Question

A representative from the FBI visited Marshall's criminology class to talk about new communications technology. When Marshall saw that the speaker was a middle-aged woman, he couldn't concentrate on anything she said. He had been expecting the speaker to be young, and he kept thinking to himself, "What could someone her age know about the latest technology?" According to your textbook, what aspect of poor listening was Marshall exhibiting?

Answer 1

Answer:

focusing on personal appearance

Explanation:

Marshall has the preconceived notion that young people are the only ones who are knowledgeable about new technology. He could not accept the fact that a middle aged woman would be knowledgeable about new technology.

It also could have been that she merely looks older than she appears

His lack of acceptance of the fact was significant enough to distract him from what he was trying to say.

Hence, Marshall was focusing on personal appearance.