Incomprehension

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A lack of understanding represents an attitude that can arise when dealing with something communicated by a person who is addressed or who deals with what has been communicated. An interpretandum can not be interpreted or can only be interpreted incorrectly according to its meaning and / or meaning .

Differentiation of the term

Passenger information to a bus driver strike with the request for understanding to moderate the misunderstanding and conflict: bus may not come.

The term has two main meanings, which can be differentiated depending on the context , with the first meaning the more logically more fundamental, the second the more commonly used (such as in "reaping lack of understanding" ):

  • on the one hand, the lack of understanding in a more cognitive sense. A possible cause for this can be that what is communicated does not fit well with the background of the person addressed, so that he or she cannot understand it.
Example: A child takes a book from the bookcase that requires at least advanced scientific studies. It can't do anything with it because it doesn't understand anything and the illustrations are not suitable for coloring.
  • on the other hand, the lack of understanding in the emotional - empathic sense. What is communicated is understood in principle according to its meaning , but not accepted according to its meaning , for example because an underlying view is not shared.
Example: A scientist takes the same book out of the bookcase, thinks his colleague's presentation is no longer up-to-date and asks himself how someone can write something so backward these days.

In the two examples, the child and the scientist view the book with incomprehension, whereby the child does not understand the book, while the scientist has no understanding (i.e. no respect ) for the opinion of his colleague.

Misunderstanding, misunderstanding and understanding

It makes sense to distinguish between misunderstanding and misunderstanding : While a misunderstanding is more likely to be seen as an error or a disruption in communication , a misunderstanding can be associated with a misunderstanding and its cause or consequence, but also independent of it - and, as in the examples above , detached from an immediate communicative act - appear as a fundamental lack of understanding or rejection or lack of consent.

In order for a lack of understanding to turn into understanding , a process of mutual understanding is usually required - just as with misunderstandings .

literature

  • Mark Galliker and Daniel Weimer: Psychology of Understanding. An introduction to communicative practice. Stuttgart 2006, ISBN 3-17-018848-8