Communication apprehension
Communication apprehension is fear associated with communication with another person. According to research, 31 percent of elementary school students experience some level of communication apprehension.[1]
Definition
Communication apprehension is defined as an individual level of fear or anxiety associated with either real or anticipated communication with another person or persons.[1]
Influencing factors
Other factors influence whether communication anxiety is present, and to what degree. The degree of evaluation, that is, what the subject perceives to be at stake, whether the subject feels subordinate to their audience, how conspicuous the subject feels, the degree of unpredictability in the situation, the degree of dissimilarity between the speaker and the audience; memories of prior failures or successes, and the presence or lack of communication skills are all factors impacting the degree of communication anxiety suffered in a given situation. Also known as "stage fright."
Prevention and treatment
- Cognitive restructuring
- Systematic desensitization
- Skills training for teachers and for sufferers
- Visualization
Notes and references
- 1 2 Holbrook, Hilary Taylor. "Communication Apprehension: The Quiet Student in Your Classroom". ERIC Digest. 1987. ERIC Clearinghouse on Reading and Communication skills Urbana IL. November 2, 2008. <http://www.ericdigests.org/pre-926/quiet.htm>
- Brandy, Cathy. "Speech Anxiety: Facing the Fear". November 4, 2008.
- Griffin, Em. "A First Look at Communication Theory". McGraw Hill.