What type of listening involves understanding another person or their ideas?

The type of listening that focuses on understanding another person or their ideas is empathetic listening. This approach goes beyond simply hearing the words someone says; it requires the listener to put themselves in the speaker's shoes and grasp their emotions and perspectives. Empathetic listening fosters a connection and conveys that the listener values the speaker's feelings and thoughts.

Informational listening, while also aimed at understanding, is primarily concerned with absorbing and retaining information, such as in a lecture or when reading a text. It emphasizes comprehension of facts rather than the emotional nuances of the message being conveyed.

Critical listening involves analyzing and evaluating the content for logic and reasoning, often used in decision-making processes. Evaluative listening is similar, focused on judgment regarding the quality or value of what is being said, rather than simply understanding or empathizing with the speaker.

Thus, empathetic listening is the most appropriate answer for understanding another person or their ideas as it encompasses acknowledgment of both the content and emotional context of communication.