As with other communication activities, you have ethical choices to make with listening situations. Some choices are positive and constructive, leading to more effective listening situations overall. Other choices are less competent; you don’t accomplish your own personal or relational goals—and don’t contribute anything to the goals of others. Consider the ethics of defensive, selective, and selfish listening as you evaluate the following listening behaviors (Beard, 2009; Gehrke, 2009; Lipari, 2009).