Understanding the Influence of Self-Critical, Self-Managing, and Social-Assessing Self-Talk on Performance Outcomes in a Public Speaking Context

Abstract

This study examines how different types of self-talk (self-reinforcing, self-critical, self-managing, and social-assessing) influence speakers' emotional experience of public speaking anxiety and actual performance outcomes. A total of 152 participants reported their speech-specific self-talk frequencies and emotional states of anxiety at two time periods. External raters scored each participant's video-recorded speech. Results revealed that different types of self-talk exert influence on performance outcomes through distinct pathways. For example, self-managing self-talk had a direct positive impact on speakers' performance qualities, whereas social assessing self-talk had both a direct and an indirect effect but with opposite operating mechanisms. The study found that self-reinforcing self-talk provides little benefit in overcoming anxiety. It appears that the frequent engagement of self-critical self-talk that contributes substantially to the experience of speech-related anxiety. Theoretical and practical implications for self-talk monitoring and public speaking interventions are discussed.

Individual Differences in Self-Talk Frequency: Social Isolation and Cognitive Disruption

“…We interpreted these results to suggest that individuals with high PSA were cognitively “busier” than those with low anxiety as they prepared for their upcoming speech. In a follow-up study (Shi et al., 2017), we found that self-managing self-talk was positively associated with the rated organization of an actual speech ( r = 0.23) and that PSA mediated the effects of self-critical and social-assessing self-talk on rated speech delivery, with self-critical self-talk indirectly decreasing speech delivery scores through its influence on increasing speakers’ PSA levels.…”

Imagined Interactions and Inner Speech

“…To deal with anxiety, the technique of cognitive modification is the best because this technique specifically addresses negative discrepancy. An article published in this journal examines inner speech functions (e.g., Shi, Brinthaupt, & McCree, 2017). They examined self-talk before a speech in terms of self-managing self-talk (e.g., focuses on problem-solving thinking and selfregulation) and cited II research for alleviating stress and anxiety through the catharsis function (Choi et al, 2015).…”

Schizotypal Tendencies Are Positively Associated With Self-Talk Frequency

“…Self-talk serves important cognitive and self-regulatory functions (e.g., Carver & Scheier, 1998; Morin, 2005; Winsler, Fernyhough, & Montero, 2009). A large research literature also highlights the role of self-talk in depression, anxiety, and other forms of dysfunction (e.g., Kendall, Howard, & Hays, 1989; Shi, Brinthaupt, & McCree, 2017).…”

“…(2009, Study 5) showed that frequent self-talkers reported higher levels of obsessive-compulsive tendencies (i.e., checking behaviors and impaired control over mental activities) compared to infrequent self-talkers. Shi et al. (2017) found that self-critical and social-assessing self-talk increased the anxiety levels of public speakers and hurt their actual speech performance.…”

“…There is reason to think that people who score high on these schizotypy characteristics will also score high in self-talk frequency. For example, research (e.g., Brinthaupt et al., 2009; Reichl et al., 2013; Ren et al., 2016; Shi et al., 2017) has shown that certain kinds of self-talk relate positively to other maladaptive cognitive or affective variables. In addition, individuals with the unusual or anomalous experiences reflected by the positive and disorganized schizotypal tendencies might use self-talk as a way to manage or compensate for their cognitive, perceptual, and interpersonal disruptions through greater self-regulatory focus.…”