Both communicators are affected by their individual backgrounds, as well as by their individual intentions, objectives and expectations. Communicator B has to deal with the effect of the message separately and react on the basis of her perception of its meaning and intention.
Built into the sender’s message are:
• what he wants her reaction to be
• what he expects the reaction to lead to
• what the expected outcome of the message should be.
The receiver’s understanding of the message will determine the effect of the message, her reaction and behavior toward, and ultimate relationship with, the sender.
The resultant relationship is determined mainly by the relationship between the content of the sender’s message and the receiver’s understanding of the message, and strengthened by the receiver’s reaction to the message and behavior toward the sender.