When a person hears the words being said to him/her, but does not receive the message of the words, it is called

Passive listening occurs when an individual hears the words spoken but does not actively process, comprehend, or retain the message. It is a one-way communication process where the receiver does not provide feedback or engage cognitively with the information being presented. This form of listening is equivalent to merely hearing, as the message fails to be understood or interpreted by the listener, which precisely matches the scenario described in the question.

A. Reflective listening: This is an active process where the listener paraphrases the speaker's message to confirm understanding, which is the opposite of not receiving the message.
B. Judgmental listening: This involves listening to evaluate and form an opinion about the message. It requires receiving and processing the message, even if the intent is critical.
D. Directive listening: This is an active style where the listener aims to guide the conversation or extract specific information, which requires careful attention and comprehension of the message.

1. AACE International. (2015). Skills & Knowledge of Cost Engineering (6th ed.). AACE International. In Chapter 1.4, "Human Relations," the text emphasizes the importance of active listening (which involves understanding, feedback, and engagement) as a critical communication skill for cost engineers, implicitly defining passive listening as its ineffective and non-engaged counterpart.

2. University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing. (2016). Communication in the Real World. In Chapter 5.1, "Understanding How and Why We Listen," the text distinguishes between hearing (the physiological process) and listening (the cognitive process of making meaning from sound), defining passive listening as a style with low cognitive investment.

3. Eunson, B. (2012). Communicating in the 21st Century (3rd ed.). John Wiley & Sons Australia. Chapter 6, "Listening and negotiating," defines passive listening as a state where "we are simply receiving a message without any need or desire to respond" (p. 186), contrasting it with the deeper processing involved in active listening.