The Science Of Phobias
Phobias are a widespread phenomenon, with societies as disparate as China and New Zealand experiencing a rise in their frequency. They can be experienced by any age group or sex, they follow no particular pattern of spread, and they are found among people at all levels of education. The sheer range of phobias is testament to their power over the human psyche - from fear of public speaking to fear of heights, from fear of social interactions to fear of the dark. What are these things about? And why do we fear them?
I'll focus on a particularly common phobia - fear of public speaking. To most people, the idea of giving a formal speech will seem as ludicrous and scary as petrified frogs or the twelve apostles.... But why do some people have such an irrational fear of public speaking, while others don't?
That's the question which led me to start phobias.com in 1994 - and it's the one that I'll be attempting to answer in this series of articles. This week's opening article will attempt to answer (at least some) of those questions - though I won't be delving into the origins and evolutionary reasons for our dread here... That's a subject for a later article.
I'll be looking at the scientific data on public speaking and phobias, at the causes and effects of phobias, as well as exploring simple ways to get over your fears. So what is public speaking? I'd define it (somewhat loosely) as being required to perform in front of an audience - any audience, whether it be one person or 100,000. In its simplest form this would involve giving a formal speech or presentation to an audience; in more extreme cases it might involve performing in front of an audience on television or radio.
This definition is broad enough to include many different types of performance - from wedding speeches to impromptu comments made at work meetings. It can include both serious speeches, such as those made by politicians and motivational speakers, as well as sillier events such as talent shows.
It also includes all manner of speaking in public - including interviews on television and radio, and even commercials which are played on television.
We're all familiar with public speaking; most of us have experienced it in some capacity. But many people have a deep-seated dread of public speaking - and I'm going to suggest that this is something which we all need to overcome... Developing the ability to speak in front of an audience will do more for your career than any other skill you will ever acquire.
Phobias and Public Speaking
The phobia of public speaking is called Glossophobia - and it is a surprisingly common phenomenon. A study of the frequency of phobias in Britain found that over 40% of people had a fear of public speaking, making it one of the most widespread phobias known to man.
The most recent (2003) data suggests that around 3% percent of Americans suffer from a specific phobia called Glossophobia - also known as Fear Of Public Speaking. There are many other studies which support these figures, some showing higher rates in certain countries or age groups. Interestingly, one study found that men were far less likely to be affected by public-speaking fears than women - contrary to popular belief.
Conclusion
Public-speaking phobia is a widespread phenomenon which affects a huge number of people around the world. It is perhaps the most well-known 'phobia' - owing to its prevalence and societal impact. Interestingly, it affects men and women with equal frequency, despite the common belief that women are more likely to experience such a fear.
More research needs to be done on this subject - and I'll be looking at it in future articles on this website. Stay tuned for more...
Article by Kelvin Holdsworth. Copyright (c) 2008
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License .
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The Science Of Phobias