Uncertainty Reduction Theory URT Laws Thoery according to the Social Scientist 1 History a Charles Berger Richard Calabrese 1975 i Initial Interaction Theory 1 Seminal Article Some explorations in initial interaction and beyond toward a developmental theory of interpersonal communication 1975 ii FIRST Interpersonal communication theory grounded in this discipline iii At the time communication researchers were interested in social interaction self presentation and self disclosure iv URT was inspired by the work of several renowned researchers including 1 Festinger CDT social comparison 2 Fritz Heider naive psychology attribution theory 3 Kurt Lewin 4 Claude Shannon Information theory 5 Warren Weaver a Explain How uncertainty in initial encounters between strangers is reduced by communication b Predict Communication behavior of strangers in initial encounters i Cognitive Doubts people harbor about their own beliefs attitudes and those of others ii Behavioral Doubts people harbor about their own actions and those actions of others 1 Relates the extent of predictability of behavior 2 Goals i Boundaries Initial interactions 3 Concepts a Cognitions Beliefs Attitudes b Uncertainty Doubts c Related Concepts i Verbal Output ii Non Verbal Warmth iii Information Seeking iv Self Disclosure v Reciprocity of Disclosure vi Similarity vii Liking 4 Assumptions a People experience uncertainty in interpersonal settings b Feelings of uncertainty are aversive resulting in cognitive tension stress c In initial encounters strangers are mainly concerned with reducing uncertainty thus increasing predictability d Interpersonal communication is developmental i Goes through entry personal self disclosing exit should you continue phases e The main way to reduce uncertainty is through interpersonal communication i Core of communication occurs interpersonally anyway f The amount and type of information people share changes with time g Behavior can be predicted in a law like manner 5 Explanation a When strangers meet they are unsure about their own thoughts and actions and those of others i This causes behavioral cognitive uncertainty b Uncertainty is aversive giving individuals motivation to reduce the uncertainty through communication c When uncertainty is reduced we are better able to explain and predict our own actions behaviors and those of others 6 URT Axioms Theorems a 7 Axioms 12 Theorems i Axiom Self evident or universally recognized truth 1 Displays relationships between variables uncertainty being one of them ii Theorem General proposition that is proved by a chain of reasoning a truth established by b Axiom 1 As verbal communication increases uncertainty decreases As uncertainty decreases verbal other accepted truths communication increases i Negative Relationship c Axiom 2 As nonverbal affiliative expressiveness increase uncertainty decreases As uncertainty d Axiom 3 As uncertainty increases information seeking behaviors increase As uncertainty levels decreases verbal affiliative expressiveness increases i Negative Relationship decline information seeking behaviors decrease i Positive Relationship 1 The more uncertain one is about a situation the more interested they become in finding information out about the person e Axiom 4 As uncertainty increases intimacy levels in communication decrease As uncertainty decreases intimacy levels increase i Negative Relationship 1 When there is a high level of uncertainty people feel less comfortable disclosing information and revealing intimate details about themselves f Axiom 5 As uncertainty increase reciprocity increases As uncertainty decreases reciprocity decreases 1 The more uncertain you are the more you will mimic the behaviors of others g Axiom 6 As similarity increases uncertainty decreases As similarity decreases uncertainty decreases i Positive Relationship i Negative Relationship 1 The more you have in common with someone the more comfortable you will feel and more certain you will feel about the interpersonal situation Dissimilarities induce uncertainty h Axiom 7 As uncertainty increases liking decreases As uncertainty decreases liking increases i Negative Relationship 7 Development of URT Theorems a Deductive Logic If A is related to B and B is related to C then A and C are related i Aka the transitive property b Theorems are formed by pairing two axioms c Use Positive Negative Charges to Determine The Theorem s Charge i Negative x Negative Positive ii Negative x Positive Negative iii Positive x Positive Positive 8 Related Research a URT Expanded and Modified i Additional Axioms Social networks satisfaction ii Antecedent Conditions 1 When there is potential to reward or punish 2 When the other person behaves contrary to expectations 3 When future interaction is expected iii Strategies How to Reduce Uncertainty 1 Passive Watching someone not making face face contact 2 Active Making a direct effort approach does not have to be face face 3 Interactive Discussing with interpretive partner iv Developed Relationships Beyond initial encounter v Context Include cultural considerations b Uncertainty Avoidance Theory Hofstede 1991 c Uncertainty Management Theory Brashers 2001 d Anxiety Uncertainty Management Theory Gudykunst 1995 9 Implications Applications of URT a Romantic Relationships b Intercultural Settings c Conflict Management d Family Studies e International Business f Information Seeking g Social Networking h CMC Computer Mediated Communication i Organizational Communication j Group Decision Making 10 Criticisms a Assumptions b Utility i People don t like uncertainty its aversive 1 Some people DO like the uncertainty People would rather be uncertain about their boyfriends cheating on them or hearing bad news from a doctor i How much does this theory tell us about the practicality of human behavior 1 Some researchers do not like its utility they believe that information seeking behaviors c Alternate Explanations for primary motivation stem from rational predictability i Sunnafrank s 1986 Theory of Predicted Outcome Value d Validity i Axiom 3 Information Seeking Uncertainty 1 You might not want information given to you so you choose the uncertainty
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