LISTENING: BARRIER

 

BARRIERS IN LISTENING PROCESS:

Following are the different types of barriers in listening process:

a)      Distraction of mind: This is one of the effective barriers to listening process, caused due to personal mood of speaker, place of sitting, thinking about          domestic and personal problem, atmosphere, hurried or worried noise or it can be external, internal, physical or mental.

b)     Lack of motivation and interest: Listening always costs time, physical & mental energy. If there is no motivation or interest listener don’t listen actively. There may be some reasons of lack of motivation like unfamiliar speaker, ineffective speech, unrelated subject, lack of faith & confidence etc.

c)      Emotions: Sometimes due to the emotions, it is finding difficult for listeners to listen effectively and concentrate on screen. Emotions like Joy, sorrow, worry, excitement, frustration, depression, anger or unsecure feelings of listener etc. works as barriers to effective listening.

d)     Taking or writing notes: Taking notes while listening acts as barrier to listening as listener remain busy in taking notes and doesn’t pay attention to the words of speaker.

e)     Preconceived notions: prejudgment of speaker or subject works as a barrier to good listening.

f)       Rebuttal instinct: It is an act of rebutting which proves that, whatever said by speaker is wrong and gradually results in quarrels between small groups & listening process becomes affected due to this act.

g)      Jumbled & mumbled words: Use of jumbled and mumbled words make effective listening difficult. It is difficult to listen or understand the speech; hence listener cannot comprehend the message.

h)     Psychological ear muffs: Listeners develops physiological ear muffs to avoid necessary matter or details to be listened to.

i)       Perception: Perception of listener is also one of the effective barriers to listening. If the listener is unable to perceive the meaning of the message, it may produce a barrier to active listening.

j)       Hallo effect: Hallo effect is the state of mind which is based on capacity of listener to trust or distrust on the speaker. If the listener trusts the speaker then   everything that he says appears true & if listeners distrust the speaker, then everything that he says appears untrue.

k)      Noise: noise in the communication process is one of the barriers in effective communication and it cannot be ignored because it distracts the listener from understanding message clearly.

l)       Defensive listening: This barrier arises only when the listener is sensitive and takes everything as personal attack.

m)   Emotional block: Emotional block is a “Deaf spot” which prevents a      person from taking in and retaining certain ideas.