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Question

Difficulty: EasyBarriers to Effective Communication

A newly appointed Block Development Officer is conducting a community consultation regarding a new rural sanitation project. During the meeting, several villagers remain silent and hesitant to share their feedback because they hold a deeply ingrained mistrust toward local administration based on past negative experiences with former contractors. Which type of communication barrier is primarily hindering effective communication in this scenario?

  1. Psychological barrierAnswer
  2. B
    Environmental barrier
  3. C
    Paralinguistic barrier
  4. D
    Aggressive behavioral barrier

Answer

Psychological barrier
Psychological barriers occur when internal mental or emotional factors—such as mistrust, fear, past negative experiences, or prejudice—prevent effective transmission and reception of a message. In this scenario, the villagers' reluctance to engage is driven by their internal mistrust of authority.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the primary cause of the communication breakdown described in the scenario.
The breakdown is caused by hesitation and reluctance rooted in past negative experiences and mistrust.
Identifying whether the root cause is internal (emotional/cognitive) or external (physical/vocal) determines the barrier classification.
2
Classify the identified cause under standard communication barrier categories.
Prejudice, mistrust, anxiety, and past emotional baggage fall under psychological barriers.
Psychological barriers arise from the internal mental states, personal attitudes, perceptions, and emotions of the communicators.

Key Concept

Psychological Barriers to Communication
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Topics

Barriers to Effective Communication

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