Question 1

I have found it difficult to confirm others when I disagree with them. As we learned in our text the second level of confirmation is "acknowledgment of what another feels, thinks, or says" (pg. 205, Wood).  This chapter helped me understand that each level of confirmation is important separately and together. The first level of recognition involves making others feel like they exist while acknowledgment makes others feel like what they have to say matters. The level of endorsing requires acceptance. The differences with confirming others as people, and endorsing particular ideas are that confirmation of others as people is always possible, whereas endorsement may go against someones personal convictions, opinions, etc. When someone walks into a room that we do not know we can acknowledge their existence by saying hello, but if the person starts making rude comments about something we don't agree with we may not endorse their thoughts and feelings.