Difference Between Active Listening And Passive Listening

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM:

This research project aims to critically examine active listening and passive listening. Listening skills are very important for proper communication. Active listening is when the listener is fully engaged and reacts to the ideas presented by the speaker and passive listening is when the listener does not react to the ideas of the speaker but merely listens.

OBJECTIVES:

• To understand the definition of active and passive listening.

• To understand the difference between active listening and passive listening.

• To look at different situations in which these listening skills can be used.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS:

• What is the difference between active listening and passive listening?

• What are the different signs of active

Research shows that a lot of times when a person is talking the listener isn’t actually listening, or if the listener is listening then he is not retaining 100% information of what is being said but only 25%-50% of the spoken information. Active listening is used to focus the attention of the speaker. It is difficult to master but can be acquired through practice and patience. It involves listening with all the senses and giving complete attention to the speaker. An active listener should also show signs of listening like different gestures and verbal, non-verbal messages. Active listening is a structured form of listening that helps to focus attention on the speaker. The listener must listen attentively to what is being said and then repeat it to the speaker in the listener’s own words, thus showing the speaker how much he has understood and heard. If he has any problem then the speaker can explain some more. Quite a few times, the listener can interpret the speaker’s words in terms of feelings and then while paraphrasing he can say that from this speech I gathered that you felt happiness or sadness or anger, etc. Then the speaker can confirm whether what the listener paraphrased is correct or not. Active listening has several benefits like it makes people listen attentively

ACTIVE LISTENING PASSIVE LISTENING

DEFINITION Active listening is when the listener is fully focused and reacts to the speaker. Passive listening is when the listener does not react to the speaker but listens quietly.

COMMUNICATION This form of listening leads to a two way communication. This form of listening leads to one way communication.

REACTIONS OF THE LISTENER In active listening the listener uses verbal and non-verbal cues to react. Here the listener does not react.

EFFORT In active listening the listener needs to make a lot effort. In passive listening, the listener has to make no efforts.

OTHER ACTIVITIES INVOLVED Here the listener analyzes, evaluates and summarizes. Here the listener merely listens.

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DIFFERENT SIGNS OF ACTIVE LISTENING

DIFFERENT SIGNS OF ACTIVE LISTENING:

Generally speakers want listeners to demonstrate active listening using verbal and non-verbal cues.

NON-VERBAL SIGNS:

People who are listening attentively are likely to use these non-verbal signs to show that they are attentive.

• Smile: Small smiles can be used as a gesture of acknowledgement towards the speaker. This will help the speaker understand that the message he was trying to convey has been