ABSTRACT

In virtually every psychology department, faculty are expected to engage in at least two of three academic activities: teaching, research, and service. The mutually supportive functions of teaching, research, and service operate even in psychology departments where the clearest expectations and the most visible rewards are for doing research and getting grants. “Teaching is public speaking, after all, and public speaking—no matter how many times teachers do it—requires preparation and energy, and for most of us it produces anxiety”. Some signs of teaching anxiety, such as a quavering voice, are obviously fear-related, but others appear as problematic teacher behaviors that are all too easily misinterpreted by students as evidence of incompetence, laziness, aggressiveness, or disinterest. In summary, teaching can be less stressful and more fun if teachers focus not only on what they put into their class presentations and how they organize their courses but also on being realistic about their teaching.