Uncertainty Reduction Theory
- Theoretical Claims. A core assumption of uncertainty reduction theory is that people are driven to increase the predictability of their own and their communication partner’s behavior.
- Empirical Tests. Tests of uncertainty reduction theory have addressed three general issues. ...
- Theoretical Developments. ...
- Applications And Extensions. ...
- References: Baxter, L. ...
Full Answer
What is the uncertainty reduction theory of interpersonal communication?
Uncertainty reduction theory is based on the central assumption that the primary concern of strangers upon initial interaction is to reduce uncertainty and increase predictability. Other assumptions related to this theory are: People feel uncertain in initial interpersonal communication.
What is an example of uncertainty reduction theory?
The uncertainty reduction theory was developed by Charles 'Chuck' Berger. It states that people need to reduce uncertainty about other individuals by gaining information about them. For example, your friend, Sam, invites you to join her and her co-workers for dinner.
Why is uncertainty reduction important in relationship development?
Uncertainty reduction is particularly important in relationship development, as the information gathered through observation and interaction can be used to predict a person’s behavior. Uncertainty Reduction Theory rests on several basic assumptions.
What is Berger's theory of uncertainty reduction?
The uncertainty reduction theory was developed by Charles 'Chuck' Berger. It proposes that people can reduce uncertainty about others by gaining information about them. The three reasons people typically feel uncertain include anticipation of prior interaction, incentive value and deviance.
What is meant by uncertainty reduction theory?
The theory suggests that human beings are uncomfortable with uncertainty and seek the means to predict the trajectory of social interactions. In attempting to reduce that uncertainty, people tend to utilize passive, active, and interactive strategies to help predict and explain someone's behavior during an interaction.
What is the uncertainty management theory in communication?
Uncertainty Management Theory seeks to recognize emotions beyond anxiety, the common reaction or response in uncertainty theories: emotional responses in UMT to uncertainty and lack of the desired level of information are perceived as positive, negative, combined, or neutral.
What does the uncertainty reduction theory CH Berger say about communication?
The uncertainty reduction theory was developed by Charles 'Chuck' Berger. It proposes that people can reduce uncertainty about others by gaining information about them. The three reasons people typically feel uncertain include anticipation of prior interaction, incentive value and deviance.
Why was the uncertainty reduction theory created?
Uncertainty reduction theory (URT) was originally created to explain the communication process that occurs when two strangers interact. Charles Berger and Richard Calabrese (1975) observed that when we interact with strangers, we experience uncertainty because we don't really know what to expect.
How is uncertainty management theory different than uncertainty reduction theory?
Both of these theories focus on the idea that uncertainty produces anxiety. Because of the anxiety produced by heightened levels of uncertainty, individuals are highly motivated to reduce uncertainty. Uncertainty Reduction posits that individuals would rather receive bad news than continue in a state of uncertainty.
Who developed uncertainty management theory?
The paper critically examines the Anxiety/Uncertainty Management (AUM) Theory, developed mainly by William Gudykunst, as one of the major intercultural communication theories. First, the key concepts of the theory are briefly identified.
What is uncertainty reduction theory quizlet?
Uncertainty Reduction Theory. Theory that say that when strangers meet, their primary focus is on reducing their level of uncomfortable uncertainty in the situation, either behavioral or cognitive uncertainty.
What are the three strategies for reducing uncertainty?
These three options reflect three strategies of URT for gaining information and thus reducing uncertainty: passive, active, and interactive (Berger, 1979; Berger & Bradac, 1982). Passive strategies involve observing other people without actually interacting with them.
Who applied uncertainty reduction theory to intercultural communication by developing the concept of the stranger?
Gudykunst applied the uncertainty reduction theory to develop the concept of the "stranger" - People in other groups that act in ways different from one's own culture.
What do you mean by uncertainty?
uncertainty, doubt, dubiety, skepticism, suspicion, mistrust mean lack of sureness about someone or something. uncertainty may range from a falling short of certainty to an almost complete lack of conviction or knowledge especially about an outcome or result.
How can you reduce uncertainty in decision making?
How should we change our decision making when uncertainty increases?Reduce the time horizon for decisions. ... Learn as much as possible about options before choosing. ... Avoid unneeded risk. ... Take one risk at a time when feasible. ... Determine the worst case scenario. ... Clarify the uncertainty. ... Know your goals and values.More items...
What are the two types of uncertainty?
1. Factual uncertainty is uncertainty about the actual world; about the way things are – the facts. 2. Counterfactual uncertainty is uncertainty about non-actual worlds; about the way things could or would be if things were other than the way they are – the counterfacts.
What are the uncertainty management strategies?
Seven Strategies for Managing UncertaintyCreate predictability in small doses. ... Reframe. ... Pinpoint your Power Phrase. ... Make plans, but be willing to change them! ... Intentionally involve others. ... Use your imagination for good instead of evil. ... Find a foothold.
When was uncertainty management theory created?
1975Background. AUM theory was developed by William Gudykunst after years of observation of intercultural interactions. His work has similarities to Berger and Calabrese's Uncertainty Reduction Theory (1975).
What is uncertainty in decision making?
Uncertainty refers to scenarios in which this information is barely available. Therefore, uncertain decision making is actually decision making without all the information about the potential risks.
What do you mean by uncertainty?
uncertainty, doubt, dubiety, skepticism, suspicion, mistrust mean lack of sureness about someone or something. uncertainty may range from a falling short of certainty to an almost complete lack of conviction or knowledge especially about an outcome or result.
Who proposed the Uncertainty Reduction Theory?
The theory was first proposed in 1975 by Charles R. Berger and Richard J. Calabrese.
What is the meaning of uncertainty in a relationship?
Relational uncertainty – which describes a lack of confidence an individual feels in predicting or explaining issues surrounding a particular relationship. In essence, uncertainty is felt about the current or future status of the relationship – which may be platonic or romantic.
What is reciprocity in a relationship?
Reciprocity – where similar information is reciprocated between the two strangers. In other words, an individual who asks for age and occupation information is more likely to offer their age and occupation in return. However, as uncertainty decreases, the need to share information in this way decreases.
What is behavioral uncertainty?
Behavioral uncertainty – or the behavior or actions of others in a particular situation. Uncertainty is especially high when people ignore societal or cultural norms, which describe how one is expected to act in a social situation. High behavioral uncertainty reduces the likelihood of future interactions.
What is cognitive uncertainty?
Cognitive uncertainty – which is typically related to the beliefs and attitudes of other people. Uncertainty results as the individual attempts to determine what the other is thinking. Alternatively, they may be uncertain about their own thoughts.
What are nonverbal forms of communication?
Nonverbal warmth – nonverbal forms of communication such as eye contact, smil ing, and positive body language also decrease uncertainty.
What is uncertainty reduction theory?
Uncertainty reduction theory is based on the central assumption that the primary concern of strangers upon initial interaction is to reduce uncertainty and increase predictability. Other assumptions related to this theory are: People feel uncertain in initial interpersonal communication.
How does uncertainty reduce?
Uncertainty reduces as the feelings of approval between individual increase.
Why do people feel uncertain in initial interpersonal communication?
People feel uncertain in initial interpersonal communication. Uncertainty can make people avoid a situation or behavior (aversive state) and cause cognitive stress. Strangers want to reduce uncertainty/increase predictability in initial interaction. Interpersonal communication can be broken down into stages. Interpersonal communication leads ...
How does interpersonal communication affect people?
Interpersonal communication can be broken down into stages. Interpersonal communication leads to uncertainty reduction. People change the quantity and nature of information they share over time. It is possible to predict people’s behavior.
Which study found that uncertainty will continue to increase after initial interaction?
The theory may be easily disproved because of the large scope of its axioms. Planalp and Honeycutt suggest that uncertainty will continue to increase after initial interaction because of lack of understanding and impulsive behavior.
What does it mean when the need for information seeking decreases?
The need of information seeking decreases as uncertainty about the other person decreases.
What is cognitive uncertainty?
Cognitive uncertainty means uncertainty related to beliefs and attitudes of people. Strangers are not aware of each other’s beliefs and attitudes on initial interaction, so uncertainty is high at this point.
Who developed the uncertainty reduction theory?
Lesson Summary. The uncertainty reduction theory was developed by Charles 'Chuck' Berger. It proposes that people can reduce uncertainty about others by gaining information about them. The three reasons people typically feel uncertain include anticipation of prior interaction, incentive value and deviance.
Why the Uncertainty ?
There are three reasons people typically feel uncertain: anticipation of prior interaction, incentive value and deviance. Let's take a look at each of the three reasons.
How does uncertainty affect information?
Uncertainty leads people to gather information about other individuals. There are three types of strategies people use to do so, including passive activities, like watching, or active behaviors, such as asking others about a person of interest or checking social media accounts. Interactive strategies involve communicating with others directly. Ultimately, strategic information gathering aims to reduce our uncertainty about other people and help us form relationships with them.
What are the two types of uncertainty?
Now that we understand why we experience uncertainty, let's discuss the different types of uncertainty: behavioral and cognitive.
What are the three strategies used to relieve uncertainty?
Depending on the situation, they may use one of three strategies: passive, active or interactive.
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What is uncertainty reduction theory?
The uncertainty reduction theory, also known as initial interaction theory, developed in 1975 by Charles Berger and Richard Calabrese, is a communication theory from the post-positivist tradition . It is one of the only communication theories that specifically looks into the initial interaction between people prior to the actual communication process. The theory asserts the notion that, when interacting, people need information about the other party in order to reduce their uncertainty. In gaining this information people are able to predict the other's behavior and resulting actions, all of which according to the theory is crucial in the development of any relationship.
What is proactive uncertainty reduction?
Proactive uncertainty reduction, which is making predictions of the most likely alternative actions the other person might take, is strategic communication planning prior to interaction. In initial meetings, people attempt to predict what the other may want to hear based on the meaning they acquired from previous statements, observations, or information ascertained. However, there is more to come after the initial interaction. There is a change in the intimacy of content exchanged, nonverbal exchanging, as well as reciprocity between the communicators.
How does cultural similarities affect uncertainty reduction?
Another study suggests that cultural similarities between strangers influence the selection of uncertainty reduction strategies by increasing the intent to interrogate, intent to self-disclose, and nonverbal affiliative expressiveness. The study also expressed an individual's culture influences their selection of uncertainty reduction strategies. For example, US students exhibit higher levels of interrogation and self-disclosure than in Japanese students.
What are the two types of uncertainty?
Within the theory two types of uncertainty are identified; cognitive uncertainty and behavioral uncertainty . There are three types of strategies which people may use to seek information about someone: passive, active, and interactive. Furthermore, the initial interaction of strangers can be broken down into individual stages—the entry stage, the personal stage, and the exit stage. According to the theory, people find uncertainty in interpersonal relationships unpleasant and are motivated to reduce it through interpersonal communication.
How does self uncertainty affect in-group entitativity?
Results revealed that people who feel self-conceptual uncertainty are motivated to join groups in which they identify with as an efficient strategy and immediate way to reduce one's self-conceptual uncertainty . Hogg bases his argument on the premise that subjective uncertainty, especially those about one's self and identity are unpleasant and that people strive to reduce uncertainties they feel about themselves.
How many assumptions are there in uncertainty reduction?
Assumptions. There are seven assumptions associated with the uncertainty reduction theory: People experience uncertainty in interpersonal settings. Uncertainty is an aversive state, generating cognitive stress. When strangers meet, their primary concern is to reduce their uncertainty or to increase predictability.
Why is uncertainty important in society?
Uncertainty is one motivation behind adoption of norms in most societies in which people tend to abide by, and if in initial conversations one chooses to ignore such norms there are risks of increasing behavioral uncertainty and reducing the likelihood of having future interactions.
What is uncertainty reduction theory?
Calabrese, Uncertainty Reduction Theory offered a “theoretical perspective for dealing with the initial entry stage of interpersonal interaction” in which uncertainty is common , and suggested a set of “research priorities” for future scholars to further test the theory. Within the initial entry stage of interpersonal interaction, an exchange of information regarding a person’s “sex, age, economic or social status, and other demographic” indicators typically occurs and is “controlled by communication rules and norms” (University of Twente, n.d.). Berger and Calabrese (1975) “initially presented [Uncertainty Reduction Theory] as a series of axioms,” or universal truths that typically do not require proof to be accepted, to “describe the relationships between uncertainty and several communication factors” in dyadic exchanges (University of Twente, n.d.).
How does uncertainty reduction theory help explain human interactions?
One such theory, Uncertainty Reduction Theory, attempts to explain how human beings utilize communicative strategies to reduce uncertainty regarding other human beings. The theory suggests that human beings are uncomfortable with uncertainty and seek the means to predict the trajectory of social interactions. In attempting to reduce that uncertainty, people tend to utilize passive, active, and interactive strategies to help predict and explain someone’s behavior during an interaction.
What are the theories of interpersonal communication?
This guide provides an introduction to the field of interpersonal communication, and outlines important theories in the field, including identity management theory, uncertainty reduction theory, and relational dialectics theory.
Is uncertainty reduction theory applicable to other situations?
While Uncertainty Reduction Theory largely pertains to interpersonal communicative contexts, the theory can also be applied to other situations as well. Dale Brashers (2007) highlighted Uncertainty Reduction Theory’s applicability in contexts ranging from picking a new restaurant to try, where we might consult online reviews to reduce our uncertainty, to material in a class, where we might ask the professor or a classmate to clarify information, to situations where our health and wellness is in doubt and we ask doctors and nurses questions in an effort to quell the anxiety associated with uncertainty (Whaley & Samter, 2013).
Understanding The Uncertainty Reduction Theory
The Three Types of Uncertainty
- Uncertainty can be categorized in a few different ways: 1. Cognitive uncertainty – which is typically related to the beliefs and attitudes of other people. Uncertainty results as the individual attempts to determine what the other is thinking. Alternatively, they may be uncertain about their own thoughts. 2. Behavioral uncertainty– or the behavior or actions of others in a particular situ…
The Three Stages of Uncertainty Reduction Theory
- Berger and Calabrese defined the initial interaction of strangers into three stages: 1. Entry stage – the first stage is characterized by the use of behavioral norms, which some may describe as small talk. These norms include a pleasant greeting or laughter in response to a joke. Information is then exchanged regarding age, social status, economic status, or other demographical factors …
The Seven Axioms of Uncertainty Reduction Theory
- Berger also proposed seven axioms, or self-evident truths, which the individual uses during communicationto reduce uncertainty about the other person’s behavior or actions: 1. Verbal communication – uncertainty is high initially, but decreases once verbal communicationcommences. Communication is inversely proportional to uncertainty. 2. Nonverb…
Key Takeaways
- Uncertainty reduction theory suggests people are uncomfortable with uncertainty and seek ways of predicting the trajectory of social interactions. The theory was first proposed in 1975 by Charles R...
- Uncertainty reduction theory suggests uncertainty may stem from a lack of clarity around certain behaviors, beliefs, attitudes, or relationships.
- Uncertainty reduction theory suggests people are uncomfortable with uncertainty and seek ways of predicting the trajectory of social interactions. The theory was first proposed in 1975 by Charles R...
- Uncertainty reduction theory suggests uncertainty may stem from a lack of clarity around certain behaviors, beliefs, attitudes, or relationships.
- Uncertainty reduction theory is defined by seven self-evident truths that describe the various ways individuals try to reduce uncertainty. These include verbal communication, nonverbal warmth, info...
Assumptions of Uncertainty Reduction Theory
CORE Concepts of Uncertainty Reduction Theory
- The theory says that people need prior information about others to reduce their uncertainty. People feel unpleasant when they are uncertain about the other person’s behavior or actions, so they try to reduce uncertainty through interpersonal communication. Berger proposed seven axioms (self-evident truths) regarding this initial uncertainty.
Types of Uncertainty
- According to Berger there are two kinds of uncertainty that strangers face as they set out for their first meeting. They are:
Stages of Initial Interaction
- Berger and Calabrese broke down the process of relational development into three stages, where each stage includes behaviors that indicate like or dislike.
Criticisms of Uncertainty Reduction Theory
- Despite its widespread influence, the uncertainty reduction theory is not without criticism. Some of them are: 1. Some researchers argue that uncertainty reduction is not always the motivating factor for communication. There is often a genuine desire to get to know the other person. 2. Berger and Calabrese only included middle class white people in their sample size. 3. The theor…
Overview
The uncertainty reduction theory, also known as initial interaction theory, developed in 1975 by Charles Berger and Richard Calabrese, is a communication theory from the post-positivist tradition. It is one of the few communication theories that specifically looks into the initial interaction between people prior to the actual communication process. The theory asserts the notion that, when interacting, people need information about the other party in order to reduce their uncertai…
History
The foundation of the uncertainty reduction theory stems from the information theory, originated by Claude E. Shannon and Warren Weaver. Shannon and Weaver suggests, when people interact initially, uncertainties exist especially when the probability for alternatives in a situation is high and the probability of them occurring is equally high. They assume uncertainty is reduced when the amount of alternatives is limited and/or the alternatives chosen tend to be repetitive.
Assumptions
There are seven assumptions associated with the uncertainty reduction theory:
• People experience uncertainty in interpersonal settings.
• Uncertainty is an aversive state, generating cognitive stress.
• When strangers meet, their primary concern is to reduce their uncertainty or to increase predictability.
Types of uncertainty
Cognitive uncertainty is the uncertainty about other persons' beliefs and thoughts. It pertains to the level of uncertainty associated with the cognition (beliefs and attitudes) of each other in the situation. Uncertainty is high in initial interactions because individuals are not aware of the beliefs and attitude of the other party.
Behavioral uncertainty is the uncertainty about other persons' actions. It pertains to "the extent t…
Reasons to reduce uncertainty
Berger suggests that an individual will tend to actively pursue the reduction of uncertainty in an interaction if any of the three conditions are verified. According to the theory, any single factor or all three of them combined can result in an increase in one's desire to reduce uncertainty in interpersonal interactions.
• Anticipation of future interaction: A future meeting is a certainty.
Stages of relational development
Berger and Calabrese separate the initial interaction of strangers into three stages: the entry stage, the personal stage, and the exit stage. Each stage includes interactional behaviors that serve as indicators of liking and disliking. Understanding the cycle of relational development is key to studying how people seek to reduce uncertainty about others.
• The entry stage: the entry stage of relational development is characterized by the use of behavio…
Strategies for reducing uncertainty
People engage in passive, active, or interactive strategies to reduce uncertainty with others. Strategies as seeking information, focusing on primary goals, contingency planning, plan adaptation, accretive planning, and framing are often utilized by human communicators.
These strategies are meaningful to communication studies in a way that people's "unique capacities for forethought and planning and their ability to monitor carefully ongoing communic…
Axioms and theorems
Berger and Calabrese propose a series of axioms drawn from previous research and common sense to explain the connection between their central concept of uncertainty and seven key variables of relationship development: verbal communication, nonverbal communication, information seeking, intimacy level, reciprocity, similarity, and liking. The uncertainty reduction theory uses scientific methodology and deductive reasoning to reach conclusions. This part of un…