A perfect supplement for more broadly-based texts in Public Speaking or Introduction to Communication, this volume provides a clear overview of the process of human communication and analyses of what sorts of behaviors cause speakers to experience shyness, apprehension, or a desire to avoid speaking occasions. Further, it describes the effects of such behaviors on the communication process and a range of strategies to reduce such anxieties. Starting from the premise that speech anxiety is one of the most common obstructions to clear and effective communication, the text provides students with a greater understanding for the reasons that people experience such fears and concrete suggestions for how to overcome them.