far more sophisticated when our ancestors came down their trees exploring unchartered territory and trying to survive.

Though certainly poetic and a lovely thought, @Cruiser – how is stomping the floor with your hands stuck to your side communicating? It’s more like a fuming woman throwing pots and pans at her two-timing husband than communication. Ballet, now that’s communicating.

;-)

@zenele You need to expand your communicating horizon as twirling around on your tippy toes may be expressive but so is a hawt woman wearing Daisy Dukes and her leather construction boots stomping across the bar room floor and slamming her empty glass mug on the bar with a wink and a smile…That is communicating!

Oh, @Cruiser! You are such a smooth talker! And I agree. There is nothing more expressive that someone expressing anger, or sexuality. Ballet is beautiful, but it isn’t supposed to communicate something personal to me. A fuming woman with her hands on her hips tells me A LOT! Like duck! I goofed up and there is hell to pay!

@Cruiser Awwww. You’d do that for me?

@Jewel A woman’s hands on her hips trumps a mans folded arms any day and hell to pay would be getting off easy!! lol!

@zenele I’d show you my Daisy Dukes but I am taken and I promised to never wear them in public again! ;)

@Cruiser I had to look up that reference. Do you mean this?

@zenele Close!! I meant these

@Cruiser I like yours better.

I think in one way or another it come out. I don’t think you are any different in that than anyone else. Some people recognize they have this need. Some have it and simply deny they do. It will simply come out in another form like aggressive behavior or even passive aggressive behavior.
As for why do I communicate? Because I haven’t met a mind reader yet. Talking an writting are the only two ways I know of being able to fully get my point across. Of course hitting someone will too but I’m not a violent person. Of course having sex is another way of expressing one’s self and showing without a doubt what is on your mind.