Carl Rogers said in the 1960’s, “… Suppose I say with some
feeling, “I think the Republicans are behaving in ways that show a lot of good
sound sense these days,” what is the response that arises in your mind as you
listen? The overwhelming likelihood is that it will be evaluative. You will
find yourself agreeing, or disagreeing, or making some judgment about me such
as “He must be a conservative,” or “He seems solid in his thinking.””
He is giving an example of what he calls the major barrier to mutual interpersonal communication: “our very
natural tendency to judge, to evaluate, to approve or disapprove, the statement
of the other person, or the other group.”
Much political fatigue from political campaigns, conventions
and comments from friends to Facebook is felt.
By using Rogerian Listening, to understand and accept others, much of
the angst, anger, frustration and other reactions that lead to political
fatigue is eluded.
It is a difficult challenge
to open one’s mind to understand positions that are different from your
own. But that’s when communication is
more likely to occur. That’s when I feel
like a more informed voter.
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