Public Speaking Anxiety
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE AT MARTIN COUNSELING CENTER
PUBLIC SPEAKING ANXIETY
By Louise Katz, Ph.D.
• • •
WHAT IS PUBLIC SPEAKING ANXIETY? HOW TO PREPARE FOR AN ORAL PRESENTATION GIVING YOUR SPEECH
What is Public Speaking Anxiety? Public speaking anxiety is very common among both college students and the general population. Some estimates are that as many as 20-85% of people experience more or less anxiety when they need to speak in public. Many people who speak for a living, including actors, businesspeople, and politicians, experience public speaking anxiety. In fact, some of these experienced public speakers feel that a little nervousness before a performance or speaking engagement gives them the ability to perform at their best. However, for some people the anxiety becomes so intense that it interferes with the ability to perform at all. In the case of students, this may lead to avoiding certain courses or even majors where oral presentations are required, never speaking in class, or deciding against certain careers because they would require occasional speaking before a group. Students who are very anxious about public speaking in class may sometimes also avoid social events they would like to attend or may not talk to classmates they would like to get to know. A phobia is a fear that is out of proportion to the danger. For example, if you were very afraid if a lion charged into your classroom, this would be a very reasonable fear, but if you were very afraid if a baby (non-poisonous) spider was spotted in your classroom, this would be a phobia because the spider could not hurt you. If your nervousness about public speaking is great enough that you feel it is interfering with your life and things you would like to do, you may have a Social Phobia. The most common form of Social Phobia is public speaking anxiety. Students experiencing public speaking anxiety say they are concerned they will be embarrassed if they speak. They say they are worried
PUBLIC SPEAKING ANXIETY
By Louise Katz, Ph.D.
• • •
WHAT IS PUBLIC SPEAKING ANXIETY? HOW TO PREPARE FOR AN ORAL PRESENTATION GIVING YOUR SPEECH
What is Public Speaking Anxiety? Public speaking anxiety is very common among both college students and the general population. Some estimates are that as many as 20-85% of people experience more or less anxiety when they need to speak in public. Many people who speak for a living, including actors, businesspeople, and politicians, experience public speaking anxiety. In fact, some of these experienced public speakers feel that a little nervousness before a performance or speaking engagement gives them the ability to perform at their best. However, for some people the anxiety becomes so intense that it interferes with the ability to perform at all. In the case of students, this may lead to avoiding certain courses or even majors where oral presentations are required, never speaking in class, or deciding against certain careers because they would require occasional speaking before a group. Students who are very anxious about public speaking in class may sometimes also avoid social events they would like to attend or may not talk to classmates they would like to get to know. A phobia is a fear that is out of proportion to the danger. For example, if you were very afraid if a lion charged into your classroom, this would be a very reasonable fear, but if you were very afraid if a baby (non-poisonous) spider was spotted in your classroom, this would be a phobia because the spider could not hurt you. If your nervousness about public speaking is great enough that you feel it is interfering with your life and things you would like to do, you may have a Social Phobia. The most common form of Social Phobia is public speaking anxiety. Students experiencing public speaking anxiety say they are concerned they will be embarrassed if they speak. They say they are worried