Exploring Communication Anxiety and Apprehension Research, Pedagogy and Practice

1. A New Understanding of Communication Anxiety and Apprehension  

Dakota C. Horn, Suzy Prentiss and Chris Marsh

Unit 1 Public Speaking Anxiety  

2. Toward a Social Model of Public Speaking Anxiety  

Darren J. Valenta

3. Cognitive Modification or Self-Deception? Renewing Public Speaking Anxiety Techniques with Deceptive Communication  

Miranda N. Rouse and Xiaoti Fan

4. From Public Speaking to Communication Competency  

Brenda L. Rombalski and Neal K. Keesee

5. Performance Psychology Strategies for Reducing Communication Anxiety  

John Woodman and Caroline Koons

6. Beyond “Think Positive”: Rethinking How We Manage Public Speaking Anxiety  

Xiaoti Fan and Miranda N. Rouse

Unit 2 Situation Based  

7. Addressing Group Communication Apprehension among Graduate Students in Various Learning Environments  

Jessica M. Welsh

8. Communication Apprehension in Professional Settings: From Interviewing to Leading  

Andrea L. Meluch, Maria Hannah and McKenna Lewis

9. Managing the Effects of Anxiety in Conflict Communication  

Gwen A. Hullman

Unit 3 Technology and Digital Communication

10. The Complicated Relationship between Artificial Intelligence and Communication Apprehension  

Bryan Abendschein and Chad Edwards

11. Behind/Between Screens: Technology and Communication Apprehension  

Caroline Koons and John Woodman

12. Strategies for Managing Communication Anxiety in a Digital Mediated Environment  

Erik Gustafson

Unit 4 Identity  

13. Communication Apprehension in the Professional Workforce: Another Symptom of Gender Oppression  

Adam J. Pyecha and Monica M. Thompson-Henry

14. Retheorizing Communication Apprehension as a Rational Response to Ableist Standardization  

Allison D. Brenneise and Joshua E. Young

15. Authentic Belonging in the Speech Class: The Trials of ESL Students  

Reshmi Sen

Unit 5 Sensitive Topics  

16. Political Communication Apprehension: Toward Productive Political Discourse  

Joy Jones-Carmack, Narissra M. Punyanunt-Carter and Jason S. Wrench

17. Court Communication Anxiety: Navigating Stress, Emotion, and Legal Process  

Makayla Roller

18. Managing Anxiety and Apprehension in Professional Communication after a Medical Diagnosis  

Lisa Enright

19. The Role of Communication Apprehension and Anxiety in Addiction Counseling: The Intersection of "Soft" and "Hard" Stigma  

Theodore A. Avtgis, Elizabeth M. Glowacki and Veronica Nuzzolo

Unit 6 Educational Environments 

20. The Role of Classroom Culture-Building in Managing Communication Apprehension  

Stephanie Medden

21. “That Was a Scary Meeting”: Instructor Apprehension and Anxiety Outside the Classroom  

Beth L. Boser and R. Brandon Anderson

22. Easing Communication Apprehension: Strategies for Supporting Anxious Learners in Online Education  

Keith Richards and Hannah Priest Catalano

23. Teacher Approaches to Communication Apprehension  

Caroline Waldbuesser, Frances Brandau, Kara Starnes and Evan Kirksey

Biography

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.

“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