It seems that the fear of speaking in front of a large group is nearly universal. I’m sure everyone has seen the surveys that say XX% of people fear public speaking more than death etc. Even people who speak in front of large groups for the living often have advice for getting over this fear (suggesting that even they have it at some level). Since it seems to be so universal I imagine that it has some evolutionary purpose, but I can’t think of a purpose. So the question is, is there one or is this a learned fear? Or, a third possibility, am I completely misjudging the number of people who have this fear?
People fear speaking in public because they’re afraid that they’ll embarass themselves.
On a more visceral level, maybe it’s a simple fear of being eaten.
I know when I have to get up in front of a group, they all grow fangs and claws. :rolleyes:
What I mean is, instintively not wanting to expose oneself to possible enemies.
I don’t have a fear of public speaking. And I’m a pretty awkward person in front of strangers. I think it is something to do with social pressure - don’t screw up or you’ll be an outcast. Or something.
Just because it’s universal doesn’t mean there’s an evolutionary reason for it specifically. There could very well be evolutionary reasons for many aspects of human psychology and group interactions, a side effect of which is fear of public speaking.