>*"my theory is that your subconscious has this need to be perfect when you’re expressing yourself"* Exactly! What you are describing is essentially what research considers "**conflict monitoring**" (such as, judging or evaluating: cognitive, motivational, emotional, linguistic conflict). [Evan Usler](https://alliedhealth.ceconnection.com/ovidfiles/00011363-202201000-00004.pdf) (PhD) created a highly understandable diagram to help expand on this phenomenon. As you pointed out, I agree with you, in that, we self-impose the demand to be perfect, otherwise conflict is established.. thus, we require meeting certain conditions like "expressing it perfect", otherwise we subconsciously fuel the direct–indirect striatal pathway dysfunction (aka resulting in stuttering), see page 6. Research states that, "*if cognitive conflict surpasses a threshold, the right prefrontal area, encompassing the dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and IFG, transmits a signal to the STN. This signal acts as a circuit breaker, leading to the shutdown of the initiation of the speech motor program at the onset of articulation.*" It further implies that: * cognitive conflict rises in parallel with the intensity of dysfunction within the cortico-basal ganglia thalamo-cortical motor network * this dysfunction (aka stuttering) continues as long as articulation begins before cognitive conflict is resolved **Result:** I think we have developed 100s of these demands, take another one that I hear often here on reddit: * "I need confidence" * "I require not being tired" So, what many PWS then do is try to increase confidence, becoming less tired, etc - in an attempt to meet the conditions, is what it comes down to. The problem that comes afterwards is, that by continuing to implement these conditional demands, we continue to stutter when we are not confident, if we become tired, when we anticipate or perceive not being perfect etc. Perhaps a more effective way could be to stop reinforcing "conditional demands" altogether, and simply shift to unconditional demands (universal). Or, instead of trying to meet the demands, perhaps a more effective approach could be to */accept/* not meeting the conditions (e.g., accept that we are not expressing it perfectly) while not relying on the conditional demands. I'm not implying that "increasing confidence" is bad.. it's definitely helpful. However, I think that linking confidence to speech performance: *if we don't have confidence, then the speech motor program is being inhibited (dysfunction/stuttering)*, is, in the way I perceive it, without a doubt the wrong approach as it only limits our speech performance. Most people who stutter don't read research studies unfortunately, and many of them are unaware of the conflict monitoring that plays a critical role in the manifestation of stuttered speech production. Perhaps, if they come accross this comment, and even consider staying updated through research, we might just kick this stigma to the curb.