Why Dont We Listen Better James C. Petersen

The book Why Don’t We Listen Better? Written by James C. Petersen (2007) is about improving listening and other communicating skills that can improve relationships with others, both professionally and personally. In this book there are five major divisions. Petersen shares why communication is important and gives a brief description of what can be expected throughout the book. Petersen (2007) explains the Flat-Brain Theory of Emotions. The Flat-Brain Theory of Emotions explains how our emotions, thinking, and relating abilities work affects the way we communicate. Stomach functions consists of our emotions or feelings that let us know when we’re uncomfortable, happy, irritable, interested, angry, and resentful. Heart functions reminds us how

important it is to own our views and to be open to other views as well. The head function allows us to incorporate thinking, planning, remembering, reviewing, deciding, and rationalizing. Peterson uses these functions to show that when the stomach is full of the emotions it swells and pushes the heart that in turn makes the brain go flat. A principle Peterson refers to as “flat brain” syndrome. When one enters this condition the person must be allowed to get these emotions out and to return to a state of correct thinking.
There are two levels of communication. The first level of communication gives and receives information and discusses point of view. Level two of communicating is more about satisfying relationships and more personal sharing. Petersen then goes on to explain how we don’t hear each other, when we want a listener and to talk about things, and how being heard can deeper the relationship.