Background
Jerry Seinfeld once noted that most people at a funeral would rather be in the casket than giving the eulogy. Fear of public speaking, sometimes called public speaking anxiety (PSA) or glossophobia, is one of the most commonly held fears. PSA is a specific sub-category of general Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). However, it is distinct from SAD since PSA is experienced by individuals who do not have issues communicating in other social situations. These are individuals who may not pursue formal treatment for this type of anxiety because it affects only a small part of their lives, and they feel that PSA is best dealt with by avoidance.
One study (Grieve et al., 2021) found PSA was one of the top three fears held by college students, affecting 64% of respondents. More remarkably, 80% of respondents indicated that public speaking was a source of anxiety that had negatively affected their well-being. This is a significant concern for a number of reasons. First, fear of public speaking was listed as the top fear by 20% more respondents than a similar survey done in the 1970s, suggesting PSA has become more widespread. Second, it has been noted that for individuals with PSA, the desire to be “perceived favorably” often becomes a higher priority than participating in a learning opportunity or communicating with the group (Grieve et al., 2021). Third, public speaking is a vital skill tied to job success.
Not surprisingly, PSA has been one of the most researched topics in communication studies over the last century. In terms of formal treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is considered the “gold standard” for SAD and PSA. Non-formal, in-class approaches have changed little over the past decades. This has led to the consideration of alternatives.
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Why Improv?
One potential alternative is improvisational theatre (improv). There is a good deal of anecdotal evidence, supported by a limited body of research, regarding the efficacy of improvisational theatre in reducing social anxiety. Second City Chicago, for example, offers five levels of courses entitled “Improv for Anxiety.” This is backed by studies reflecting a variety of positive psychological impacts from improv, including a reduction in social anxiety. This research has even spilled over into the popular press, spawning a number of improv-based self-improvement books such as Katzman and O’Connor’s Life Unscripted and Clay Drinko's Play Yourself Sane.
Despite the apparent success of improv in helping individuals deal with social anxiety, the only two studies to date applying improv specifically to PSA have been inconclusive. This study proposes to take a different approach to examining the impact of improv on PSA. While the study will use similar methods to measure the level of PSA experienced by participants, its focus will be on the participants' experiences, both in the class and in their everyday lives. Through the use of interviews, observation, and journaling, participants will have an opportunity to share their thoughts and experiences as they progress through the class.
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