Types of Non-Listening

1. Types of Non-Listening Pseudolistening Monopolizing Selective Defensive Ambushing Literal

2. Pseudolistening is pretending to listen. When we pseudolisten, we appear to be attentive, but really our minds are elsewhere. Sometimes we pseudolisten because we don�t want to hurt a friend who is sharing experiences, even though we are not really interested. For example on the job, we often have to appear interested in what others say because of their position.

3. Monopolizing is continuously focusing communication on ourselves instead of listening to the person who is talking. A well known monopolizing tactic is interrupting to divert attention from the speaker to ourselves or to topics that interest us.

4. Selective listening is focusing on only particular parts of messages. We listen selectively when we screen out parts of a message that don�t interest us or make us uncomfortable. One form of selective listening is focusing only on aspects of communication that interest us or correspond with our values.

5. Defensive listening involves perceiving personal attacks, criticism, or hostile undertones in communication when no offense is intended. For example, an innocent remark such as �Have you finished your report yet?� may be perceived as a criticism that you aren�t doing your work.

6. Ambushing is listening carefully for the purpose of attacking a speaker. Unlike the other kinds of nonlistening, ambushing involves very careful listening, but it isn�t motivated by a desire to understand another. Instead ambushers listen intently to gather ammunition that they can use to attack a speaker.

7. Literal listening involves listening only for content and ignoring the relationship level of meaning. When we listen only literally, we are insensitive to other�s feelings and we don�t make the effort to understand how others feel about what they say or to endorse them as people.