{"id":46,"date":"2022-02-10T15:10:13","date_gmt":"2022-02-10T15:10:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.hcfl.edu\/speechcomm\/chapter\/classifying-psa\/"},"modified":"2026-07-22T17:24:04","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T17:24:04","slug":"classifying-psa","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.hcfl.edu\/speechcomm\/chapter\/classifying-psa\/","title":{"raw":"2.2 Stages, Symptoms, and Causes of PSA","rendered":"2.2 Stages, Symptoms, and Causes of PSA"},"content":{"raw":"
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2.2 Stages, Symptoms, and Causes of PSA<\/h2>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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Stages of PSA<\/h3>\r\nNow that public speaking anxiety has been defined, let\u2019s discuss the stages it is associated with. These stages are commonly described as pre-preparation, preparation, pre-performance, performance, and post-performance (Beebe & Beebe, 2018). This is fear or nervousness that sets in during the different steps of the speech making process.\r\n\r\n[pb_glossary id=\"2046\"]Pre-preparation[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong>- Moment you find out you have to do a presentation\r\n\r\n[pb_glossary id=\"2047\"]Preparation[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong>- While preparing, making notes, researching, etc.\r\n\r\n[pb_glossary id=\"2048\"]Pre-performance[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong>- Before you face your audience, waiting to go up to the podium\r\n\r\n[pb_glossary id=\"2049\"]Performance[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong>- \u201cStage Fright\u201d During your presentation\r\n\r\n[pb_glossary id=\"2050\"]Post- Performance[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong>- After your presentation, you sit back down and then it hits you\r\n

Symptoms<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nThere are many different symptoms of PSA. The ones listed below are the most common. Notice that some of these are opposite. This is because everyone handles anxiety differently. Some people get hot and sweat when they are nervous; other people get cold. Other symptoms can include (but are not limited to):\r\n\r\nNausea\r\n\r\nCold hands\r\n\r\nSweaty hands\r\n\r\nShaky voice, legs, hands\r\n\r\nTrembling lips\r\n\r\nStuttering\r\n\r\nStumbling over words\r\n\r\nBreaking out in hives\r\n\r\nUsing Fillers, \u201cUm, uh, like, you know\u201d\r\n\r\nForgetting the speech\r\n\r\nPlaying with hair\r\n\r\nElevated heart rate\r\n\r\nTalking too fast\r\n\r\nRepeating yourself\r\n\r\nDry Mouth\r\n\r\nUpset stomach\r\n\r\nSmiling uncontrollably\r\n\r\nLaughing uncontrollably\r\n\r\nNot swallowing\r\n\r\nNot breathing\r\n

Causes of PSA<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nPublic speaking anxiety (PSA) can stem from several distinct causes rooted in individual experiences and dispositions. For some, [pb_glossary id=\"473\"]trait-anxiety[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> reflects a personality-based tendency toward shyness and avoidance of judgment, making public expression feel threatening (McCroskey et al., 1976). Others develop [pb_glossary id=\"471\"]state-anxiety<\/strong>,[\/pb_glossary] which arises from negative past experiences such as public embarrassment or failure, conditioning them to fear similar situations in the future (Beatty, 1988). A third contributor, [pb_glossary id=\"469\"]scrutiny fear[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong>, is linked to discomfort with being observed or evaluated by others (Mattick et al., 1989). Negative [pb_glossary id=\"2044\"]self-talk[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> is one of the biggest culprits. Get rid of any negative self-talk. Do not cut yourself down. You can do this! You might not like it and you might not enjoy it, but that\u2019s ok. You can still be successful.\r\n\r\nOther causes include:<\/strong>\r\n\r\nLack of experience\r\n\r\nLack of confidence\r\n\r\nBeing the center of attention\r\n\r\nFear of being judged\r\n\r\nFear of Failure\r\n

Licenses and Attribution<\/h3>\r\n

CC Licensed Content, Original<\/h4>\r\nSpeech Communication<\/em> was created by Lana Iapicco and Marie Torres. Independently created original and AI-assisted content developed specifically for this book is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License<\/a>, except where otherwise noted.\r\n\r\nThis educational material includes content generated or revised with the assistance of large language models. Lana Iapicco and Marie Torres reviewed, edited, and take responsibility for the final published content.\r\n\r\nThe descriptions of the stages of public speaking anxiety, the list of common symptoms, the discussion of negative self-talk, and the additional causes listed in this section were developed or organized specifically for Speech Communication<\/em>, except where a source is identified below.\r\n

CC Licensed Content, Previously Shared<\/h4>\r\n\u201cStages, Symptoms, and Causes of PSA\u201d<\/strong> includes content adapted from \u201c2.2 Classifying PSA\u201d<\/a> by Douglas Marshall, James Yeargain, June Pulliam, Sara Kim, and Victoria VanNest, published in It\u2019s About Them: Public Speaking in the 21st Century<\/a><\/em> by LOUIS: The Louisiana Library Network.\r\n\r\nThe source material is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License<\/a>. The material was revised, reorganized, condensed, and supplemented with original and AI-assisted content for this edition.\r\n\r\nAdapted portions derived from this source, including revisions to those portions, are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License<\/a>. Independently created portions developed specifically for Speech Communication<\/em> are licensed under the book\u2019s Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License<\/a>, except where otherwise noted.\r\n

Other Content Included<\/h4>\r\n

Stages of public speaking anxiety<\/strong><\/h5>\r\nBeebe, S. A., & Beebe, S. J. (2018). Public speaking handbook<\/em> (6th ed.). Pearson.\r\nThis source supports the discussion of anxiety occurring during pre-preparation, preparation, pre-performance, performance, and post-performance stages. The publication remains subject to the rights of its authors and publisher and is not included under the Creative Commons licenses applied to this book.\r\n
Trait anxiety and communication apprehension<\/strong><\/h5>\r\nMcCroskey, J. C., & Anderson, J. F. (1976). The relationship between communication apprehension and academic achievement among college students. Human Communication Research, 3<\/em>, 73\u201381.\r\nThis work supports the discussion of trait-based communication apprehension and its relationship to individual dispositions and academic experiences. The publication remains subject to the rights of its authors and publisher and is not included under the Creative Commons licenses applied to this book.\r\n
State anxiety and previous speaking experiences<\/strong><\/h5>\r\nBeatty, M. J. (1988). Public speaking apprehension, decision-making errors in the selection of speech introduction strategies, and adherence to strategy. Communication Education, 37<\/em>, 297\u2013311.\r\nThis article supports the discussion of anxiety associated with particular speaking situations and previous negative experiences. The publication remains subject to the rights of its author and publisher and is not included under the Creative Commons licenses applied to this book.\r\n
Scrutiny fear and social anxiety<\/strong><\/h5>\r\nMattick, R. P., Peters, L., & Clarke, J. C. (1989). Exposure and cognitive restructuring for social phobia: A controlled study. Behavior Therapy, 20<\/em>, 3\u201323.\r\nThis article supports the discussion of discomfort related to observation, evaluation, and scrutiny by others. The publication remains subject to the rights of its authors and publisher and is not included under the Creative Commons licenses applied to this book.\r\n

Third-Party References and Links<\/h4>\r\nScholarly publications, theories, quotations, trademarks, and other third-party materials cited in this section remain the property of their respective authors, publishers, organizations, and copyright holders. Their inclusion as citations, intellectual foundations, or examples does not place the underlying publications under the Creative Commons licenses applied to Speech Communication<\/em>.\r\n\r\nUnless a separate license is specifically identified, third-party content may not be copied, redistributed, or adapted independently of the permissions provided by its copyright holder or applicable law.\r\n\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"
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2.2 Stages, Symptoms, and Causes of PSA<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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Stages of PSA<\/h3>\n

Now that public speaking anxiety has been defined, let\u2019s discuss the stages it is associated with. These stages are commonly described as pre-preparation, preparation, pre-performance, performance, and post-performance (Beebe & Beebe, 2018). This is fear or nervousness that sets in during the different steps of the speech making process.<\/p>\n