Skills training and self-administered desensitization in the reduction of public speaking anxiety.

The aim is to test the following hypotheses. Since desensitization targets only “feelings” of anxiety, and skills training targets only overt behaviors, the predictions based on the earlier findings (Marshall, Presse and Andrews, 1976; Paul, 1966) are as follows: (a) the combination of skills training and desensitization will be more effective than desensitization alone, but no more effective than skills training alone, in reducing behavioral manifestations of anxiety; (b) the combination will be more effective than skills training alone, but no more effective than desensitization alone, in reducing subjective distress; (c) skills training will be more effective than desensitization in reducing behavioral manifestations of anxiety; and (d) desensitization will be more effective than skills training in reducing subjective distress.