Overcoming Defensiveness: The Key to Active Listening
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Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes' presentation on listening without defensiveness explores the causes and strategies to enhance assertiveness, noting that defensiveness often stems from a lack of safety and past negative experiences. Feeling unsafe can trigger fight or flight responses, manifesting as aggression or shutting down, and violating cognitive and emotional boundaries. The 'PIECES' and 'FIT CAT' mnemonics help manage defensiveness, which can be influenced by physical discomfort, anxiety, and environmental factors. Emotional distress and cognitive overload can lead to perceiving communications as attacks, while spiritual disconnection can heighten defensiveness. Constructive feedback should target behavior, not personal worth, and empathy can reduce defensiveness. Setting and maintaining clear boundaries, both physical and emotional, is crucial, and respecting others' viewpoints fosters mutual respect. Techniques like the 'THINK' mnemonic for feedback, recognizing projection, and practicing conversations can help manage defensiveness, creating a safer and more understanding environment.
Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes' presentation on listening without defensiveness explores the causes and strat