COMM 315 1nd EditionExam # 1 Study Guide Lectures: 7-15Lecture 7 (September 18)Chapter 5: Listening and Responding SkillsListening (a complex process of selecting, attending to, creating meaning from, remembering, and responding to verbal and nonverbal messages) is a complex process that involves the five elements: 1. Selecting- the process of choosing one sound as you sort through the various sounds competing for your attention 2. Attending- focusing on the sound you select. Can be fleeting, since it is sometimes selective 3. Understanding- the process of assigning meaning to the sounds you select and to which you attend. 4. Remembering- the process of recalling information 5. Responding- the process of confirming your understanding of a messageto verbal and nonverbal messages. Listening and responding with verbal and nonverbal feedback are crucial parts of effective interpersonal communication. We spend more time listening than participating in any other communication activity. Hearing is the physiological process of decoding sounds.Your listening style is your preferred way of making sense out of spoken messages that you hear. Researchers have found that there are four distinct listening styles:1. Relational Listeners- those who prefer to focus on the emotions and feelings communicated verbally and nonverbally by others2. Analytical Listeners- those who withhold judgment, listen to all sides of an issue and wait until they hear the facts before reaching a conclusion3. Critical Listeners- those who prefer to listen for the facts and evidence to support key ideas and an underlying logic. These types of listeners engage in second guessing (questioning the ideas and assumptions underlying a message; assessing whether the message is true or false).4. Task-Oriented Listeners- those who look at the overall structure of the message to see what action needs to be takenYou may use one primary listening style or several different styles, depending on the communication context and objectives. Culture and ethnicity can also influence how you listen to others. Understanding your own listening style and other’s styles can help you adapt to others and become a more effective listenerMost of us don’t listen as well as we should because we tend to be self-absorbed rather than other-oriented. Also, we often focus more on how we are going to respond rather than actually listening to what the other person is saying. Barriers to effective listening include:1. Being Self Absorbed- focusing on getting your needs met and being oblivious to the needs of others. Includes conversational narcissism (a focus on personal agendas and self-absorption rather than on the needs and ideas of others) and selective listening (letting pre-formed biases, prejudices, expectations, and stereotypes cause us to hear what we want to hear, instead of listening to what a speaker actually said). You can overcome this barrier by consciously becoming aware of the self-focus and shift attention.2. Being Distracted by Unchecked Emotions- words can arouse people emotionally. Includes emotional noise (a form of communication interference caused by emotional arousal). You can overcome this barrier by using self-talk to manage emotions.3. Criticizing the Speaker- being critical of the speaker can distract a listener from focusing on the message. Ambush listeners are people who are overly critical and judgmental when listening to others. You can overcome this barrier by focusing on the message, not the messenger4. Not Taking Advantage of the Difference Between Speech Rate and Thought Rate- The average person speaks at 125 words per minute. However, as a listener, you’re able to process 600-800 words per minute. The difference between your mental ability to handle words and the speed at which they arrive at your cortical centers can cause trouble, allowing you time to daydream and to tune the speaker in and out, giving you the allusion that you are concentrating more attentively than you actually are. You can overcome this barrier by using the time difference between speech rate and thought rate to mentally summarize the message. 5. Being Distracted by Information Overload- We are constantly bombarded by technology and information interruptions. This overload can prevent us from being able to communicate effectively with people around us. We can overcome this barrier by realizing when you or your partner is tired or distracted and not ready to listen.6. External Noise- Literal sounds in the environment can make it hard to focus on the message being delivered. We can overcome this barrier by taking charge of the listening environment by eliminating distractions7. Experiencing Listener Apprehension- Some people get nervous or anxious about listening to others. Listener apprehension is the fear of misunderstanding, misinterpreting, or being unable to adjust to the spoken messages of others. We can overcome this barrier by concentrating on the message as you mentally summarize what you hearTo become a better and more other-oriented listener, you can follow what at first glance may seem a simple instruction, but is sometimes a challenge to implement: 1. Stop- put your own thoughts aside, be there mentally as well as physically, make aconscious, mindful effort to listen, take adequate time to listen (don’t rush the speaker and be patient), and be open minded 2. Look- nonverbal messages are powerful. Involves meta-message (a message about a message), which is the message a person is expressing via nonverbal means (such as by facial expression, eye contact, and posture) about the message articulated with words. Establish eye contact and try not to be distracted by nonverbal cues that could prevent you from interpreting the message correctly. Avoid fidgeting or performing other tasks when someone is speaking to you; listen with your eyes. 3. Listen- Create meaning from your partner’s verbal and nonverbal messages. Mentally summarize details and link those details with main ideas. Try to be an active listener (involved in the message; listening, responding with appropriate feedback and appropriately