Final answer:
Empathetic listeners are those who can understand the speaker's perspective and emotions. They engage deeply, without judgment, and focus on the emotional content and body language, as well as the words themselves, to provide supportive connection.
Step-by-step explanation:
The types of listeners who are able to see the situation from the speaker's perspective and accurately interpret emotions are often referred to as empathetic listeners. Empathetic listening is characterized by a deep level of understanding and sympathy for the speaker's situation and feelings.
When we practice empathetic listening, we do so by focusing entirely on the speaker without judgment and without planning our own response. Instead, we absorb not only the words but also the tone, body language, and the emotional content behind the words. We make eye contact, nod in understanding, and occasionally may use touch to show genuine concern or solidarity. We aim to understand the speaker's perspective and its complexities as if they were our own, thus promoting a strong emotional connection and providing support.