Chapter 7: Listening and Responding

Stages of listening

Stage 1: Hearing

Stage 2: Understanding

Stage 3: Evaluating

Stage 4: Responding

Listening Styles

Set of attitudes, beliefs, and predispositions about the how, where, when, who, and what”

1. Action oriented listening style

2. Content oriented listening style

3. People oriented listening style

4. Time oriented listening style

Action Oriented Listening Style

• Reflects a preference for error free and well organized speaking

• Requires informational listening skills

  • Attend to what the speaker is saying

  • Don’t judge the speaker

  • Paraphrase

  • Clarify

  • Review and summarize

e.g. correcting other’s grammar to be “error free”

Content Oriented Listening Style

• Interest in detailed and complex information - prefer debate or argument content

• Attention to details and are interested in the quality of the speech

• Requires informational listening along with additional critical listening skills

  • Consider the speaker’s credibility

  • Listen between the lines

  • Evaluate the messages being sent and their implications

  • Weigh the evidence

  • Periodically review and summarize

People Oriented Listening Style

(: e.g. People who trauma dump on you or tell you that you are a good listener. Empathizers, not sympathizers. Includes patience, emotional labor)

• Often associated with friendly, open communication and an interest in establishing ties with others rather than in controlling them

• Involves supportive listening skills, focusing not only on understanding information, but also listening to others feelings

  • Put the other person at ease

  • Remove distractions

  • Empathize with the other person

  • Be patient

  • Be aware of your own emotions

Time Oriented Listening Style

(: e.g. Listening to your professor talking within the given time that you have that class. Won’t listen to Steve after 14:41 (class ends at 14:4). It is Steve’s job to give us error-free content within this time)

• Prefers brief, concise speech because time is consequential

  • The goal is the aural equivalent of bullet points

  • No specific set of skills accompanies this style

  • This style generally illustrates ineffective listening behavior

  • According to the book, it is best to avoid this style

Listening Differences

Gender, Age, Nationality

Listening Differences: Gender

• Suggests women are better listeners than men

Listening Differences: Age

(e..g. Steve’s sister gets distracted while talking to him because she’s focused on her children at the same time)

• Communication capacities and skill levels change during life stages

• Parents can and should adapt listening behavior for children (who do not understand conversational rules)

• Teenagers often close off channels of communication or grow critical of parents and other adults

• Potential for effective listening increases as children grow into adulthood

• It may become more difficult if hearing ability is an issue as we get older

Listening Differences: Nationality/Ethnicity

• Culture can influence listening (especially nonverbal expression)

• In most Western cultures good listening is demonstrated by eye contact, head nods, and some back channeling vocalizations (“hmmm” “oh”)

• In some cultures, good listening involves avoiding eye-contact

What are the barriers to listening and how do they get in the way?

Physical and Physiological Barriers:

• Noise and Discomfort: Noisy environment and fatigue (affecting alertness) can make it hard to concentrate

• Hearing Disabilities: Many people don’t treat hearing loss due to vanity or lack of funds

Psychological Barriers:

• Boredom and Preoccupation: The mind processes information faster than speech, leading to wandering thoughts and distractinon

Conflicting Objectives:

• Different Goals: When participants have different objectives, they may focus on different aspects of a conversation, affecting how they listen and interpret messages

  • e.g. “This material will be on the midterm” vs“This material with NOT be on the midterm”

Poor Listening Habits:

• Wandering: The most common habit is letting the mind drift and missing the speaker’s message.

How can social status, physical appearance, and vocal cues affect listening?

Social Status: Hierarchy—We often listen more attentively to those we perceive as having higher social status such as doctors or celebrities. This leads to biases where we might not give equal attention to those perceived as lower in social hierarchy

Physical Appearance: Stereotypes—Societal norms about physical attractiveness can affect listening. People with disabilities or those who don’t fit in conventional beauty standards might be ignored

Vocal Cues: Judgement based on voice—The way someone speaks, including accent or pitch, leading to assumptions about their personality or capabilities. (e.g. higher pitched voices might be perceived as less stable)

Can you identify different contexts that call for different listening styles or behaviors?

Behaviors: Social status, physical appearance, vocal cues

Listening Styles:

• Professional Contexts:

  • Content/Critical Listening: In work settings, focusing on the accuracy and organization of information is crucial

  • Empathetic Listening: Understanding colleagues’ perspectives to achieved tasks effectively

• Social Contexts:

  • Relational Listening: About affirming relationships and understanding emotions. Involves sympathy

• Societal Influences:

  • Prejudice and Discrimination: These can affect listening behaviors. (e.g. women or disabled individuals might not be listened to attentively due to biases)

What are soundscapes? How do they function?

Soundscapes are the everyday sounds in our environment (e.g. sirens, chirping)

Functions of Soundscapes:

1. Understand Context: Instructors can “listen” to classroom environment to better understand students

2. Building Community: Can unite people, creating “acoustic community.” (e.g. Native Radio helps indigenous people and white communities understand one another)

3. Cultural and Generational Identity: Reflects technological and social changes (e.g.Rotary phone is more familiar to older generations while younger are familiar with smartphones)

What are some ethical choices we make related to listening?

1. Selective Listening: Choosing what to listen to (e.g. “media candy”)

2. Choosing Not to Listen: Deciding not to listen to certain voices which may limit understanding and perspectives (e.g. Political speakers with opposing views)

3. Listening Together: Attending events like concerts or rallies can foster a sense of community and expose us to new experiences that influence thinking

4. Privacy Consideratins: Ethical listening involves respecting privacy and considering the impact on relationships (e.g. overhearing or accessing unintended messages)