Selective listening is characterized by what behavior?

Selective listening is characterized by the behavior of listening only to desired information. This means that an individual focuses on specific details or messages that are of interest or relevance to them while filtering out other information that they consider unimportant or irrelevant. This behavior can often result in a lack of understanding or miscommunication, as important context or details from the conversation may be overlooked.

In various communication scenarios, selective listening can manifest when a person is more attuned to parts of the conversation that resonate with their preconceived notions or interests, which may lead to a biased interpretation of the information being conveyed. This form of listening can be advantageous in focusing on particular messages, but it can also hinder comprehensive understanding and effective communication if significant points are ignored.

In contrast, the other choices depict different listening behaviors that do not align with the specificity of selective listening. For example, hearing all information equally does not involve any filtering and represents a more attentive approach. Ignoring all external communication suggests a complete disengagement rather than a selective approach. Summarizing received information refers to processing and condensing what has been heard, which also deviates from the intention of selective listening. Thus, the core attribute of selective listening is the focus on preferred information while disregarding the rest.