Lecture Notes: Hearing vs. Listening

Definitions and Differences

• Hearing
  • Physiological process of perceiving sound by detecting vibrations through the ear.
  • Involves taking in symbols before making meaning.
  • Passive process; background noise if not attended to.
• Listening
  • Complex psychological process.
  • Involves paying attention, interpreting, and understanding.
  • Active process; involves making meaning that matches the sender's intent.
  • Hearer model: ideal listening involves conscious attention and meaning-making.

Hearer Model of Listening

1. Hearing
   • Take in verbals and non-verbals.
   • Understand symbols.
2. Remembering
   • Retain important aspects.
3. Making Meaning
   • Personal interpretation of the message.
4. Evaluating
   • Determine desired response.
5. Forming a Response
   • Respond appropriately based on evaluation.

COAL: Principles of Effective Listening

• Curiosity
• Openness
• Acceptance
• Love
• Focus on listening, understanding, and responding accurately.

Types of Listening

• Discriminative Listening
  • Focus on important sounds amid noise.
• Comprehensive Listening
  • Understand and remember information; used in classes and interpersonal communication.
• Therapeutic Listening
  • Supportive listening; serving as a sounding board.
  • Emotional needs, venting, and feeling heard.
• Critical Listening
  • Analyzing message validity; common in work and school settings.
• Appreciative Listening
  • Listening for pleasure and enjoyment (e.g., shows, podcasts).

Conclusion

• Listening involves conscious efforts to interpret and respond to messages meaningfully.
• Different types are used in varying contexts, all serving distinct purposes in communication.