Art as a means of exploring public speaking anxiety: One communication center’s expressions

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Kimberly M. Cuny, Senior Academic Professional (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/

Abstract: Dwyer and Davidson’s 2012 research traces the genesis and transformation of the story behind myths about Americans’ greatest fears. The story starts with research, publicized in a 1973 London Times article, which essentially unmasked an almost mythic tale about public speaking being Americans’ worst fear. Dwyer and Davidson were able to replicate the original study after altering the questions to focus on college students facing the start of a public speaking course. They found that “students selected death as their top fear most often, followed by public speaking, and then financial problems. So, is public speaking not really the number one fear? It is the most common fear, selected by students more often than other fears. However, it is not the top rated fear, death is” (Dwyer & Davidson, 2012, p. 107). Not surprisingly, public speaking college faculty experience the effects of this speaking fear when student-speakers give presentations in their classes. This is what serves as our motivation to look further into the role communication centers might have in supporting the management of public speaking anxiety (PSA). Students, faculty, and staff working at communication centers are well positioned to aid speakers with PSA through critical intervention (Yook, 2006).

Additional Information

Publication
Communication Center Journal
Language: English
Date: 2015
Keywords
public speaking anxiety (PSA), art, communication

Email this document to