Exploring Communication Anxiety and Apprehension

Dakota Horn is the Director of the Oral Communication Program and the Presentation Assistance Center at Bradley University, USA. He is a co-founder of the Communication Anxiety and Apprehension division of the National Communication Association and the author of Principles of Public Speaking, 21st edition (Routledge, 2024).Suzy Prentiss is a Lecturer in Communication at the University of Central Florida, USA. She is a co-founder of the Communication Anxiety and Apprehension division of the National Communication Association.

• 1. A New Understanding of Communication Anxiety and Apprehension Unit 1 Overview: Public Speaking Anxiety 2. Toward a Social Model of Public Speaking Anxiety 3. Cognitive Modification or Self-Deception? Renewing Public Speaking Anxiety Techniques with Deceptive Communication 4. From Public Speaking to Communication Competency 5. Performance Psychology Strategies for Reducing Communication Anxiety 6. Beyond “Think Positive”/ Rethinking How We Manage Public Speaking Anxiety Unit 2 Overview: Situation Based 7. Addressing Group Communication Apprehension among Graduate Students in Various Learning Environments 8. Communication Apprehension in Professional Settings/ From Interviewing to Leading 9. Managing the effects of anxiety in conflict communication Unit 3 Overview: Technology and Digital 10. The Complicated Relationship Between Artificial Intelligence and Communication Apprehension 11. Behind/Between Screens: Technology and Communication Apprehension 12. Strategies for Managing Communication Anxiety in a Digital Mediated Environment Unit 4 Overview: Identity 13. Communication Apprehension in the Professional Workforce: Another Symptom of Gender Oppression 14. Retheorizing Communication Apprehension as a Rational Response to Ableist Standardization 15. Authentic Belonging in the Speech Class: The Trials of ESL Students Unit 5 Overview: Sensitive Topics 16. Political Communication Apprehension Toward Productive Political Discourse 17. Court Communication Anxiety: Navigating Stress, Emotion, and Legal Process 18. Managing Anxiety and Apprehension in Professional Communication After a Medical Diagnosis 19. The Role of Communication Apprehension and Anxiety in Addiction Counseling Unit 6 Overview: Educational Environment 20. The Role of Classroom Culture-Building in Managing Communication Apprehension 21. “That Was a Scary Meeting”: Instructor Apprehension and Anxiety Outside the Classroom 22. Easing Communication Apprehension Strategies for Supporting Anxious Learners in Online Education 23. Teacher Approaches to Communication Apprehension

“This book offers a bold rethinking of communication anxiety and apprehension. It fuses current research with compelling real-world examples that will empower educators and students alike. Readers will find actionable guidance for navigating common barriers to confident, effective communication.”Pat Gehrke, University of South Carolina, USA“As a university public speaking instructor with decades of experience, I have watched student confidence steadily decline in the face of growing communication anxiety. This book offers a rich blend of stories, research, and practical strategies that meet learners where they are, without trying to “fix” them. It encourages understanding, empowerment, and advocacy through inclusive and authentic perspectives that reflect the complexity of human communication. A valuable guide for educators, students, and anyone seeking deeper insight into how anxiety and apprehension shape our interactions.”Dawn Pfeifer Reitz, Pennsylvania State University – Berks, USA“As a teacher-scholar devoted to amplifying student voices and advancing evidence-based research on communication apprehension, I applaud this book’s depth and breadth. Its embrace of diverse perspectives and reframing toward communication competency enriches the scholarly conversation, empowering classrooms and communities through multiple coexisting frameworks.”Karla M. Hunter, South Dakota State University, USA