Management of Mathematics Phobia in a Ninth Standard Student: A Study

Abstract

Mathematics Phobia is an irrational fear of Mathematics. Tobias and Weissbrod (1980) used the term 'mathematics anxiety' to describe the panic, helplessness, paralysis, and mental disorganization that arises among some people when they are required to solve a mathematical problem (p. 65). It creates a feeling of tension, apprehension, or fear that interferes with performance in Mathematics and also results in ‘Mathematics- Avoidance’. Unfortunately, ‘Mathematics-Avoidance’ results in less competency, exposure and practice of Mathematics, leaving students more anxious and mathematically, unprepared to achieve. Math anxious people do well in other subjects but not in Mathematics, which lowers their self-esteem; as a result they develop negative attitude toward Mathematics, and show less interest in this subject. Anxious students volunteer answers less frequently and have a greater tendency to remain passive in classroom activities. These students avoid Mathematic courses and tend to feel negative towards Mathematics and this also affects student’s overall confidence level. However, Behaviour Modification techniques have proven instruments that can reduce various types of anxieties and Super Brain Yoga for improving integration of the brain. Hence this study is undertaken for the Management of Mathematics Phobia. This is a case study of a student of IX standard, Kendriya Vidalaya, Who was referred by his Mathematics teacher complaining that the student becomes anxious whenever he encounters Mathematic problems. After taking Math autobiography it was revealed that the anxiety began due to an embarrassing event in a Mathematics period when he was in
sixth standard. Students score in recent Mathematic exam was noted very low i.e 10/40. His Mathematics Phobia was assessed by using Suri, Monroe and Koc’s (2012) short Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale. Student’s hemispheric dominance of the brain was measured by using Taggart and Torrance’s Human Information Processing Survey (1984). This student was treated with Behaviour Modification techniques and Super Brain Yoga for five weeks. Interventions used are: i) Reduction of Rate of Breathing (Ganesan, 2012). ii) Laughter Technique (Ganesan, 2008b). iii) Develpoment of Alternate Emotional Responses to the Threatening Stimulus (Ganesan, 2008a). iv) Super Brain Yoga (Sui, 2005). The anxiety level and performance in Mathematics exam was reassessed after five weeks. Results showed that Mathematics Phobia was significantly reduced (72 to 14, 58%) and he performed better in the Mathematics exam (10/40 to 28/40, 45%). After reassessing student on Human Information Processing Survey by Taggart and Torrance (1984), it was found that student's dominant information processing mode was 'Integrated' and This shows that Behaviour Modification techniques and Super Brain Yoga are efficient in treating Mathematics Phobia.