Talking excessively can be a coping mechanism for stress and fear, but not everyone talks too much when nervous. Some people shut down verbally, while others talk to build confidence or because of a temporary loss of concentration.
Stress and fear of the unknown can trigger some interesting human behaviors, including the need for incessant nervous chatter. There are some people who cover up their feelings by filling the air with words, a condition sometimes called talkativeness. Many cases of true talkativeness are linked to diagnosed manic conditions, however, not the chatter of a first-time flyer or nervous public speaker. For most people, talking serves as a kind of calming mechanism in response to certain stressors.
Not everyone talks too much when they get nervous. Some people tend to shut down verbally when faced with a stressful situation. The last thing they want is to appear too talkative or gregarious. But many people find talking to be a stress reliever, at least for themselves. As long as they can keep talking, other thoughts and fears cannot enter their consciousness. A nervous flyer, for example, may talk throughout the entire takeoff process as a way of reassuring himself that nothing is going wrong.
Other people talk excessively when they’re nervous about making a connection with others, even if it’s sometimes imperfect. A nervous candidate may spend time talking to other candidates to calm down before an interview. By voicing her fears and making small talk, she may be able to build enough confidence to handle the interview better. One person’s talk can often encourage others to share their experiences or concerns.
Another reason some people talk too much when they’re nervous is a temporary loss of concentration. This happens quite often when a speaker forgets a crucial part of a prepared speech and is forced to improvise. The fear of leaving out a critical fact or observation can put some people into verbal overdrive. Some speakers may feel nervous due to perceived time constraints, so they will speak much faster than normal. However, once a person has had time to recover, the need for excessive talking often dissipates quickly.
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