Final answer:
Active listening is the best approach to communicate with a spouse who is easily offended, as it involves empathy, attention, and reflecting understanding, which can lead to resolving underlying issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
To communicate with a spouse who is easily offended and doesn't communicate their feelings can be challenging. Out of the options provided, active listening is the most effective communication style to address this issue. Unlike assertiveness, which focuses on clearly expressing your own thoughts and feelings, active listening involves giving full attention to your spouse, showing empathy, and reflecting on what they have said to ensure understanding. This technique can facilitate a more open and less defensive conversation, as it shows that you are trying to understand their perspective without judgment. Passive-aggressiveness and silence are less effective communication styles, as they can exacerbate misunderstandings and tensions.
Here's how you can apply active listening in your conversations:
- Maintain eye contact and show that you are engaged.
- Reflect back what you've heard in your own words to ensure you've understood correctly.
- Ask open-ended questions to encourage your spouse to express themselves more fully.
- Avoid interrupting or judging their feelings.
- Express your understanding and empathy.
By practicing active listening, you create a safe space for your spouse to share their thoughts and feelings, which can lead to resolving the underlying issues that cause them to feel easily offended.