What characteristic might the receiver's interpretation of a message depend on?

The interpretation of a message by the receiver is heavily influenced by their past experiences and values. This is because individuals come with their own unique backgrounds that shape how they perceive and understand information. Personal experiences can create biases or predispositions towards certain topics, while values inform what is important or relevant to the individual. For instance, someone who has had a negative experience with authority might interpret a message from a police officer differently than someone who has had positive interactions with law enforcement.

Factors such as the time of day, the sender's familiarity with the receiver, and the context in which the message was sent can also play a role in how a message is interpreted, but they do not have as direct and fundamental an impact as a person's experiences and values. These characteristics form the lens through which messages are filtered, ultimately guiding the understanding and meaning derived from communication. Consequently, individuals with vastly different life experiences may interpret the same message in entirely different ways based solely on those experiences and the values they hold.