Question

Write any two factors that affect active listening.

Hint:

To improve active listening under distracting conditions, utilize the LADDER strategy: Look at the speaker, Ask questions, Don't interrupt, Don't change the subject, Exhibit empathy, and Respond appropriately.

Answer 1

Step 1: Conceptual Foundation of Active Listening Active listening is a cognitive communication process that involves more than just hearing acoustic vibrations. It is the conscious receiving, decoding, and interpreting of both verbal and non-verbal messages from a sender, followed by an appropriate and reflective response.

Step 2: Deep-Dive into Primary Factors Active listening is highly sensitive to a variety of internal and external factors. Two of the most significant factors that directly impact this process are:
• Environmental and Physical Distractions (External Factor): The physical setting in which communication occurs can severely degrade listening comprehension. High levels of background noise (such as construction, vehicular traffic, or ambient conversations), extreme ambient temperatures, uncomfortable seating, and poor acoustic design in a room divert cognitive attention. This increases the listener's mental fatigue and reduces their capacity to process the incoming message.
• Psychological and Internal Barriers (Internal Factor): A listener's emotional and mental state serves as a powerful cognitive filter. High stress, anxiety, or personal anger can consume working memory, preventing deep comprehension. Additionally, cognitive biases (such as holding prejudices against the speaker, stereotyping, or preparing a counter-argument while the speaker is still talking) lead to selective listening, which distorts the message.

Step 3: Communication Impact When these factors are unmitigated, they lead to miscommunication, loss of critical data, and relational friction. Active listening requires conscious effort to minimize environmental clutter and exercise self-regulation to keep mental biases in check.