Listening as a Goal-Directed Activity

Abstract

Listening styles are a frequently studied construct in the listening literature and are a ubiquitous aspect of interpersonal textbooks. Treatments of listening styles typically consider them as static tendencies utilized irrespective of situational demands. This article extends work on listening styles by questioning if styles are habitual ways of processing information or if they are goal-driven behaviors influenced by interaction context. We predict that styles vary according to the nature of the situation. Participants (N = 382), comprised of 269 female and 102 males who were primarily White and reported a mean age of 20, provided accounts of listening interactions and completed assessments of conversational goals and listening styles utilized during these encounters. Findings indicate listening styles change according to demands of the interaction as a function of empathy, depth, and perspective taking. The relevancy of these characteristics is attributed to the relational quality of the narratives provided by participants. Styles seem to represent cognitive schemas people hold for situational listening in that they are purposefully deployed according to the demands of the interaction and goals of the listener.

Keywords:

• Habitual Listening
• Listener Goals
• Listening
• Listening Styles
• Situational Features

Notes

Note. A total of 143 were classified as reporting one primary style (37.4%). 174 (45.51%) were classified as reporting multiple primary narrative listening styles and 65 (17.0%) reported no primary listening style. All items begin with the phrase, “It was important for me … ”.

Note. Amb = Ambience; Comp = Companionship; Emp = Empathy; PT = Perspective Taking; R = Relational Listening Style; A = Analytical Listening Style; T = Task Listening Style; C = Critical Listening Style.

*p < .01.

This phenomenon was also noted in Watson et al. (1995) where 40% of respondents reported multiple styles.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Christopher C. Gearhart

Christopher C. Gearhart is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Tarleton State University.

Jonathan P. Denham

Jonathan P. Denham is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Communication Studies at Louisiana State University.

Graham D. Bodie

Graham D. Bodie is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Louisiana State University.