Question

David wants to go to a community college, but his parents are pushing him to attend a four-year university. He is frustrated. During an argument about the subject, he yelled at his parents, told them their opinions were irrelevant, and did not give them time to respond to his points. He ended the conversation by storming out of the room and slamming the door.

Which actions could David have taken to improve his communication on this issue? Check all that apply.

talk more until his parents understood him
practice active listening
show respect to his parents
change his opinion to match that of his parents
use techniques to diffuse his anger

Answer 1

Select:
- practice active listening — hearing their concerns and letting them speak would make the exchange reciprocal and reduce escalation.
- show respect to his parents — respectful tone and language keeps the discussion constructive and keeps lines of communication open.
- use techniques to diffuse his anger — calming down (deep breaths, pausing, taking a break) prevents yelling and helps him communicate clearly.

Do not select:
- talk more until his parents understood him — talking more while not listening or yelling would likely worsen communication; clear, calm explanation is fine, but it must be two‑way.
- change his opinion to match that of his parents — good communication doesn’t require surrendering his viewpoint; it requires expressing his views respectfully and understanding theirs.