1. Describe a recent situation in which you listened with the incorrect purpose; for example, a friend needed you to listen to support but you listened to analyze. Discuss why you think this happened, and explore the results. Finally, how can you apply the idea of different listening purposes to improve your listening in the future?

2. Our attributions of others can have an effect on our listening and cause us to be selective listeners. Think of a recent situation in which you have tuned out a communication partner—or paid attention to only certain things that person said—because of your perception of him or her. How could you have avoided this selective listening behavior?