What are the three common types of listening?

The three common types of listening are indeed informational, critical, and empathetic listening.

Informational listening involves understanding and retaining the information being conveyed. This type is essential in situations where comprehension is vital, such as in educational settings or when following instructions.

Critical listening goes a step further, as it requires evaluating and analyzing the information presented to assess its validity. This type of listening is important in discussions where persuasion is involved, enabling listeners to discern biases or flaws in reasoning.

Empathetic listening focuses on understanding the emotional state of the speaker. It allows the listener to connect with the speaker and respond appropriately, fostering a supportive and understanding environment. This type of listening is crucial in interpersonal communication, where emotions play a significant role.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately represent the widely recognized categories of listening. For instance, defensive listening is more of a response style rather than a distinct type and does not fit within the standard framework. Similarly, attentive, passive, and aggressive listening emphasize attitudes or behaviors rather than types, while formal, informal, and transactional listening categorize communication contexts rather than approaches to understanding. Thus, the emphasis on informational, critical, and empathetic listening conveys the diverse roles that listening can play in communication.