Listening intently, acceptance, empathy and understanding the message describes ________.

The description provided—listening intently, acceptance, empathy, and understanding the message—perfectly aligns with the concept of active listening. Active listening involves fully concentrating, understanding, and responding to what is being communicated, rather than just passively hearing the words. It requires the listener to engage with the speaker by showing genuine interest and providing feedback that demonstrates understanding and empathy. This engagement creates a deeper connection between the parties involved and facilitates more effective communication by encouraging openness and reducing misunderstandings.

In contrast, while active communication incorporates various aspects of communication strategies, it does not focus as specifically on the listener's role in empathizing and understanding. Reflective listening, though closely related, typically emphasizes mirroring back what the speaker has said to confirm understanding, which is somewhat narrower than the broader skill set encompassed by active listening. Interpersonal communication refers generally to the exchange of information between individuals and does not specifically highlight the characteristics of empathy and understanding that define active listening. Thus, the complete alignment of the characteristics in the question with the principles of active listening makes it the correct choice.