Notes on Communication Apprehension and Stage Fright

Key Definitions

• CA (communication apprehension): the fear or anxiety associated with real or anticipated communication with others.
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder / Social Anxiety Disorder (GAD / social anxiety): the fear or the anticipated fear of being around other people.
• Distinction (cousins under the same umbrella): CA and GAD are related but have distinct triggers and contexts; CA is specifically about communication, while social anxiety concerns broader being around others.
• Public speaking as a high‑value situation: public speaking often triggers CA due to evaluative pressure and fear of judgment.