Action Assembly Theory and Communication Apprehension A Psycho-physiological Study

Abstract

Research reported here replicates Greene and Sparks (19830, 1983b) and their reconceptualization of communication apprehension (CA). Noting the limited empirical evidence in support of a trait/structure link with physiological output, this study applies action assembly theory to the problem. Differential heart rate curves are predictedfor high and low trait CA based on Greene's (1984) action assembly theory. Thestudy confirms a hypothesizedcubic heart ratefunctionfor low trait CA subjects and a quadratic heart rate function for high trait CA subjects. Results are interpreted as empirical support for an action assembly approach to communication anxiety.RECURRING problem in communication anxiety research concerns the relationship between "disposition/traits" (McCros-

Differential relations between heart rate and skin conductance, and public speaking anxiety

“…have been found to index the degree of anxiety experienced while speaking in public (Behnke, Carlile, & Lamb, 1974;Giessen & McGlynn, 1977;Behnke & Beatty, 1981;Beidel, Turner, & Dancu, 1985;Booth-Butterfield, 1987;Davidson, Marshall, Tomarken, & Henriques, 2000), and it has further been argued that such heart rate increases might play a role in the aetiology of PSA (e.g. Behnke & Beatty, 1981).…”

“…Efforts have been made to understand the reason for the variability in the heart rate/ speech anxiety relation (e.g. Booth-Butterfield, 1987;Beatty & Behnke, 1991;Davidson, Marshall, Tomarken, & Henriques, 2000), but the issue is far from resolved. In an attempt to further clarify this, the present study considers how this relation is affected by the way that questionnaire and autonomic data are analysed, within a non-clinical sample.…”

Analysis of Heart Stress Response for a Public Talk Assistant System

“…They differ in the level of anxiety during the anticipation phase. The degree of anxiety reflected in the pattern of sensitation was further supported by the work of Booth-Butterfield [11] and Pörhölä [1] who categorized heart rate patterns of college students during public speaking. Different methodologies exist in monitoring physiological signals during public speaking.…”

“…Different methodologies exist in monitoring physiological signals during public speaking. The duration of the public speaking task varied from 2 minutes [11] up to 7 minutes [1]. Typically, the talk situation was manually partitioned into anticipation, confrontation, adaptation, and release phase each lasting from 30 seconds [11] up to 2 minutes [12].…”

“…Recording of heart rate during public speaking was done by hand [10], paperbased physiograph [4], heart rate monitors attached to the index finger [11], ear-worn device [1], and an ECG system [14].…”