Synonyms
Definition
Communication apprehension is an emotional state expressed as an anxiety experienced by an individual in relation to anticipated or actual communication with another person or persons (McCroskey 1977). The impact varies from person to person but, for many of those affected, communication apprehension tends to be associated with certain circumstances or contexts such as interpersonal communication, public speaking, and participating in meetings and group presentations.
Theoretical Background
Communication apprehension is linked to communication avoidance and has been the focus of research for more than 40 years. The phenomenon was originally defined by McCroskey (1970) as an anxiety related to oral communication. The focus and meaning of communication apprehension has since evolved to represent an anxiety experienced by an individual in relation to anticipated or actual communication with another person or persons...
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Campbell, J. (2012). Apprehension and Communication. In: Seel, N.M. (eds) Encyclopedia of the Sciences of Learning. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1428-6_53
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