Investigating Public Speaking Anxiety and the Pygmalion Effect

Public speaking is a fundamental skill valued in academic, professional, and social contexts. However, for many learners, speaking in front of an audience provokes significant anxiety that can undermine confidence, reduce participation, and impair academic performance. Public speaking anxiety (PSA) is recognised as a situation-specific form of communication apprehension, encompassing cognitive components such as self-beliefs and performance expectations; behavioural responses such as avoidance or visible tension while speaking; and physiological manifestations that can affect delivery quality. These components often interact, shaping how individuals perceive and respond to speaking situations. The purpose of this study was to investigate public speaking anxiety among undergraduates and to explore how learners identify beliefs and expectations, behaviours and performance in public speaking anxiety. Quantitative research through the lens of the Pygmalion effect was conducted among 204 undergraduates from various majors at a university in Selangor who were studying Mandarin (level 2 and above). The survey instrument employed is the 5-point Likert scale survey. This study replicates the findings of Bartholomay & Houlihan (2016). The study is divided into four parts that address the demographic profile, beliefs and expectations, behaviour, and performance. The study reveals that the most prominent concern was the fear of forgetting lines or losing words during a Mandarin public speaking session. The findings suggest that internal anxiety, rather than external factors like audience interaction, primarily triggers learners' behaviours associated with public speaking anxiety. The result also indicates that learners' self-evaluations were more strongly linked to physiological symptoms of anxiety, such as muscle tension and raised heart rate, than to severe physical discomfort. Lastly, the findings reveal that a strong positive relationship exists between all the Pygmalion effects on public speaking anxiety.

Public Speaking Anxiety, The Pygmalion Effect

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