Tim Hopf

Visualization: Reducing speech anxiety and enhancing performance

This study was designed to determine if visualization could be used to enhance public speaking performance as well as reduce speech anxiety, and how visualization techniques compared with other interventions. The study compared a no treatment group with a standard visualization group and with a performance visualization group. Both forms of visualization reduced negative thinking, state CA, and trait CA. However, those receiving performance visualization displayed fewer disfluencies, less rigidity, and less inhibition than did the control or standard visualization groups. Meta‐analysis was used to compare these data with previous research. Results revealed that standard and performance visualization were generally more effective than other interventions for reducing self reported negative thinking and state CA. Performance visualization also was found to be more effective for reducing observed rigidity than other procedures. These results are the bases for the discussion.

Two empirical tests of a videotape designed to reduce public speaking anxiety

Abstract These studies were designed to determine: 1) if a videotape could be used to help people cope with public speaking anxiety; 2) how this videotape compared with other interventions; 3) whether the video could be used on a self‐help basis; and 4) whether the video would be effective over time. These issues were addressed in two separate studies. These studies indicated that the videotape reduced self‐reported levels of trait CA, state CA, and negative thinking. The first study linked the videotape to reduced rigidity while the second linked the videotape to reduced agitation. The second study also found trait CA to be reduced over time. Meta‐analysis was used to compare these data with other interventions. That analysis revealed this videotape was generally more effective than other interventions in reducing trait CA in study one. The videotape was found to reduce state CA and negative thinking more than other interventions in study two. These and other results are discussed at the conclusion of th...

Nice to meet you? Inter/intrapersonal perceptions of communication apprehension in initial interactions

This study examines the association between communication apprehension (CA) and self‐esteem in order to determine whether the self‐efficacy component of self‐esteem, is more closely related to CA than the self‐worth component. In addition, how high CAs feel about themselves, how they think their partners see them, and whether the perceptions high CAs have of their own behavior match the appraisals that their partners have of them were also investigated. These data indicate that: 1) Self‐efficacy shared a significant relationship with CA while self‐worth did not, 2) high CAs rated themselves lower on self‐efficacy and self‐worth but were viewed equal to low CAs in both areas and 3) high CAs were rated by their interaction partners as less attractive, less trustworthy, and less satisfying to interact with than low CAs. The results are further discussed in the conclusion of this paper.

Coping with public speaking anxiety: An examination of various combinations of systematic desensitization, skills training, and visualization

Abstract This study examined whether the sequencing of cognitive, affective, and behavioral components of an intervention designed to help people cope with public speaking anxiety (PSA) made a difference in the effectiveness of the intervention. Since no data were available to posit hypotheses about the effectiveness of treatment sequencing, all treatment sequences were expected to be more effective than no treatment in reducing self‐reported levels of trait and state CA, the proportion of negative to positive thoughts, and behavioral manifestations of speech anxiety. Contrary to expectations, some treatment combinations were not more effective than no treatment in reducing PSA, negative thoughts, and behavioral manifestations of anxiety. In general, treatment combinations that began with a behavioral component were no better than no treatment in reducing these indicators of speech anxiety. However, treatments that began with cognitive or affective components were effective in reducing trait and state CA,...

The relationship between interpersonal communication apprehension and self‐efficacy

This study examined whether interpersonal communication apprehension (ICA) was more closely related to the self‐efficacy or self‐worth dimensions of self esteem. A much stronger inverse relationship appeared between self‐efficacy and ICA than self‐worth and ICA, suggesting that anxiety may be related to feelings of powerlessness.

Visualization: The next generation

The purpose of this study was to determine whether adding an educational component to visualization (a procedure designed to reduce public speaking apprehension) increases the effectiveness of visualization. These data indicate that combining visualization and education is superior to either education or visualization alone or a no treatment control group in reducing self‐reported public speaking apprehension.

Vividness and control: Factors in the effectiveness of performance visualization?

Performance visualization training was developed specifically for the treatment of public speaking apprehension and centers around peoples ability to create and manipulate images of themselves as public speakers. The present study compared the effects of imagery control and vividness, separately and in combination, on self‐report measures of public speaking apprehension (PSA), state communication apprehension (CA), negative thinking, and. behavioral disruption. Imagery control and vividness were linked to reductions in PSA, state CA, negative thinking, and behavioral disruption. Consequently, it was recommended that people be screened vis a vis their ability to create and control images prior to exposure to performance visualization.

An examination of whether imaging ability enhances the effectiveness of an intervention designed to reduce speech anxiety

This study posited that performance visualization is more effective at reducing speech anxiety among people who can create vivid mental images than among those whose images are less vivid. The results indicate that performance visualization is indeed more effective for vivid imagers in reducing trait communication anxiety, state communication anxiety, negative thoughts, and rigidity.

A test of communication‐orientation motivation (COM) therapy

This study tested the ability of Communication‐Orientation Motivation (COM) therapy (Motley, 1995) to reduce public speaking apprehension. The investigation was deemed necessary due to the inconsistent nature of previous results on the effectiveness of COM therapy. Respondents who scored one standard deviation above the mean on a measure of public speaking apprehension (PSA) formed the target population. Participants were exposed to COM therapy, Systematic Desensitization, a placebo, or no treatment. A pretest‐posttest control group design was employed. Participants delivered pretest speeches, responded to a battery of self‐report measures, were exposed to the appropriate intervention as called for by the experimental design, delivered a posttest speech, and responded to the self‐report measures. In general, COM therapy was found to be effective in reducing PSA. The implications of this and other findings are discussed.

Are reductions in ca an experimental artifact? A Solomon four‐group answer

Beatty, McCroskey, and Heisel (1998) argue that a limitation of current intervention research on communication apprehension is that the experimental designs employed in this research have failed to take into account the effects of testing on participants, among other things. To address this issue, this study employed a Solomon Four‐Group Design, which controls for testing effects, to examine whether systematic desensitization, a widely used procedure for reducing communication apprehension, would reduce communication apprehension beyond the level attributable to repeated testing. These data indicate that systematic desensitization produced a significant reduction in communication apprehension that cannot be explained by “testing effects.” The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of these findings.