Final answer:
Cultural symbols and idioms of distress are the types of symbols that emotionally express what a system means. They include language, gestures, and customs that carry deep cultural significance. Symbolism in various forms is essential for communication within and across societies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of symbols that express in emotional ways what a system means are often referred to as cultural symbols or idioms of distress. These symbols take various forms, such as language, gestures, objects, and customs, and they play a significant role in communicating complex ideas and emotions within a culture. For example, the practice of hanging "the evil eye" in Greece or the yellow ribbon in the U.S. during World War II are both idioms of distress that convey emotional significance and a shared cultural understanding. Similarly, causal attributions relate to the psychological reasoning behind people's behaviors within their cultural context.
Symbolism is powerful in representing abstract ideas, as even the destruction of symbols like the Berlin Wall in 1989 can signal significant political and emotional messages. In literature, the use of symbols allows writers to communicate multifaceted meanings through a connotative approach, offering a rich terrain for multiple interpretations. Symbols such as national flags or religious icons carry different meanings and evoke a wide range of emotions in people, which is central to their value in communicating ideas and beliefs.