1. Fear.
Ted talk on fear in public speaking

2. Speech: Your worst nightmare or your best friend?
Understanding Communication Apprehension

3. Why are we afraid?
Fear keeps us safe
We are born with ability to react to fear-inducing situations
What are some of your fears?

4. What is communication apprehension?
More formal term than “stage fright”
Communication Apprehension (CA)--an individual’s level of fear or anxiety associated with either real or anticipated communication with another person or persons (McCroskey, 1993).

5. CA doesn’t look the same in each person
CA occurs in different situations
Job interview
Speech
Questions in class

6. Causes of Situational Communication Apprehension
Novel situation
Meaning a new experience such as a job interview
Formal situations
You don’t want to communicate inappropriately
Ex. Black tie dinner
Subordinate status
This is when a person holds “high status” over another
Ex. Meeting the president of the US

7. Being unfamiliar with cultural norms
Causes Continued
Being unfamiliar with cultural norms
Ex. authors traveling to other countries and communicating with fans from another country
Excessive Attention
Ex. Being put on the spot repeatedly in football practice

8. Effects of Communication Apprehension
Internal Effects
Those with high CA have feelings of discomfort, fright, being inadequate, etc.
External Effects
Avoidance of communication
Withdrawal from communication
Disruption
Over-Communication

9. Good News!
There are many ways you can reduce your communication apprehension! More to come tomorrow!