Listening process

Listening Process

Listening VS

Hearing

Hearing

• act of receiving sound

Listening• the active process of receiving,

constructing meaning from, and responding to spoken or non-verbal messages

Listening• involves the ability to retain

information, react emphatically, and appreciate to spoken or non-verbal messages

Listening• primary way that we understand

others, enrich our own lives, and learn important and vital information

Listening Process

“Upon hearing your favorite song, the voice of your favorite artist, or the sound of a police siren, you immediately know

what they mean. Your interpreted message is then stored in short-term

memory for immediate use or in long-term memory for future recall.”

(Janusik, 2005)

Natural Barriers in the Listening Process

A. Attention

Selective Attention focus we give to the stimuli we

deem important

A. Attention

Automatic Attention focus we give tot the stimuli signaling in our surroundings, stimuli that we deem important, stimuli that we perceive to

signal changes


B. Working Memory

-part of our consciousness that interprets and assigns meaning to stimuli we pay attention to


B. Working Memory

-recognizing patterns and immediately assigns meaning


C. Short-term Memory

-temporary storage place for information

-retain thoughts that we want to use immediately but do not necessarily want to keep for future reference


C. Short-term Memory

-limitations in quantity or duration of stored information

*POST IT


D. Long-Term Memory

-permanent storage place for information: past experiences, language, values, knowledge, images of people, memories of sights, sounds, and smells and even fantasies


D. Long-Term Memory

-no limitation in the quantity and duration of stored information


D. Long-Term Memory

“Schema” : organizational ‘filing systems’ for our thoughts held in long-term memory


• How come we forget things even if it is in the long-term memory already?

Barriers to Listening

NOISE

Physical DistractionsAll the stimuli in the environment that keep you from focusing on the message.

example: loud music playing


NOISE

Mental Distractions The wandering of the mind when it is supposed to be focusing on something.

example: thinking about a lunch date while listening to a teacher


NOISE

Factual DistractionsFocusing so intently on the details that you miss the main point.

example: listening to all the details of a conversation but forgetting the main idea


NOISE

Semantic DisordersOverresponding to an emotion-laden word or concept. example: not listening to a teacher when he/ she mentions “Marxist Theory”


Perception of Others

Status Devoting attention based on the social standing, rank or perceived value of another. example: not listening to a freshmen group activity



StereotypesTreating individuals as if they are the same as others in a given category.

example: assuming all older people have similar opinions



Sights and soundsLetting appearances or voice qualities affect your listening

example: not listening to a person with a screechy voice


Yourself

EgocentrismExcessive self-focus, or seeing yourself as the central concern in every conversation

example: assuming all older people have similar opinions


Yourself

DefensivenessActing threatened and feeling like you must defend what you have said and done.

example: assuming others’ comments are veiled criticisms of you


Yourself

Experiential SuperiorityLooking down on others as if their experience with life is not as good as yours

example: not listening to those with less experience


Yourself

Personal BiasLetting your own predispositions, or strongly held beliefs, interfere with your ability to interpret information correctly

example: assuming that people are generally truthful or deceitful


Yourself

PseudolisteningPretending to listen but letting your mind or attention wander to something else.

example: daydreaming while your professor is lecturing

Importance of Listening• Listening helps us build and

maintain relationships and can even help us determine whether the person we are to talking to is being deceitful. (diBatista, 1997)

• Listening is also recognized as an essential skill for business success. (Haigh, 2006)

Importance of Listening

• Because of effective listening, we are able to improve workplace relationships and be more productive. (Nichols, 2006)

Importance of Listening

References

• Lucas, Stephen E. (2009). The Art of Public Speaking. 10th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

• Pearson, J. et. al. (2008). Human Communication. 3rd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Business

Listening process