What do people think causes stage fright?: Naïve attributions about the reasons for public speaking anxiety

Abstract

This article reports on a two‐phase study of the “naive”; explanations people have for stage fright. People without any formal background in communication or in research on stage fright were asked to offer explanations for why people may experience stage fright. A questionnaire based on their responses was administered to a second sample. Nine factors emerged: Mistakes, Unfamiliar Role, Humiliation, Negative Results, Rigid Rules, Personality Traits, Preparation, Audience Interest, and Physical Appearance. Respondents’ own previous public speaking experience impacted their ratings of these factors, but their personal level of public speaking anxiety was unrelated. The implications for stage fright treatment and future research endeavors are discussed.