COMMUNICATION APPREHENSION Definition Communication Apprehension An individuals level

COMMUNICATION APPREHENSION

Definition • Communication Apprehension: An individual’s level of fear or anxiety with either real or anticipated communication with another person or group of people.

Types of CA • Traitlike – those who get nervous in almost all communication interactions • Ex. One-on-one, interviews, small groups, in public – almost any situation except maybe family and friends • Generalized Context – people who get nervous in one particular type of interaction • Ex: (next slide)

…. Types of CA Examples of generalized contexts: 4 types of Interactions… • Public Speaking (talking to a large audience) • Meetings (small groups, 10 -15 people) • Group discussions (class) • Interpersonal (1 -2 people)

…Types of CA Person-Group – Talking to a specific group of people Ex: teachers, boss or superiors at work, certain groups of friends or peers, friends’ parents, etc. Situational – Feeling nervous in specific situations – when that situation passes, so has the anxiety Ex: job interviews, oral exam, spelling bee, class speeches

Causes of CA • Heredity – inherited the personality trait; maybe a parent has the same fear • Modeling – witnesses a speaker that was nervous • Childhood reinforcement – made fun of or had a bad experience as a child (with speaking) • Skills deficit – speech impediment, no training of necessary skills • Fear of the unknown • Fear of rejection • Fear of being stared at • Social anxiety

Treatments for CA • Small steps toward the goal – doing small speeches and gradually working up to the major ones • Positive visualization – like sports, you mentally picture yourself doing a good job • Skills training – taking speech class and learning the skills needed to succeed at public speaking • Deep breathing – simply taking three (or more) deep breaths in a rhythmic pattern can help to relax you • Muscle relaxation – tense up your muscles, hold for 510 seconds, then release

Activity • You: On your own, write down 10 (or more) things you (or someone else) might feel anxious about while thinking about or giving a speech • Together: With a partner, discuss your list and make additions to it as necessary – label each item on the list “preparation” or “right before” or “during” • All: Make a collective list of fears and worries on the board – discuss how to overcome them