ABSTRACT
The study of communication traits has received extensive empirical attention in recent decades. Investigating the teaching and learning of public speaking through the application of communication traits can provide insight into individual differences toward public speaking. In this chapter, four overarching categories of communication traits (i.e., apprehension traits, aggression traits, adaptation traits, and presentation traits) are identified and six specific communication traits (i.e., communication apprehension, receiver apprehension; argumentativeness, verbal aggressiveness; rhetorical sensitivity; and communicator style) that represent each of the four categories are reviewed. Three suggestions are offered on how a communication traits approach can be integrated into the successful teaching and learning of public speaking.
