3) Barriers to Active Listening

There are many different kinds of barriers to active listening. People may fall victim to this all the time because communication between other is so frequent. These common barriers include: Lack of Interest, distracting delivery, external and internal noise, arrogance and disrespect, preprogrammed emotional response, ambushing, listening for facts, faking attention-Pseudo-listening, thought speed, and other barriers such as laziness or tiredness. There are so many different kind of distractions that may draw our focus anywhere but the conversation. It is such a frequent problem but we as humans have learned to work around these problems. When I don’t listen to what is being said, I give up the impression that I am listening but I tend to focus out and lose interest on what is being understood. It even happens several times a day but sometimes they are so small that it passes as soon as possible. Listening should be be applied in all conversations but that may not always be the case! 

2) Selective Attention

A situation where I was a victim to selective attention was a conversation with my mother recently. She has been constantly complaining to me about school which is nothing really new to me. She always tells me to focus because its good for my future, for my business, for the family, so on and so forth. I have heard this speech well over a few hundred times (Dont get me wrong, I do believe her). But I tend to zone out when she is talking to me. I believe that I do this because I already assume what she is going to say, so I just start to venture off in my own thoughts of what I have to do later in the day or homework coming up. I have very bad ADD and it is common for me to drift off in my thoughts. I guess a good way to overcome this would to actually pay attention what she says and be more responsive in the conversation. Focusing on what is being said is a good way to avoid selective attention.

1) Four Phases of Listening

A recent situation that involved one of the four phases of listening was when I had to sit through class. It is a general studies communication class and I haven't much sleep the night before. I was really out of it early in the morning so I couldn't take in any of the information being taught in class. In fact, I could barely keep my eyes open. The information were just sounds traveling through one ear and out the other without any retention of what is actually being said. I think the hardest component of listening is actually hearing the music. Selective attention definitely can affect what the person is listening because they may not fully envelope what is being said. Their mind can be drifting off some place else while the other person is chatting away. When we choose not to listen to something, we purposely focus our attention on some other thoughts. We can overcome this problem of listening by actually really concentrating on what is being taught.

3) Sex-role Stereotyping

Sex-role stereotyping affects many cultures from other countries to our very back yard. It seems culturally normal to assume that males take the leadership roles while the women are there just for support. However, studies show that women can be just as effective as men in leadership positions. Important roles in American government usually are male supervisors such as the president. There are up and coming female leaders such as senators and governors. In relations to small group, there should be no stereotyping between any members. The sex of the person does not represent what their knowledge and capabilities are. It is wrong to judge a person before you get to know them. Its better to meet them with an unbiased open attitude that welcomes them and their knowledge to the group's meeting. Even though its been in a lot of cultures that males reign supreme, we are now in an age where we should not be sexist.

2) Proxemics and Chronemics

Proxemics is the study of how we use space to communicate. In small group communication, it is how we facilitate ourselves with other members. For example, sitting across or next to specific members can show a better relationship. Chromenics is the study of the use of time. Time is of the essence when working in small groups. Time management and orientation is a necessity for success of small groups.

In different cultures, giving other people respectable proxemics means giving them their space. Since we do not know them that well, we cant be entirely close to them. but at the same time must be close to them. For chromenics, when we are with other people, we try to be respectable as their time is available and we shouldnt waste it. we should be prompt and respectable that they are giving up time for us. Whenever I have to meet someone for an interview, i make sure i am clear and concise so we do not waste time for them and myself.

1) Principles of Nonverbal Communication

There are eight principles that outline nonverbal communication. Nonverbal communication is what our body language and actions show. The symbolism created by nonverbal communication says a lot about our intentions and actions. Two principles that stuck out to me were: 1 and 2

1) Nonverbal communication affects the quality of our relationships: Our actions show what we feel about another person. The actions we commit around another person shows our real intentions and thoughts. For example, a person of attraction, you would notice the other person start to flip their hair or try to look more attractive. In a negative light, giving a person expressionless staring shows that you are thinking of them in a negative way. There can be small group disrepancy when members choose to show each other positive or

2) Nonverbal communication is more likely to be believed than verbal communication: "Actions speak louder than words."Our actions should back up what we say or do. In small groups if we tell other members that we are going to do it, but dont do it. It shows our lack of responsibility. However If we do, do what we are supposed to do, we are seen in a positive light.