Several psychological principles have important implications for speakers.Which of the following is true?
A) An audience member comes to the presentation with past knowledge of the speaker's topic and will judge the presentation based on selective perception.
B) An audience member comes to the presentation with limited knowledge of the topic and will remain open-minded throughout the presentation.
C) Each audience member organizes his or her unique construct of the content presented, which is unrelated to listener experience and openness to change.
D) There is no need for the speaker to attempt to construct imaginatively how the audience will interpret the message because it is impossible to know in advance.
E) All of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Selective perception is the tendency for audiences to interpret information in a way that confirms their preexisting beliefs or attitudes. Therefore, speakers should be aware of this and try to address opposing viewpoints or misconceptions to avoid audience members dismissing their presentation. Option B is incorrect as even audience members with limited knowledge may have preconceptions or biases that can affect their interpretation of the presentation. Option C is incorrect because audience members' prior experiences, attitudes, and beliefs do play a role in how they interpret content presented. Option D is incorrect because speakers should try to understand their audience and tailor their presentation to fit audience demographics and prior knowledge.

Several Psychological Principles Have Important Implications for Speakers