HON212 Speech Anxiety

Speech Anxiety

Communication based anxiety in which individuals experience physiological arousal, negative cognitions, or behavioral responses to real or anticipated presentations

College Students Top Fears

Public Speaking, Financial Problems, Death, Loneliness, Heights

Heredity Theory

Speech anxiety that is born within one another, built within our genes

Social Learning Theory

We acquire certain habits or actions overtime, positive or negative. Overtime, people receive negative reinforcement in a social environment leading to anxiety

Skills Deficit Theory

People fear public speaking because of lack of requisite knowledge to do it

Expectancy Theory

Fear of public speaking due to a buildup of failure within oneself, since a fear of failure is present, people tend to fail

Self-Presentation to Speech Anxiety

Takes place when we attempt to consciously control the image we project to others. The higher the presentation, the more importance and the higher chance of success

4 Ways to Prevent Speech Anxiety

Don’t think of a speech as a speech (performance orientation, communication orientation). Don’t worry about exact wording. Start with an easy introduction. Don’t let the audience know that you’re having trouble.

Performance Orientation

Thinking of a speech as a grand performance

4 More Ways to Prevent Speech Anxiety

Don’t think of anxiety as a bad thing. Don’t strive for perfection. Don’t forget about the audience. PRACTICE.

Communication Orientation

Thinking of a speech as an extension of a regular basis of communication. Tends to lead to a lower level of anxiety

Speakers Have the Most Anxiety

During the beginning of a speech

Arousal

Heightened emotional state, kicks in speech wise when nerves occur including sweaty palms and stuttering

Performance

How one does during a speech

Arousal and Performance Relationship

As arousal increase, performance goes up to a certain extent, goes to a level where arousal decreases performance