Final answer:
The communication style that emphasizes actively listening and understanding others before responding is Assertive communication.
Step-by-step explanation:
The communication style that involves actively listening to others and seeking to understand their perspectives before responding is C) Assertive. Assertive communication is characterized by openness in expressing one's own needs and opinions while respecting the rights of others. This approach facilitates effective dialogue where all participants feel heard and understood.
Assertive communicators are able to express their own views persuasively without belittling the views of others, which contrasts with the disenfranchising silence of passive communicators, the inconsiderate dominance of aggressive communicators, and the indirect, often confusing messages of passive-aggressive communicators.