Communication apprehension in life narratives.

Abstract

A phenomenological study was conducted with eight college students who scored 100 or over on the Personal Report of Communication Apprehension. Each student discussed his/her life narrative in 90 to 120 minutes interviews. The content of the interviews was analyzed and compared. The analysis of the life narratives revealed four main themes discussed by all participants: (1) Family and Early Childhood Development, (2) School and Teachers, (3) Naming and Explaining the Problem, and (4) Emotional Experiences. Each theme contained several topics related to the theme. The themes that evolved from the life narratives enrich the understanding of CA and give voice to individuals whose fears have prevented them from being heard.

Communication apprehension researchers have defined communication apprehension and have studied the effects of CA on individual's lives. Work has been done to identify those who suffer from high levels of CA. Although researchers have reasoned possible causes of communication apprehension, no definite cause has been identified. Research is not evident that pursues in-depth information from the people who have experienced communication apprehension. The purpose of this research is to investigate the life of the person who suffers from high levels of CA as an entity that contains information about or clues to the beginning and development of high communication apprehension.

Researchers believe that 20 percent of the population endures high levels of communication apprehension. If a person experiences high levels of CA, she/he will find ways to avoid situations she/he has learned to associate with communication. Individuals with high CA levels tend to avoid communication and because of the avoidance are perceived less positively by those who do not experience high CA levels. Studies have indicated that those who have high communication apprehension are negatively influenced in their economic, academic, political, and social lives.