We have just completed a very exciting study in conjunction with two psychologists at the University of Arizona. They concluded after an analysis of the data: "'The Lefkoe Method' was effective in virtually eliminating the fear of public speaking in, on average, only three one-hour sessions."
Their preliminary report is copied below.
Drs. Sechrest and Cunningham and I are about a write an article with all the details for a major psychology journal. In addition, we intend to release a summary of the study results to the national media.
If you have any questions about the study or The Lefkoe Method, please contact me at 415-456-7300 or
morty@speakingwithoutfear.com.
Preliminary Report on Results from “Speaking Without Fear” Study
Prepared by Victoria Cunningham, Ph.D. & Lee Sechrest, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology, University of Arizona
May 20, 2004
A recent study was conducted to examine the ability of Morty Lefkoe’s “The Lefkoe Method” to reduce or even eliminate fear of speaking in public in a group of forty volunteers recruited from Toastmasters Clubs and other random sources and who reported fairly severe symptoms related to public speaking. Subjects were randomly assigned to an experimental or a control group. In the end, we had 17 subjects in the experimental group and 19 in the control group. However, the study was designed in such a way that everyone in the control group also received the treatment at the end of a waiting period.
Thus, not only were we able to compare the experimental and the control groups, but we were also able to assess changes in what were originally control group subjects. All treatment sessions were conducted by telephone, and, on average, only three one-hour sessions were required to achieve treatment goals.
The results support our hypothesis that self-reported fear of speaking in public would be virtually eliminated. Before the experiment, both groups rated their last public speaking experience as an average of about 7 on a 10-point scale on which 1 meant “not at all fearful,” and 10 indicated “extremely fearful”. Subjects in the experimental group experienced a reduction of about 5 points to an average score of 1.5, whereas the control group remained unchanged. In addition, after receiving the same treatment, scores for the control group were also reduced by about 5 points to yield an average of 1.
It is important to note that all subjects rated their post-treatment scores in relation to an actual public speaking experience.
We also asked subjects about other common physical sensations and cognitive difficulties often associated with speaking in public, e.g., increased heart rate, sweating, dry mouth, quivering voice, stuttering and difficulty staying focused. The results were quite consistent with those from the rating scale: prominent symptoms were reduced for everyone who received the treatment, and the difference between the experimental and control groups was large and statistically significant.
Responses to additional questions to gauge individuals’ self-confidence as a speaker also provide evidence that “The Lefkoe Method” was effective in virtually eliminating the fear of public speaking.
The Lefkoe Method includes several different processes, two of which were used in this study. The Lefkoe Belief Process quickly and permanently eliminates beliefs; the Lefkoe Stimulus Process de-conditions the stimuli for undesirable emotions such as fear.
Some of the beliefs that most of the subjects eliminated include:
• Mistakes and failure are bad
• If I make a mistake (fail) I’ll be abandoned.
• What I have to say is not important
• People aren’t interested in what I have to say.
• I’m not capable.
• I’m not competent.
• I’m not important.
• I’m not good enough.
• What makes me important or good enough is having people like me.
Here is a list of the most common stimuli that were de-conditioned, i.e., after undergoing the Lefkoe Stimulus Process, the subjects reported that these stimuli no longer produced any fear:
• Fear associated with being criticized, judged, or evaluated.
• Fear associated with not meeting the expectations of others.
• Fear associated with being rejected.
research study: you can eliminate the fear of speaking
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