The third perspective, the pragmatic perspective sees communication as patterned interaction (Trenholm, p.24). The example used on page 32 of the text is a great way to show how communication is a patterned interaction. When someone is nice, kind or accepting, you will generally respond back in the same way. If the opposite is expressed, than you will most likely respond the same way. It is a never-ending pattern of interactions between two or more people.
The way this model is described is exactly like a game. Every action is important and every action will have certain interpretations and expectations of the next move. Each player is affected by each move and need one another to play. Each relationship has rules and even not participating is playing the communication game. Your partner/player is the only needed part for the game.
It is not like a game because the perspective does not explore the option of culture and individual personality. This model looks only at the patterns but does not request data for intentions, desire, need, etc. Also, no questions are ever asked what happens to the game when it is no longer located on the board. These things are very important in our lives and need to be questioned.
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