Communication may be occurring in the present, but it is past experiences which develop intrapersonal variables such as beliefs, values, perceptions, attitudes and biases which in turn influence your interpretation of and how you react to the intended message.

Consequently, it is essential to consider these variables (Barker, & Gaut, 2002) because they form the foundations that determine everything we do and say and are the lenses through which we communicate to others and perceive what others are communicating to us (Cole, 2000).