Subject Object Theory: Using Curiosity to be a Better Listener

Listening tends to be contagious, and how each of us listens does tend to wear off on other people. When people feel truly seen and heard, it's one of the most extraordinary experiences they can have. Being around deep listening and experiencing it oneself is a condition for learning to listen. In addition, techniques such as subject object theory can help people become better listeners. Subject object theory involves listening for what is subject (what a person is fused with) and what is object (what can be examined and talked about). It requires listening below the surface of the story and fostering curiosity to understand what another person truly means.