An attempt to develop a pragmatic theory of human communication, with special attention to behavior disorders. The authors introduce and define a number of concepts and correlate them with aspects of pathological communication, they extend the theory to the organization of human interaction, and exemplify it with an analysis of 'Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf?'. They analyze the behavioral effects of paradoxical communication, and illuminate its role in psychotherapy. The book is concluded with general reflections and prospects.