Researchers have offered a number of explanations for why people occasionally or frequently feel shy in social situations, focusing on behavioral, psychological, or somatic causes. However, each theory encompasses a problem with communication skills. A study examined the communication implications of shyness as reported in definitions by both…

The developmental college student, distinguished by lower than average academic scores, may also experience the inhibiting fear of communication, speech anxiety. Students who are both developmental and communication apprehensive lack confidence in their personal academic abilities, and thus develop poor attitudes toward learning and low academic…

Discusses problems of communication apprehension (CA) among developmental students. Explains types of CA, reviews methods of individual assessment among developmental students, and describes a structured alleviation curriculum. Provides step-by-step instructions for employing the CA alleviation techniques of systematic desensitization, cognitive…

A cross-cultural study was undertaken to examine levels of communication apprehension reported by five- to eleven-year-old subjects in the United States and Sweden. The approach was twofold: the examination of elementary age subjects and the use of their native language. The Personal Report of Communication Fear was administered to 186 males and…

A study was conducted to identify and compare the prevalence of communication apprehension among foreign, black, and white students. Data from a survey of basic English and speech classes were used to locate 83 nonapprehensive and 64 apprehensive foreign, black, and white students, who were then identified as low communication apprehensive or high…

Communication apprehension (CA) affects from 15% to 20% of the college population, indicating inherent problems of negative cognitive appraisal, conditioned anxiety, or skills deficits. Use of an individualized approach to the alleviation of CA has been shown to increase students' class interaction and to improve their verbal skills. During an…