Investigates how mode of imagery affects imagined interactions and the relationship between affective processing and imagined interaction. Shows that (1) verbal imagery is associated with self-dominance, rehearsal, and understanding whereas visual imagery is associated with more pleasantness; and (2) pleasant imagined interactions are lower in…

Finds that people with communication apprehension (CA) who were exposed to visualization reported lower trait and state CA as well as higher attraction levels than those in control or placebo conditions. (SR)

Finds that performance visualization is more effective in reducing communication anxiety, state communication anxiety, negative thoughts, and rigidity for people who can create vivid mental images than for those whose images are less vivid. (SR)

Determines whether visualization can enhance students' public speaking performance and reduce speech anxiety. Finds that standard visualization and performance visualization reduce negative thinking, state communication anxiety (CA), and trait CA. Finds that performance visualization results in fewer disfluencies, less rigidity, and less…

Compares guided visualization (involving guided imagery) with self-constructed imagery (involving developing one's own visualization script). Finds no differences between guided visualization and self-constructed visualization in terms of reducing communication apprehension or negative thinking, but finds both procedures superior to no treatment…

Reports two studies demonstrating the ability of nonverbal contextual cues to act as retrieval mechanisms for co-occurring language. Suggests that visual contextual cues, such as speech primacy and motor primacy gestures, can access linguistic target information. Motor primacy cues are shown to act as stronger retrieval cues. (JMF)

Compares communication apprehension (CA) levels of people exposed or not exposed to visualization (a desensitization technique to assist people in coping with CA) after four months and after eight months. Finds that those exposed to visualization reported significantly lower CA levels at the end of both time periods than those not exposed to…

Examines how visualization compares with placebo procedures in reducing communication apprehension (CA) in public speaking classes. Finds that visualization is an active treatment procedure that reduces CA above and beyond the reduction that can be attributed to the "extra-attention" involved in any treatment process. (MS)

Reports two studies probing the link between speech anxiety and positive thinking. Finds that there is a correlation between communication anxiety and positive and negative thoughts; and the use of visualization lowered self-reported speech anxiety and increased the proportion of positive to negative thoughts. (MS)

Offers evidence that visualization is an effective device to help students reduce their anxiety. (Defines visualization as asking speakers to imagine themselves making an effective presentation.) (PD)

Compares the effectiveness of systematic desensitization (SD), rational emotive therapy (RET), and visualization (VIS) in reducing communication apprehension (CA). Concludes that, while all treatment modes reduce CA, no significant differences were found in their effectiveness. Emphasizes that VIS is a relatively simple technique that can be used…

Tested public speaking anxiety of university students at the beginning and end of the semester. Treated one group with skills training, visualization, and Communication-Orientation therapy; another received skills training and visualization; another received only skills training; fourth group served as control. Found that the 2 groups receiving…

Investigates whether all three components of performance visualization (education, guided imagery, and modeling) are necessary to help people enhance speech performance and reduce public speaking apprehension. Finds that the education component appears to be unnecessary. Speculates that cognitive processing differences with regard to language and…