Visualize yourself ready to talk with the following people on the topics noted. What barriers to listening (from any stage: receiving, understanding, remembering, evaluating, and responding) might arise in each encounter? What would you do to prevent these barriers from interfering with effective listening? A friend tells you he’s HIV positive. A religious demonstrator on campus argues that premarital sex is a sin. A relative argues that abortion, regardless of the circumstances, is murder. In thinking about these situations, consider, for example: How would your initial expectations influence your listening? How would you assess the person's credibility (even before you begin to talk)? How will this influence your listening? Will you begin listening with a positive, a negative, or a neutral attitude? How might these attitudes influence your listening?

Visualize yourself ready to talk with the following people on the topics noted. What barriers to listening (from any stage: receiving, understanding, remembering, evaluating, and responding) might arise in each encounter? What would you do to prevent these barriers from interfering with effective listening?

• A friend tells you he’s HIV positive.

• A religious demonstrator on campus argues that premarital sex is a sin.

• A relative argues that abortion, regardless of the circumstances, is murder.

In thinking about these situations, consider, for example: How would your initial expectations influence your listening? How would you assess the person's credibility (even before you begin to talk)? How will this influence your listening? Will you begin listening with a positive, a negative, or a neutral attitude? How might these attitudes influence your listening?