How many people experience communication apprehension

Research noted previously in this paper clearly indicates that people who suffer from high communication apprehension consistently withdraw from communication in settings outside the classroom. If a similar pattern can be found within the instructional setting, this would provide the best causal explanation for the relationship between communication apprehension and student achievement.

Two studies have been reported that indicate such is the case. In the Scott, Yates, and Wheeless study of communication apprehension in a PSI course noted above, a record was kept of how many times each student went to a tutor for help in the course. Tutors were available all day and evening during the semester and students were encouraged but not required to seek assistance.

Analyses of those data indicated that, although high communication apprehensives were having much more difficulty mastering the modules in the course, low communication apprehensives sought help from the tutors almost three times more often than highs. Research reported on interaction in typical small classrooms has indicated that there are certain seats from which most of the student participation emanates, generally in the center of the room towards the front.

Teachers call on students in these seats more and students in these seats volunteer more comments and questions than do other students. Recent research indicates that while low communication apprehensives are twice as likely to sit in this high interaction area 20 percent of the total seats as they are to sit anywhere else 80 percent of the total seats , high communication apprehensives are four times as likely to sit outside.

These studies suggest, therefore, that the causal link between communication apprehension and achievement is tile communication withdrawal behavior of high communication apprehensives in comparison with the communication seeking, behavior of the low communication apprehensives. Students must communicate to learn. Those who communicate less, learn less. The implications of the research on communication apprehension are of considerable importance to all classroom instructors, and even more central to teachers of speech.

No instructor, with the possible exception of the teacher of a voluntary class in public speaking, is likely to ever face a class that contains no highly communication apprehensive students. The traditional interaction-oriented instructional system presents a severe handicap to these students.

An obvious answer to the problem is to teach all classes as mass lecture classes, but that solution is unsatisfactory because it would penalize all those students who are not high communication apprehensives. Some other approach is needed. Little can be done to help the communication apprehensive student in the regular classroom. Requiring the student to participate will only aggravate the student's problem.

Requiring the student to give formal presentations could have disastrous results. But the classroom teacher can avoid hurting the communication apprehensive student. The teacher can eliminate grading on "participation," he or she can provide options for assignments other than formal presentations, he or she can permit voluntary seating choices so that the communication apprehensive student can be comfortable in the classroom, he or she can avoid calling on communication apprehensive students and forcing involuntary participation, and, most importantly, the teacher can attempt to structure the course so that students can obtain all necessary information without having to seek extra communication contact with either the teacher or peers.

While all of the suggestions noted above are relatively simple to implement and should be helpful, the real solution to the problems of communication apprehension is treatment. Several methods of treating communication apprehension have been developed and can be implemented in any school system.

Although it may be obvious from the research cited above, one major problem with the research in communication apprehension to date is that it has been bound to a single culture. Although subjects of vastly differing age levels and varying occupations have been studied, all have been North Americans and most have been Caucasians.

To date no significant data are available relating to cultures other than the predominate North American culture. Whether the relationships discussed in this paper would be the same or different in other countries or other cultures remains an unresearched question. McCroskey and V. McCroskev, J. Daly, and G. See also, P. Knutson and W. Thesis, West Virginia University, Daly and J.

Falcione, J. McCroskey, and J. Daly, R. Falcione, and J. Daly and S. Scott, J. McCroskey, and M. Daly, V. Richmond, and B. See also, Quiggins.

Thesis, Illinois State University, ; and J. Sorensen and J. NVells and IV. Thesis, Illinois State University, Hurt and K. McCroskey and M. McCroskey and J. Scott and L. Hurt, R. Preiss, and B. Scott, M. Yates, and L. Rosenthal and L. See, for example, J. McCroskev, D. Ralph, and J. Fremouw and M. Even experienced, effective speakers and performers experience some communication apprehension. What differs is the mental label that we put on the experience. A wealth of conventional wisdom surrounds the discomfort of speaking anxiety, as it surrounds almost any phenomenon that makes us uncomfortable.

Privacy Policy. Skip to main content. Chapter 3 Speaking Confidently. Search for:. What Is Communication Apprehension? Learning Objectives Explain the nature of communication apprehension. List the physiological symptoms of communication apprehension.

Identify different misconceptions about communication anxiety. Physiological Symptoms of Communication Apprehension There are a number of physical sensations associated with communication apprehension. Myths about Communication Apprehension A wealth of conventional wisdom surrounds the discomfort of speaking anxiety, as it surrounds almost any phenomenon that makes us uncomfortable.

People who suffer from speaking anxiety are neurotic. As we have explained, speaking anxiety is a normal reaction. Good speakers can get nervous just as poor speakers do.

Winston Churchill, for example, would get physically ill before major speeches in Parliament. Yet he rallied the British people in a time of crisis. Many people, even the most professional performers, experience anxiety about communicating. Such a widespread problem, Dr.

Humor is some of the toughest material to deliver effectively because it requires an exquisite sense of timing. Nothing is worse than waiting for a laugh that does not come. It is extremely easy to offend when using humor. The same material can play very differently with different audiences.

For these reasons, it is not a good idea to start with a joke, particularly if it is not well related to your topic. Humor is just too unpredictable and difficult for many novice speakers. Another tip is never to pause and wait for a laugh that may not come. If the audience catches the joke, fine. Imagine the audience is naked. It consists of real individuals who you can connect with through your material.

What we imagine is usually more threatening than the reality that we face. What matters is not whether we make a mistake but how well we recover. One of the authors of this book was giving a speech and wanted to thank a former student in the audience. Public speaking, i. Hence, if you fear public speaking, you can rest assured that you are not alone in this.

This can be extra difficult for leaders, especially visionary , servant , charismatic , or transformational leaders where communication is absolutely crucial. Most people do suffer from some level of anxiety when speaking in front of a group.

Many of us experience low or moderate levels of anxiety such as being nervous, shaking etc. Deep in our brains, being in focus and being evaluated can simply trigger our fight or flight behavior, even though the threat is not physical.

This will article will help you understand communication apprehension and how you can win over it. This fear comes from the expected or perceived judgment from the audience as well as by the communicator his or herself. This does not have to be while on stage in front of a large amount of people, it can be communication also in smaller groups or between individuals. When you are experiencing communication apprehension, you can feel some very real and physical symptoms.

These possible symptoms include nausea, dizziness, dryness in the mouth, clammy hands, sweating, faster heartbeats, quivering voices, a sensation of butterflies in your stomach, panic, etc. There are several different versions or types of communication apprehension. I believe that understanding these and knowing yourself better, will increase your level of preparedness and possibility to contain the symptoms to a certain extent.

It is also beneficial to learn more about communication in general, refer to our article 17 tips on improved communication. This type makes some people more predisposed than others to feel anxiety.

The trait theory states that some people are simply more likely than others to experience anxiety — it is essentially a personality trait or type.

People suffering from this type of communication apprehension are definitely less likely to hold public speeches and meetings, regardless of the audience and the situation. With this type of communication apprehension, you would likely want to completely avoid situations where you need to address a huge amount of people.

There are several schools of thought on whether this is due to genetics or whether the trait has been acquired during life.

The latter would mean it can be altered with the right actions. With practice and an improved confidence, the problems could be reduced but are unlikely to completely go away. The context anxiety depends on a specific form of communication, situation or context essentially. A typical context where communication apprehension sets in would be the aforementioned public speaking situation.

Some people are more nervous in formal situations of speaking such as public speeches. This is the formality context of communication apprehension. This would include speeches, press conferences, presentations, public speaking and similar things. Some people get nervous and anxious when they do not know what to expect. This is the uncertainty communication apprehension.

The person only gets anxious when faced with an uncertain situation wherein he or she does not know for sure what is going to happen next. Uncertainty could entail some new members in the normal group with their potential reactions or judgment being unknown for instance. Question sessions and other situations when unknown or new circumstances arise could also create uncertainty enough for communication apprehension to set in. Free E-Book!

If you are in a new situation, i.