presentation on communication apprehension
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COMMUNICATION APPREHENSION
Apprehension in public speech
A presentation by:
Matthew BediakoCredits:
Isaac Nuopre(Research Support)
OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION
• Definition of Apprehension
• Nature of Communication Apprehension
• Causes of Apprehension in public speaking
• Effects of Apprehension on public speaking
• How to overcome apprehension in public speaking
DEFINITION OF APPREHENSION
• “Speech is a mirror of the soul,” commented Publilius Syrus, a popular writer in 42 BC
• The term "communication apprehension“ was coined by McCroskey (1970) and refers to an anxiety syndrome associated with either real or anticipated communication with another person or persons.
• According to James McCroskey, communication apprehension is the broad term that refers to an individual’s “fear or anxiety associated with either real or anticipated communication with another person or persons (McCroskey, 2001).
DEFINITION OF APPREHENSION
• Richard Nordquist defines communication
apprehension as Public Speaking Anxiety (PSA):
the fear experienced by a person when delivering
(or preparing to deliver) a speech to an audience.
• Public speaking anxiety is sometimes referred to as
‘stage fright’
• Brydon & Scott (2000) see apprehension as speech
anxiety which refers to the feelings of discomfort
that people experience before, during and even
after speaking in public
NATURE OF COMMUNICATION APPREHENSION
• "In a 1986 study of about a thousand individuals, researchers
discovered that people identified public speaking as their
number-one fear. Public speaking anxiety even outranked such
fears as going to the dentist, heights, mice, and flying."(Sheldon
Metcalfe, Building a Speech. Wadsworth, 2010)
• Physiological Symptoms of Communication Apprehension:
• Heart pounding, hands feeling clammy, break out in a sweat, We
may have “stomach butterflies”, feel nauseated, hands and legs
might start to shake,
NATURE OF COMMUNICATION APPREHENSION
• Cont…
• begin to pace nervously, voices may quiver, “dry mouth” sensation
that makes it difficult to articulate even simple words, rapid breathing
and, might feel dizzy or light-headed.
• Powerless to control our bodies, become so anxious that we fear
we will forget our name, much less remember the main points
of the speech we are about to deliver.
CAUSES OF APPREHENSION IN PUBLIC SPEAKING
A. Feeling Conspicuous and Inspected: Being singled
out, with the attention of an audience directly on
the speaker, causes communication anxiety.
B. Facing an Unfamiliar or Dissimilar Audience:
Speaking before an audience of individuals that the
speaker does not know, that holds attitudes
different from the speaker, or that is from a
different culture than the speaker produces
communication anxiety.
CAUSES OF APPREHENSION IN PUBLIC SPEAKING
C. Confronting a Novel or Formal Speaking Situation:
Lack of experience in speaking before a group
induces communication anxiety.
D. Feeling Subordinate to Your Audience: Speaking
situations that define the speaker by status or rank
may cause communication anxiety if the speaker is
of lower status compared to others.
CAUSES OF APPREHENSION IN PUBLIC
SPEAKING
E. Undergoing Evaluation: The sense of being
appraised as a speaker heightens communication
anxiety.
F. Remembering Repeated Failures: Memories of
previous failures in similar situations are a common
source of communication anxiety.
CAUSES OF APPREHENSION IN PUBLIC
SPEAKINGG. Relying on English as a Second Language:
Communication apprehension may be especially
high when a speaker speaks before an audience
whose primary language is different from his or her
own. E.g.
• Speakers with regional accents or dialects are often perceived as less motivated and intelligent solely because they pronounce words in an unfamiliar way.
(Developing Confidence: Coping With Your Fears About Public Speaking)
www.mhhe.com/mayfieldpub/kearney/instructor_resources/.../chap4.rtf
CAUSES OF APPREHENSION IN PUBLIC
SPEAKINGBrydon & Scott (2000) identified the following as the
causes of speech anxiety:
• Pessimistic attitude towards speaking
• Inadequate preparation and practice
• Negative or insufficient experience
• Unrealistic goals
• Inaccurate perception of the audience
• Negative self talk
• Misdirected concerns
EFFECTS OF APPREHENSION ON PUBLIC SPEAKING
• Technically, apprehension can be classified as a noise factor in communication channels because it can inhibit both the encoding and decoding processes of the speaker and the audience respectively. This can:
• Impede academic progress. i.e. In situations where viva voce examinations like thesis defence, class presentations etc.
• Reduce the credibility of the speaker.
• Mar social/academic/ political/religious etc. programmes
HOW TO OVERCOME APPREHENSION IN PUBLIC SPEAKING
A. Reducing Your Fears
• Systematic desensitization: Systematic desensitization (SD) focuses
on the physical responses to apprehension. When people become
anxious, their muscles tighten. SD works on the principle that, by
substituting muscle relaxation, people can learn to cope with
anxiety-producing situations, including communication situations.
• Cognitive restructuring (CR): Cognitive restructuring focuses on
changing specific irrational beliefs that underlie people’s emotions,
i.e. rejecting Negative self-statements while using Coping
statements.
HOW TO OVERCOME APPREHENSION IN PUBLIC SPEAKING
• Skills training: Skills training reverses the causal sequence of
the two previous cognitive restructuring methods. It assumes
that limitations in people’s communication skills influence
their apprehension levels. Once individuals learn how to
communicate effectively, their apprehensions will be reduced.
B. Managing Your Stage Fright
• Select a familiar topic: Selecting a topic that is unfamiliar to
the speaker increases the time that would be spent organizing
and rehearsing the speech.
HOW TO OVERCOME APPREHENSION IN PUBLIC SPEAKING
• Focus on the audience: Most highly anxious speakers focus more
attention on themselves than on the audience or other environmental
factors associated with the event. An audience-centered approach to
public speaking is likely to remove some of the most basic fears of
public speaking. Approach the speech like an extended conversation.
• “Over-prepare”: The best way to reduce fears about giving a speech
is to spend time planning, researching, and organizing the
presentation right down to the last example or well-thought-out
dramatic conclusion. Once the outline is in order, spend time
rehearsing and revising
HOW TO OVERCOME APPREHENSION IN PUBLIC SPEAKING
• Visualize a positive experience: Visualization techniques require speakers to see themselves as successful. These techniques can accentuate the positive aspects of a speech.
Brydon & Scott (2000) also identified the following as ways of controlling speech anxiety:
• Develop an optimistic attitude towards speaking
• Don’t procrastinate preparing your speech
• Look for opportunities to gain speaking experience
• Set realistic goals
• Realise that the audience wants you to succeed
• Practise constructive self talk
• Direct your concerns at important issues.
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