CHAPTER 3

Speech Anxiety: Problems and Solutions

One of the most common feelings associated with public speaking is anxiety – sometimes called stage fright, nerves, or just plain fear of public speaking. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld has joked that people in the United States are more afraid of public speaking than death – so much so that at a funeral they would rather be the deceased than give the eulogy! Yet there are some people who are quite comfortable speaking to a large group, but who feel anxious at a party, in meetings, or in one-on-one situations like interviews. Scholars in communication are well aware of the phenomenon and in research have found that people experience anxiety in many communicative situations, not just public speaking.

Key Terms

Glossophobia
Lizard Brain
Thinking Brain
Desensitization
Breathing
Relabeling
Renaming
Exercise