Speech Motives for Interpersonal Communication Speech Fears and Self-Confidence

Motives for Interpersonal Communication Pleasure - casual Affection – emotional attachment Inclusion – involvement with others Escape – avoid something we are supposed to do Relaxation – break with coworkers Control - persuasion

Seven Common Misconceptions About Fear 1.Self-confidence means the same as not being afraid. 2.Fear is bad and should be eliminated. 3.When a person is afraid, it is a sign of weakness or inferiority. 4.Persons who do things well do them without being afraid.

Misconceptions (cont) 5.Brave persons do not have fear; only cowards are afraid. 6.Self-confidence comes suddenly one day, and fear no longer exists. 7.Pain is a bad and undesirable experience.

Fear Fear – natural processes which give us the necessary energy to complete a task Leads to a fear response Fear response – triggers adrenalin, which gives you a quick burst of energy

Self-Confidence If you can and do predict that the task will be done very well, self-confidence will be high. If you predict some failure, your self- confidence will be lower.

Fear and Self-Confidence 1.All normal people experience fear when they are faced with tasks that really matter. 2.Fear is useful and desirable when understood, but it is wasteful and undesirable when misunderstood. 3.All physical fear reactions have logical explanations.

Fear and Self-Confidence (cont) 4.All public appearance situations are situations that really matter 5.All self-confidence comes from experience.

Assignment Read articles on fear 1.“Controlling Nerves” 2.“Overcome the Fear of Speaking to Groups”