1.4: Communication Apprehension and Speech Anxiety
Section outline
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Communication apprehension, speech anxiety, and stage fright are terms we use to describe aspects of the fear of public speaking. It is natural for people to experience these phenomena, since speaking in public is not a run-of-the-mill activity for most of us. In fact, in a notable Gallup poll, 40% of respondents reported a fear of "speaking in public in front of an audience". In that survey, it was ranked as the second most common fear, trailing only the fear of snakes (51%). Understanding our fears will allow us an opportunity to conquer them.