The originator of the communication apprehension (CA) construct has consistently maintained that communication apprehensive people should not be expected to exhibit anxious behaviors. On the other hand, inept and incompetent communicative actions constitute the reticence syndrome, clearly a construct defined through behaviors. Noting that it is important that communication researchers compare and distinguish between these cognitive-affective and behavior constructs, a study examined the relationship of behaviors to CA and to reticence. Undergraduate basic communication students completed the Personal Report of Communication Apprehension (PRCA-24) and the Verbal Reticence Scale two-weeks prior to participating in randomly selected and assigned dyadic interactions. Subjects in the dyads participated for eight minutes with confederates who were trained to react neutrally and consistently with all partners in a "get acquainted" activity. Interactions were videotaped. Participants then completed the Communication Apprehension Index. Five behaviors consistently reported as indicative of CA or reticence were selected for coding: (1) number of words spoken, (2) lengthy pauses, (3) gaze avoidance, (4) disfluencies, and (5) disclaimers. The results did not support the hypothesis that behaviors would demonstrate stronger relationships with reticence than with trait CA. The conceptualization of CA as a cognitive construct is supported by the data, but the absence of behaviors correlating with reticence and the corresponding strong reticence/cognition relationship raises questions regarding the definition of the reticence construct and its operationalization. A three-page list of references concludes the document. (HTH)