6 Sources of Stage Fright

"The following are important factors contributing to performance anxiety. Knowing them is the first step to conquering fear.

1. Feeling inadequate. If we feel inadequate in the public eye, then we have likely felt inferior in other aspects of our lives.

2. Fear of exposure. An audience communicates expectations to a performer, and the pressure to fulfill these expectations could trigger anticipated or actual anxiety. The crowd size or the presence of highly respected peers contributes to the pressure.

3. Social Anxiety. Performance anxiety can be considered a specific type of social anxiety. For a socially anxious person, any situation (public speaking, meeting new people, or answering a question in class) in which he or she is being judged can serve as a potential trigger.

4. Ego defense. Psychoanalysts call defensive responses to anxiety “ego defenses” because the ego (or the self) is protecting itself from the perception of a dreaded disaster. Avoidance is a temporarily effective way of escaping an unpleasant situation.

5. Fear of loss of love. The audience, with its ability to praise or reject the performance, can be perceived as parents or as significant others.

6. Task difficulty. The level of anxiety experienced is directly proportional to the difficulty and complexity of the task. Performance anxiety can increase when the level of requirement and technical demand exceeds the capacity of the performer. Feeling unprepared contributes to a lack of self-confidence. A big part of fear reduction is the proper preparation and development of skills. It is important that people are encouraged to pursue skills in their area of strength wherever possible."

Read the complete article available at Psychology Today!

Reflection:

Do you struggle with stage fright?

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