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)

Shows that processing demand is an incomplete explanation of receiver apprehension because motivation (the desire to process a message) and the expectation that the receiver will have to reproduce some aspect of the message for inspection by others (evaluation) are also important factors in receiver apprehension. (SR)

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…

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)

Uses the following four approaches to review interpersonal communication research conducted by speech communication scholars: (1) dialog, (2) cohesion, (3) message process, and (4) rhetoric. Helps to clarify why different approaches are used in teaching interpersonal communication courses. (PD)

Studied the use of three levels of evaluativeness (offering no opinion, description; offering one's own opinion; and offering an opinion of the other's opinion) in developing, stable, and deteriorating relationships. Expectations were confirmed in the developing and stable conditions but were not confirmed in the deteriorating condition. (PD)

Examines the impact of communication apprehension (CA) and interaction structure on participants' perceptions and behavior during initial interactions. Finds that high and low CA males perceived their female interaction partners differently, while females reported less satisfying interactions in the structured versus unstructured condition. (SR)