14. Forms and Functions of Communication

The programme is focused on investigating the social, cultural and psychological functions of communication, the conditions of understanding among individuals and social groups, and the sources of communication failures. The subjects of the research include the development of forms of communication and their function in generating, maintaining, and disrupting social structures, the role of communication in shaping personality and its contribution to the emergence of personality disorders, the possibilities of formal analysis and modelling the processes through which linguistic utterances are understood and language is acquired, the nature of communication among scientific disciplines and between the scientific community and society, the communicative functions of art, and the social conditions for their fulfillment. Each of the ten main research topics is conceived as a basis for collaboration among representatives of various disciplines and Academic institutes. The typical outputs are collective monographs, thematic issues of journals, interdisciplinary (and in most cases international) conferences, exhibitions etc.

In view of the key role played by communication in all spheres of social life, it can be expected that the research results will find relevant practical applications and will be of use to (among others): a) institutions regulating the (potentially contentious) relations between social groups, including those whose participation in the social dialogue is for various reasons limited; b) institutions active in the sphere of education and edification; c) institutions responsible for directing scientific research, for creating the necessary conditions for its development and for the social applications of its results; d) institutions responsible for implementing state cultural policy and for creating favorable conditions for the social functions of art.

Website of the programme