Scene Description
The scene I have chosen is the “There are no nice people” scene from the movie Wonder. In the video, Via demonstrates effective listening and empathy. When Via notices Auggie’s distress and attempts to discuss his reluctance to participate in Halloween activities, she actively listens to his concerns (Movieclips, 2018). Via shows empathy by acknowledging Auggie’s emotional state and expressing understanding of his struggles at school.
Instead of dismissing his feelings, she persists in seeking the root of his troubles, demonstrating a genuine desire to connect with his experiences. Via’s empathetic listening is further evident when Auggie reveals that he overheard hurtful comments about his appearance. Instead of minimizing his feelings, Via responds with understanding and offers comfort, emphasizing that she is there for him. In this way, the characters in the video use effective listening to express empathy by actively engaging with Auggie’s emotions, seeking to understand his perspective, and providing emotional support.
Importance of Active Listening
The value of active listening is demonstrated by linking external academic resources to the chosen scene. Authors Dimbleby and Burton (2020) insist that forming connections during active listening is the primary way to express understanding. This is consistent with the video watched, which confirms Via’s actions regarding her brother were correct. Verbal support can often be constructed only after a person carefully delves into the problem and offers a solution.
Orm et al. (2022) note that sibling support is one of the most valuable in the context of personal experiences or problems. Reconciling these findings with the selected video confirms that active listening can help a person overcome anxiety or other personality problems. Hamilton and Kroll (2018) also emphasize the importance of how a person listens to the interlocutor, which can be compared to Via’s actions in the video. The connection of various scientific sources with the scene demonstrates its competence in depicting how one can help a loved one through listening.
The ability to perceive others’ experiences is an integral aspect of active listening. Short’s (2023) article discusses empathy in the context of effective listening. It highlights that empathy is often misunderstood as merely sharing similar experiences with another person, but genuine empathy involves understanding someone else’s perspective, regardless of whether you share experiences.
The author introduces the metaphor of a wooden frame with a pane of glass, symbolizing each individual’s unique perception of the world shaped by genetics and life experiences (Short, 2023). To be a good listener, Short (2023) suggests standing by the speaker and attempting to view the world through their unique “glass”. The emphasis is on avoiding sympathy, which is feeling sorry for someone, and instead, practicing empathy by asking questions and genuinely trying to understand the other person’s experiences.
Lessons Learned
The key takeaway is that authentic listening involves immersing oneself in the speaker’s world, asking questions about their unique perspective, and resisting the urge to share one’s own experiences. Through genuine empathy and understanding, the listener helps the speaker better comprehend themselves, fostering a deeper connection and facilitating problem-solving. The article emphasizes that this approach is crucial for building therapeutic relationships, in which the listener genuinely wants to understand the speaker without imposing their own agenda.
References
Dimbleby, R., & Burton, G. (2020). More than words: An introduction to communication. Routledge.
Hamilton, C., & Kroll, T. L. (2018). Communicating for results: A guide for business and the professions (11th ed.). Cengage.
Movieclips. (2018). Wonder (2017) – There are no nice people scene (4/9) | movieclips. YouTube.
Orm, S., Vatne, T., Tomeny, T. S., & Fjermestad, K. (2022). Empathy and prosocial behavior in siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 9(2), 235-248.
Short, F. (2023). How to be a good listener – and how to know when you’re doing it right. The Conversation.