Glossophobia, also known as public speaking anxiety and speech anxiety, is a fear of speaking in public. Considerable research has been conducted into the causes of glossophobia with a number being suggested. One explanation is that these anxieties are a specific symptom of social anxiety produced by fearfulness related to the Fight-or-flight response, which is produced by a perceived threat; this triggers an elevated defense reaction in the Sympathetic nervous system to be alert, to run, hide or freeze. It is linked to the psychiatric condition known as Social anxiety disorder SAD which is a mental predisposition to believe that social interactions will result in harsh negative judgement from others and poor outcomes because of such judgement; thus, before the social interaction occurs such as a public speech, the individual creates negative thoughts of failure, dread and the idea of being incapable, producing negative feelings and physiological responses.