The particular characterization of a process as a succession of states (
see behavior ). As is true for all descriptions, punctuations are observer dependent. So the sequence ...abababa... can be variously described as a repetition of "ab" or as a repetition of "ba". Such a difference becomes significant in
relations between individuals or between nations where it matters a great deal whether an event is taken to be an action or a response, e.g., whether a husband withdraws because the wife nags or the wife nags because a husband withdraws. Differences in punctuation underlie many
communication pathologies (
see pathology ), and many international
conflicts. (
Krippendorff )
