Chapter 7 - Listening and Responding

Question 1

Listening

Answer 1

The process of receiving, constructing meaning from, and responding to spoken and/or nonverbal messages.

Question 2

Sensing

Answer 2

The stage of listening most people refer to as “hearing”; when listeners pick up the sound waves directed toward them.

Question 3

Understanding

Answer 3

Interpreting the messages associated with sounds or what the sounds mean.

Question 4

What are six reasons for learning about listening and responding?

Answer 4

1) We spend so much time doing it.
2) Better listening skills can lead to improved cognition.
3) Improved academic performance.
4) Enhanced personal relationships.
5) Enhanced professional performance.
6) Better health.

Question 5

Why are good listening and responding skills so important in professional settings?

Answer 5

Better listening at work means fewer misunderstandings, less time lost on the job, and greater productivity. Listening seems to play an interesting role in career advancement as well.

Question 6

Evaluating

Answer 6

Assessing your reaction to a message.

Question 7

Responding

Answer 7

Showing others how you regard their message.

Question 8

What are the four stages of listening?

Answer 8

1) Sensing
2) Understanding
3) Evaluating
4) Responding

Question 9

What is the role of critical thinking in the process of listening?

Answer 9

Critical thinking skills are important in evaluating what you have heard.

Question 10

Listening Style

Answer 10

A set of attitudes, beliers, and predispostions about the how, where, wen, who, and what of the information receiving and encoding process.

Question 11

Action-Oriented

Answer 11

Listening style that reflects a preference for error-free and well-organized speaking.

Question 12

Informational Listening

Answer 12

Listening skills that are useful in situations requiring attention to content.

Question 13

Content-Oriented

Answer 13

A listening style that reflects an interest in detailed and complex information, simply for the content itself.

Question 14

Critical Listening

Answer 14

Listening skills that are useful in a wide variety of situations - particularly those involving persuasive speaking.

Question 15

People-Oriented

Answer 15

A listening style that is associated with friendly, open communication and an interest in establishing ties with others.

Question 16

Supportive Listening

Answer 16

Listening skills focused not only on understanding information bit also “listening” to others’ feelings.

Question 17

Time-Oriented

Answer 17

A listening style that prefers brief, concise speech.

Question 18

What are the four primary listening styles, and in what contexts are each of them most appropriate?

Answer 18

1) Action-Oriented - at work and school.
2) Content-Oriented - when listening to a political speech or a sales pitch, or when friends or acquaintances try to persuade you to see their point of view about an issue or activity.
3) People-Oriented - Informal personal situations, like when we are with friends, family, and relational partners.
4) Time-Oriented - Emergency situations.

Question 19

How do gender, age, and nationality influence listening and responding behaviors?

Answer 19

Gender: Men are supposedly logical, judgmental, interrupting, inattentive, self-centered, and impatient. Women are stereotyped as emotional, non-interupting, attentive, empathetic, other-centered, responsive, and patient. Women are more accommodating, and focused on the speaker, men focus on facts and handle distractions better, and men interrupt more than women.

Age: Young children stubble sometimes to interpret the meaning of others and to follow adult conversation norms - that is, to listen when others are speaking, not interrupting, and respond to instructions. They have more to say than they can express. Teenagers may close off channels and be critical of parents or other adults.

Nationality: What people consider appropriate nonverbal expressions of listening differ.

Question 20

What are four common barriers to effective listening and responding?

Answer 20

1) Physical and Physiological
2) Psychological
3) Conflicting Objectives
4) Poor Listening Habits

Question 21

What are common sources of preoccupation that prevent us from listening?

Answer 21

Thinking of other things, such as extensive to-do lists and feeling stress. Having a personal agenda in a conversations, and being emotional.

Question 22

Soundscape

Answer 22

The everyday sounds in our environments.

Question 23

What are three “filters” of social hierarchy that influence how we listen and respond to others?

Answer 23

1) Social Status
2) Physical Appearance
3) Vocal Cues

Question 24

How do contexts affect how we listen and respond to others?

Answer 24

Different contexts call for different listening styles and behaviors. Societal forces may also effect listening factors.

Question 25

What are some contexts where choosing to listen (or not listen) is an ethical decision?

Answer 25

Say a friend or yours is passing along a vicious rumor about another person or telling a racial joke.

Question 26

What are some ethical choices relating to listening and responding?

Answer 26

The choice to cut ourselves off from our immediate environment. The choice to listen selectively. The choice not to listen. The choice to listen together.