ATTITUDES TOWARDS SHAME AND FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING

Abstract

Communication between people implies an abstract, symbolic use of language. Although people are born biologically with a predisposition to speaking, it does not guarantee that a person will be a successful speaker throughout life. For a speaker to be successful in their public performance, first of all, it is essential to overcome shame and fear and be educated in public speaking. The aim of the conducted research was to find out the attitudes of university graduate students of early and preschool education and educators with work experience towards the forms and patterns of shame and fear in official communication situations and the need to introduce oratory (rhetoric) into the Croatian education system. The research was conducted in May 2022 and included 63 respondents (28 students and 35 teachers). The research found that the majority of respondents do not feel shame and fear when speaking in public. To people who feel some form of stage fright before public speaking, the respondents attribute insufficient public speaking experience and exposure to vertical hierarchical communication characterized by an authoritative atmosphere. Most respondents believe that during formal education, they are insufficiently prepared for public speaking and that rhetoric needs to be implemented into Croatian educational programmes.