at the highest level, it's due to a focussed attention to it. if i were to break it down to some overly simplistic internal, subconscious dialogue, it would probably go something like this: "hey, GayGayGirlk started stuttering; hey, i also have a stutter, i better start paying attention to managing it so i don't stutter too". from what i've seen, some people stutter less when their attention is drawn to managing it actively; for others, giving active attention to their stutter makes them stutter more. all this pertains to just a 1:1 private conversation. but, in groups, for me at least, i've found there's another factor. there aren't a lot of stutterers out there relative to the masses. i think i've only ever been in the same room by happenstance with another stutterer like 4-5 times in my whole life. i've found that i will stutter more if there's another person already stuttering within a larger group of non-stutterers because i feel a heightened level of anxiety because- in my head- i feel shitty for multiplying the discomfort that the group already feels just by being around a stutter by 2x! and to me, if it's already a battle to seem normal every day, i certainly augment the risk of being "exposed" by being the second stutterer.