Which of the following is not a social-psychological barrier?

Question

Accepted Answer

Correct answer: C — ConceptBarriers to communication are classified by where the obstruction actually sits. Socio-psychological (psychological) barriers originate inside the people who are communicating — in attitudes, emotions, perception and habits of thought that shape how a message is framed, filtered and interpreted. Mechanical and physical barriers originate outside them, in the circumstances of the exchange — the channel and equipment, noise, distance, and the time available or chosen for the message. A term that names a condition of the setting rather than a state of mind therefore falls outside the socio-psychological group. Applying the rule to the four termsTerm What it involves Where the obstruction sits Inference Treating a conclusion drawn from partial evidence as if it were an observed fact In the communicator's own reasoning — socio-psychological Resistance to change Refusing a message that would unsettle established attitudes or routines In the receiver's attitude — socio-psychological Abstracting Reporting a selected part of a situation as though it were the whole In perception and selective attention — socio-psychological Time The timing, duration and scheduling of the exchange itself In the external circumstances of the setting — mechanical / physical Cross-checkStandard Paper 1 lists of socio-psychological barriers include attitudes and opinions, emotions, a closed mind, status consciousness, poor retention, resistance to change, abstracting, slanting and inference. Time is listed instead alongside distance, noise and defective channels among the mechanical or physical barriers, which confirms that it is the term standing outside the group. Hence the term that is not a social-psychological barrier is Time.

Answer

A. Inference

Answer

B. Resistance to change

Answer

C. Time

Answer

D. Abstracting

Term	What it involves	Where the obstruction sits
Inference	Treating a conclusion drawn from partial evidence as if it were an observed fact	In the communicator's own reasoning — socio-psychological
Resistance to change	Refusing a message that would unsettle established attitudes or routines	In the receiver's attitude — socio-psychological
Abstracting	Reporting a selected part of a situation as though it were the whole	In perception and selective attention — socio-psychological
Time	The timing, duration and scheduling of the exchange itself	In the external circumstances of the setting — mechanical / physical