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…

Reports on three studies which investigated whether patterns identified in the general communication apprehension (CA) literature would emerge with regard to employment interviews. Finds that high CAs avoid thinking about interviews, avoid preparing for them, and use a pattern of communicative minimization (few gestures, few words, etc.) in…

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 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…

The present study was designed to test the effectiveness of performance visualization in reducing communication apprehension (CA) in employment interviews. Literature on CA and its relationship to employment interviews is reviewed. Causes of CA and available interventions are also discussed. The study employed a pre/posttest control group…

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…

Finds that students who reported high communication apprehension (CAs) were less willing to communicate, less willing to volunteer, less willing to work with terminally ill patients, and felt less confident about their communication than low CAs, and disclosed less to terminally ill patients than did people in any other circumstance. (SR)

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)

Finds that time restrictions did not significantly affect the thoughts, behavior, or state-communication apprehension (CA) of people with high public speaking anxiety. Finds that people expecting to be evaluated reported more negative thoughts and higher state-CA and exhibited more behavioral disruption than those not expecting to be evaluated.…

Compares self-reports of speech preparation activities by high and low public speaking apprehensive individuals. Finds that high communication apprehensives spent more time on non-communication-oriented activities and more time preparing their speeches but received lower grades than low apprehensives, while low communication apprehensives spent…

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)

Reports on two studies, one in a laboratory setting and one conducted in the field, which offer strong support for the predictive validity of the Personal Report of Communication Apprehension in Employment Interviews. Suggests that communication apprehension is an important variable in job interviews. (SR)

Investigates whether variations in five audience characteristics (size, status, familiarity, similarity, and behavior) are related to audience anxiety. Supports the contention that the effect of situational factors are greatly tempered by an individual's predisposition to respond anxiously. Discusses instructional implications of these findings.…