Does Listening Well Impress People as a Mark of Intelligence?

[Cooky]

I prefer to hear someone like Jordan Peterson

he can say a lot in five minutes

I work with people that can stand in place and jabber for an hour
I know these people
I don't bother to join in
my work is actually more entertaining

Exactly. Jibber-jabberers are considered less intelligent. Because they don't listen enough. They obviously don't take the time to pause and reflect, so they're not retaining certain things...

 

[Sunstone]

I'm confused by the question because listening is required for learning, especially the types of learning most frequently associated with the nebulously-defined quality called "intelligence." This is something I go over with students on a fairly regular basis, because there is this unfortunate tendency in our culture to perceive successful learners as simply "smart" or "intelligent" as a matter of innate talent. On the contrary, people are "smart" because they learned how to learn at some point in their lives. We know from educational psychology that successful learning is about the kind of thinking that happens. Specifically, relational thinking. Listening is such an essential element of relational thinking one cannot be "smart" without knowing how to listen.

I'm afraid the questions in the OP and thread title are not about whether listening well makes you "smarter", but whether people who listen well are generally perceived as smarter. Do you have any thoughts about that?

 

[Sunstone]

But people who listen and speak less (or not at all) are historically considered to be lacking in intelligence.

dumb | Search Online Etymology Dictionary

That association of "speaking less" with being less intelligence is a curious one, don't you think? It makes me wonder why anyone would assume such a thing.

 

[Quintessence]

I'm afraid the questions in the OP and thread title are not about whether listening well makes you "smarter", but whether people who listen well are generally perceived as smarter. Do you have any thoughts about that?

I understand that perceptions often mismatch with the facts; that said, if one understands how essential listening is to learning (and thus "smartness" and "intelligence") perceptions should match this fact. Whether or not it does in actuality? Maybe someone's done a study on that.

 

[Cooky]

That association of "speaking less" with being less intelligence is a curious one, don't you think? It makes me wonder why anyone would assume such a thing.

I think it might be rooted in the assumption that if someone does not 'display' an understanding of concepts, then that person must not understand... Which may be statistically the case. But there are exceptions of course.

Sometimes in complex conversations, I'll give a summary of what I understand another poster said, before offering an opinion. That helps build a kind of 'bond', at least in hope, that the communication can continue further without an interruption based on a lack of communication / understanding.

Ultimately, I'm willing to offer proof of positive communication. You know..?

 

[Cooky]

LOL!

...I know your posting history. I can make an educated guess on what you understand or don't.

 

[icehorse]

Would most people come across as more intelligent than they actually do if they were better listeners?

In general, does listening well impress people as a mark of intelligence?

Great OP - I'm thinking about it.

But in the meantime, I'm not sure why you posted the video link that you did, but it was AWESOME !!

 

[Sunstone]

Great OP - I'm thinking about it.

Good! I'm interested in hearing your take.

But in the meantime, I'm not sure why you posted the video link that you did, but it was AWESOME !!

Isn't it! I think that percussion is hard to surpass, among other reasons I love that video.

 

[Cooky]

I'm not sure why you posted the video link that you did, but it was AWESOME !!

Haven't you heard All Things Considered on NPR? it's a moment to help absorb... An indication that the OP, himself, is not a jibber-jabberer, but in fact, a good listener.

 

[Cooky]

In fact, I'm willing to bet that the OP sees some of his previous self in me, and that's why he's tougher on me than some of the others... Because being older, he sees my flaws and has already been there. His desire for his own advancements in learning surpass his desire to bring me up to his level. My words seem less 'interesting'...

A fascinating subject for me to examine in my own learning though. Because in examining others, one might surely expect the same in return... It's a given. I hope I haven't offended. If I have, please delete, and accept my apologies.

 

[icehorse]

Would most people come across as more intelligent than they actually do if they were better listeners?

In general, does listening well impress people as a mark of intelligence?

(Hard to say this and appear humble..)

I think that intelligent people will tend to be more impressed with good listening skills. Ultimately, the listener will act or talk in relationship to what was heard (those being the proof in the pudding), and the quality of listening is apt to show up in those following responses.

 

[Sunstone]

(Hard to say this and appear humble..)

I think that intelligent people will tend to be more impressed with good listening skills. Ultimately, the listener will act or talk in relationship to what was heard (those being the proof in the pudding), and the quality of listening is apt to show up in those following responses.

That makes a lot of sense. Thank you.

 

[Watchmen]

Yes.