What communication approach emphasizes understanding and acknowledging the feelings of others?

Active listening is a communication approach that focuses on fully engaging with the speaker to understand their message, including both verbal and non-verbal cues. This technique involves not just hearing the words being spoken but also paying attention to the feelings and emotions behind those words. By acknowledging and validating the speaker's feelings, active listening fosters a sense of trust and respect, making the speaker feel valued and understood.

In contrast, passive listening does not involve this level of engagement; it may simply entail hearing what someone says without making a conscious effort to interpret or respond to the underlying emotions. Story shifting and direct feedback, while useful communication strategies, do not prioritize the nuanced understanding of others' feelings in the way that active listening does. Therefore, the emphasis on understanding and acknowledging the feelings of others is central to the concept of active listening, making it the correct choice in this scenario.