Which term refers to a listening style that encourages people to talk freely without fear of embarrassment?

• A. Discriminative listening
• B. Euphemism
• C. Empathetic listening
• D. Eulogy

Answer: (C)

Empathetic listening is a style that invites people to talk freely by making them feel understood and safe. When a listener shows warmth, validates feelings, and responds nonjudgmentally, the speaker is more likely to open up without fear of embarrassment. This contrasts with discriminative listening, which focuses on distinguishing sounds and extracting facts rather than sensing the speaker’s emotions; euphemism, a language device, involves softening or avoiding blunt terms; and a eulogy is a formal speech praising someone, not a way of listening. So empathetic listening best fits the aim of encouraging open, honest communication.