Drama and virtual reality: An intersection in combating public speaking anxiety?

Situations involving social performance such as public speaking are cited as some of the most demanding and stressful of communication tasks across cultures (Bodie, 2010; Macey et al., 2023). In a replication study by Dwyer and Marlina (2012), it was determined that public speaking was a commonly held student fear, third only to death itself. This is troubling when considering the ‘essential’ and ‘expected’ nature of presentation giving in the future work environments of our students, and the detrimental outcomes for its sufferers (Macey et al., 2023; Emanuel, 2005).

Public Speaking Anxiety (PSA) is a communication-based anxiety which engenders negative cognitions, physiological and behavioural responses to presentations, real or imagined (E.g. Bodie, 2010; Daly et al., 2009). High PSA has been shown to result in poor speech preparedness, decision-making and negative performance outcomes (E.g. Daly et al., 2009; Dwyer & Davidson, 2012). As such it has been pointedly researched with special focus given to its causes and treatments, to help sufferers prevail in its face (E.g. Bodie, 2010; Dwyer, 2000; Ebrahimi, 2019).

This presentation spotlights developments in contemporary research involving Drama, and Virtual Reality (VR) in the treatment of Public Speaking Anxiety. Through techniques such as improvisation and role-playing, individuals have been shown to improve their public speaking performances (E.g. Jangir & Govinda, 2018; Sevim, 2014). While Virtual Reality can create controlled and immersive environments for speakers to reduce anxiety-levels, improve speaking performance and overcome a perceived insurmountable (E.g. Anderson et al., 2005; Daniels et al., 2020; Lindner et al., 2021). The intersection of each is of additional interest in this investigation.