Communication apprehension
Communication apprehension is defined as the fear or anxiety experienced by individuals when speaking or contemplating speaking to others. This phenomenon is often associated with public speaking, but it also encompasses anxiety in various contexts, including workplaces, classrooms, and social settings. The effects of communication apprehension can extend beyond discomfort, potentially leading to misunderstandings at work, lower academic performance due to reluctance to seek help, and difficulties in forming relationships.
Research indicates that glossophobia, or the fear of public speaking, is a prevalent concern in the United States, affecting a significant portion of the population. While about 10% of people are largely unconcerned about public speaking, another 10% experience high levels of fear, and the majority experience varying degrees of anxiety. The roots of this apprehension may include low self-esteem, fear of failure, and concerns about how others perceive them. Additionally, children with communication apprehension may face challenges linked to social, cultural, or ethnic factors that impact their confidence.
Physical symptoms of communication anxiety can include sweating, shaking, and a dry mouth, akin to the body's fight or flight response. This apprehension can hinder learning and social skill development, leading individuals to avoid situations that involve speaking. Consequently, people may gravitate toward careers that minimize interpersonal communication, which can limit their professional growth and opportunities. Experts suggest various strategies to help manage communication apprehension, including desensitization techniques, relaxation strategies, and supportive educational practices that foster a safe environment for communication.
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Subject Terms
Communication apprehension
Communication apprehension refers to fear or anxiety experienced by a person when speaking, or thinking about speaking, to others. The term is frequently used to describe a fear of public speaking before a crowd, but it also applies to people who suffer stress or fear in speaking situations, such as at work, in the classroom, or in social situations. The condition can have consequences beyond being uncomfortable while speaking. It can lead to misunderstandings at work if an employee is unable to ask for clarification of instructions, lower grades for students whose fear prevents them from asking for help, and fewer relationships for people unable to engage in conversation. Desensitization techniques can help people of all ages overcome the condition.
Overview
Surveys have determined that glossophobia—the fear of public speaking—is one of the most prevalent fears in America. Experts state that while a small percent of people have little to no fear of speaking publicly, roughly the same amount experience significant fear, and the remaining have anxiety that causes distress that can be controlled. Statistics for how many people experience anxiety in other communication contexts are harder to determine, but some sources estimate that up to one fifth of the overall population suffers from severe communication apprehension, and as much as another fifth experience moderate issues with communication anxiety.
Experts link communication apprehension to low self-esteem and a fear of failure and of other people's judgment. It is also thought that children with communication apprehension may have low intelligence or speech deficiencies, low self-esteem, or feelings of alienation that may be caused by social, ethnic, or cultural factors. Children who have been criticized for their early speaking efforts may remain quiet as they mature as a self-preservation technique.
Communication apprehension manifests in a number of physical sensations. These include sweating, shaking, the feeling of "butterflies" in the stomach, a dry mouth, and sometimes the feeling that one simply cannot speak aloud. Many of these feelings are related to the flight or fight response experienced when under a physical threat.
Children with communication apprehension often avoid asking questions to clarify things they do not understand, making it harder to learn. This can continue throughout high school, college, and even beyond. People of all ages with speech anxiety may not develop the social skills necessary to establish friendships and may avoid situations that would require them to talk with others. Eventually, individuals with communication apprehension may choose jobs that allow them to avoid interacting with people, limiting their potential vocations and possibly their income.
Experts recommend a number of techniques for overcoming communication apprehension. They suggest training educators to better identify children with severe speaking anxiety and developing classroom activities that encourage communication in a safe and supportive environment. For older children and adults, desensitization techniques have proven successful. These include teaching relaxation techniques and then helping the person with communication apprehension to use these techniques in situations in which they will have to speak. Guided imagery helps reduce the level of apprehension, and encouraging practice for communication situations helps promote a feeling of competence.
Bibliography
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