Reader 15
When Good Intentions Create Confusion
Good intentions do not always lead to clear results. A person may want to help, explain, or protect someone, but the way the message is delivered can create confusion. For example, someone may avoid giving full information because they do not want to worry another person. However, the missing details may cause the person to misunderstand the situation. In this case, the intention is kind, but the result is unclear. People often judge themselves by what they meant, while others respond to what they actually received.
This difference between intention and result is important in communication. A speaker may say, “I was only trying to help,” but the listener may still feel confused, pressured, or left out. The speaker’s intention matters, but it does not erase the effect of the message. Better communication happens when people consider both. They can ask, “What am I trying to say?” and also, “How might this sound to the other person?” When people think about the message from more than one side, good intentions are more likely to produce helpful results.
VOCABULARY
Write the words or expressions from the article that are new to you or that you want to review.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Share your thoughts. Use details from the article to support your answers.
How does the example of withholding information show a conflict between intention and result? Explain why trying to prevent worry may create a different problem.
Why might “I was only trying to help” fail to resolve a misunderstanding? Connect your answer to the writer’s point about how speakers judge themselves and how listeners respond.
How do the two questions near the end encourage a speaker to consider different perspectives? Explain why asking both may be more useful than focusing only on the intended message.
LISTEN
Listen to the recording and respond.
What did the speaker say?
How do you respond to the speaker’s opinion?
Use the reading to support your response.
