Listening VS Hearing
Hearing and listening are often used interchangeably – because most people think they mean the same thing – but they have two very different meanings. Hearing is a natural sense that allows you to detect sound. Listening is when you make the effort to pay attention to someone’s words and sentences.
In other words, hearing is passive – it’s basically something that happens whether you want it to or not. But to really listen, you have to decide to pay attention. The distinctions between hearing and listening are significant.
What is the difference between listening and hearing
Here we will try to explain the difference between listening and hearing.
Hearing is an accidental and automatic brain response to sound that requires no effort. We are surrounded by sounds most of the time. For example, we are accustomed to the sounds of airplanes, lawn mowers, furnace blowers, the rattling of pots and pans, and so on. We hear those incidental sounds and, unless we have a reason to do otherwise, we train ourselves to ignore them. We learn to filter out sounds that mean little to us, just as we choose to hear our ringing cell phones and other sounds that are more important to us.
Listening, on the other hand, is purposeful and focused rather than accidental. As a result, it requires motivation and effort. Listening, at its best, is active, focused, concentrated attention for the purpose of understanding the meanings expressed by a speaker. We do not always listen at our best, however, and later in this chapter we will examine some of the reasons why and some strategies for becoming more active critical listeners.
Hearing and listening are often used interchangeably – because most people think they mean the same thing – but they have two very different meanings. Hearing is a natural sense that allows you to detect sound. Listening is when you make the effort to pay attention to someone’s words and sentences.
In other words, hearing is passive – it’s basically something that happens whether you want it to or not. But to really listen, you have to decide to pay attention. The distinctions between hearing and listening are significant.
Benefits of Listening
- You Become a Better Student
- You Become a Better Friend
- People Will Perceive You as Intelligent and Perceptive
- Good Listening Can Help Your Public Speaking
Thedifference between listening and hearing is more important than you may realize. Think about it: if you hear what someone says, but you don’t listen, you’re more likely to make a mistake or end up with a misunderstanding on your hands. The good news is that we can all practice listening and develop our skills.
Examples of hearing vs. listening
James took a seat and allowed Tony to take the stage and explain the project he had in mind, however, James had already had his reply ready even before Tony started. James was going to refuse to help regardless of what Tony had to offer. So he simply sat and let Tony do the talking out of courtesy, but had no intention of taking in any new information coming his way. The decision to say “no” had already been made.
Tina, on the contrary, was excited to have Cory explain his upcoming project. As he was proposing and sharing ideas, Tina repeated them back wanting to clarify and confirm she’s been understanding his ideas. She asked about Cory’s towards particular questions, expressed concerns and showed her own feelings. In other words, Tina was actively involved in the conversation. Tina’s involvement was more than just hearing, she listened with her and soul.
Examples of hearing versus listening in Bible
God wants us to do the verb, he wants us to listen.
“Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness?” God is more interested in what we do with the sound or the information that we hear.
Romans 6:16
“Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you because you obey the voice of the Lord your God.”
Deuteronomy 28:1-2
“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”
Luke 6:46
Tags: hearing, hearing versus listening, hearing vs listening, listening, listening versus hearing, listening vs hearing, perseption, psychology“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him, and he with Me.”
Revelation 3:20