Final answer:
The statement about pseudolisteners is false; while they might display outward signs such as eye contact and nodding, this does not guarantee they are authentically engaged in listening. Pseudolistening is marked more by a lack of internal processing rather than an absence of these nonverbal cues.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that pseudolisteners fail to look others in the eye or nod and smile because their minds are in another world is false. Pseudolisteners may actually exhibit signs of listening like making eye contact, nodding, or smiling, which can be misleading.
They do this to give the appearance of being attentive, even though their minds may indeed be elsewhere. The issue with pseudolisteners is not always a lack of these outward signs of listening but rather a lack of genuine engagement and internal processing of the information being shared.
For instance, individuals who are inattentive or affected by factors such as illusions, group influence or cognitive dissonance, may not truly engage with or understand the content of a conversation. This can be compared to the allegory of the cave where individuals might see shadows and believe them to be the entire reality, without understanding the true form behind those shadows.
Moreover, just as in the case of theory-of-mind development in young children, understanding and engaging with others' thoughts and feelings is a complex cognitive skill that might not be fully operational in pseudolisteners.