The Metaphor Of Inhaling In Communication Research

John Stewart (2012) stated that the metaphor of inhaling and exhaling is used to describe the receptive and expressive parts of communication. Inhaling is more than incoming messages but it is the interpretive processes of perceiving and listening. The interpretive processes is refer to as perception, which means a cognitive and social process in which people give meaning to sensory cues (seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, and smelling). Perception takes a picture through a lens, not a picture-perfect view of what is happening in your own portion of reality (163). Exhaling is used in expressing and disclosing, which means the output or sending part of communicating. It also explains the interpersonal openness and self-expression of communication. Self-disclosure has …show more content…
Listening should be positive and nonjudgmental, we should be aware of our filter, pre-judged the importance of a message through selection, be aware of red flag words that cause us to lose focus on the intended message, and our communication should represent who we are. The ability to listen may change the shape of the relationship and bring you closer to others (Liberty, 2016). Madelyn Burley-Allen expressed that listening to yourself can achieve self-awareness and increase productivity. This internal thought process develops the habit of listening to what you are thinking. Intern, this awareness can lead to an understanding of the beliefs by which you live your life. Burley-Allen also stated that “When we assume responsibility for ourselves, following the road to self-development, person effectiveness, and power can be a privilege rather than a chore.” The attributes for ideal listening was shared, but there are also listening barriers. These barriers can lead to befuddling, such as distortions, misinterpretation, and loss of detail, just to name a few (Burley-Allen, 1995,