EFFECTS OF POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARD GIVING A SPEECH ON CARDIOVASCULARAND SUBJECTIVE FEAR RESPONSES DURING SPEECH IN ANXIOUS SUBJECTS

40 speech-anxious subjects were asked to deliver four speeches during the experiment. The conditions varied according to whether the subject s maintained a positive or neutral attitude toward speech prior to eac h presentation. Heart rate and self-reports of fear were measured duri ng the experiment. Maintaining a positive attitude prior to delivering a speech reduced both subjective anxiety and cardiovascular responses .