What term describes a person's internal motivations for communicating?

The chosen term, which is "internal states," accurately reflects the concept of a person's internal motivations for communicating. Internal states refer to the emotions, thoughts, beliefs, and desires that drive an individual's desire to engage in communication. These internal motivations can include personal interests, needs for connection, or emotional responses, and they profoundly influence how a person communicates and interacts with others.

When internal states are recognized and understood, they help explain why individuals choose certain words, attitudes, or messages in their communication. This understanding can lead to more effective and empathetic interactions, as individuals become aware of their own motivations and those of others.

In this context, external influences pertain to outside factors affecting communication, while contextual factors consider the surrounding environment or situation in which communication occurs. Social norms refer to the expected behaviors in a given group, but they do not directly relate to a person's internal motivations. Therefore, internal states serve as the best descriptor of the intrinsic motivations that drive communication.