The Effects of Audience Size on High and Low Speech-Anxious Subjects During an Actual Speaking Task

Abstract

The present study assessed the impact of audience size (0, 2, or 6) and expertness level (expert present/absent) on 30 high and low speech-anxious subjects while they were giving a speech. Anxiety level was measured via self-reported nervousness, physiological change (heart rate and skin conductance), and overt motor behavior. It was found that while high speech-anxious subjects were relatively more anxious and depressed after speaking before a larger audience, low speech-anxious subjects were relatively less anxious and depressed before a larger audience. In addition, when given a choice, high anxious subjects reported a general preference for speaking alone while the low anxious subjects preferred having three or more people present. However, both groups showed similar physiological increases during preparation for speaking and during the actual speaking episode. These data are interpreted as evidence for a possible "exhibitionistic" effect in low anxious subjects, and are further interpreted in light of the two-factor model of emotion proposed by Schacter and Singer (1962).