AY Honors/Conflict Resolution/Answer Key

2006-05-30T02:03:43Z

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'''Active listening''' is a way of "[[Hearing (sense)|listening]] for meaning" in which the listener checks with the speaker to see that a statement has been correctly heard and understood. The goal of active listening is to improve mutual [[understanding]].

When [[Interaction|interacting]], people often are not listening attentively to one another. They may be distracted, thinking about other things, or thinking about what they are going to say next, (the latter case is particularly true in [[conflict]] situations or disagreements).

Active listening is a structured way of listening and responding. It focuses attention on the speaker. Suspending one’s own frame of reference and suspending judgement, are important in order to fully [[Attention|attend]] to the speaker. It is also important to observe the other person's [[behavior]] and [[body language]]. Having heard, the listener may then [[paraphrase]] the speaker’s words. It is important to note that the listener is not necessarily agreeing with the speaker—simply stating what was said. In [[Emotion|emotionally]] charged [[communication]]s, the listener may listen for [[feelings]]. Thus, rather than merely repeating what the speaker has said, the active listener might describe the underlying emotion (“you seem to feel angry” or “you seem to feel frustrated, is that because…?”).

Individuals in conflict often [[Contradiction|contradict]] one another. This has the effect of denying the validity of the other person’s position. This can make one [[self-defense|defensive]], and they may either lash out, or withdraw. On the other hand, if one finds that the other partly understands, an atmosphere of [[cooperation]] can be created. This increases the possibility of [[Collaboration|collaborating]] and resolving the conflict.

Active listening is used in a wide variety of situations, including interviews in [[employment]], [[counseling]] and [[Journalism|journalistic]] settings. In groups it may aid in reaching [[Consensus decision-making|consensus]]. It may also be used in casual conversation to build understanding.

The benefits of active listening include getting people to open up, avoiding misunderstandings, resolving conflict and building [[Trust (sociology)|trust]].

==External links==

* [http://www.colorado.edu/conflict/peace/treatment/activel.htm Active Listening] International Online Training Program On Intractable Conflict: Conflict Research Consortium, University of Colorado, USA
* [http://crs.uvm.edu/gopher/nerl/personal/comm/e.html Exercise 4 — Active Listening], Center for Rural Studies, University of Vermont, Montpelier
* [http://communication-skills-4confidence.com/active-listening.html What is active listening?]
* [http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/HE361 Active listening: A communication tool]
* [http://www.listen.org Homepage of the International Listening Association] The professional organization whose members are dedicated to learning more about the impact that listening has on all human activity
* [http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/ucce50/ag-labor/7article/article40.htm Empathic listening skills] How to listen so others will feel heard, or listening first aid (University of California).

[[Category:Hearing]]
[[Category:Interpersonal conflict]]


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AY Honors/Conflict Resolution/Answer Key