Uncertainty Reduction Theory The Uncertainty Reduction Theory is a theory that was discovered by Charles Berger, a professor of communication at the University of California. The theory basically explains the uncertain feeling people have when meeting strangers, and how communication is used to gain knowledge and create understanding. This theory has been studied over time to help us reduce the uncertainty we feel when meeting new people. There are many different parts to this theory, including the eight axioms, the seven assumptions, the three types of interactive strategies. Also included in the theory is three prior conditions that are boosted by the uncertainty of meeting new people. According to the text, uncertainty reduction is the increased knowledge of what kind of person another is that provides an improved forecast of how a future interaction will turn out. There are three prior conditions which help boost these uncertain feelings. They are, anticipation of future interaction, incentive value and deviance. There are two types of uncertainty, which are behavioral and cognitive. Behavioral uncertainty is the extent to which behavior is predictable in a situation. According to the text, there are accepted procedural protocols to ease the stress that behavioral uncertainty can cause. The other type of uncertainty is cognitive, which is aimed at discovering who the person is as a unique individual. These two types of uncertainty help to predict and explain. When dealing with this theory there are seven assumptions. 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 increase predictability, interpersonal communication is a developmental process that occurs through stages, interpersonal communication is the primary means of uncertainty reduction, the quantity and nature of information that people share change through time and it is possible to predict people’s behavior in a lawlike fashion. To help reduce uncertainty three strategies are used, passive, active and interactive. Passive strategy takes the role of observers who don’t bother other people. Active strategy arises when asking a third party about a person and interactive strategy is formed through face to face discussion with a person. To better explain this theory Charles Berger proposed a serious of axioms. Axioms are self evident truth that requires no additional proof. There are a total of eight, which are, verbal communication, nonverbal warmth, information seeking, self disclosure, reciprocity, similarity, liking and shared networks. These eight axioms helped Berger generate 28 theorems. Theorems are a proposition that logically and necessarily follows from two axioms. In 2007 researchers by the names of Aparana Hebbani and Lawrence Frey got together and did a study of the uncertainty reduction theory. The experiment was applying uncertainty reduction theory to the study of nonverbal behavior between U.S. interviewers and Indian applicants. According to the case, using uncertainty reduction theory, the study examined the effects of similarity/dissimilarity of interviewers’ and interviewees’ nonverbal behaviors exhibited during an intercultural hiring interview on interviewers perceptions of hiring decisions about interviewees. They did mock interviews between Indian graduate student interviewees and Caucasian U.S. professionals who served as interviewers. The interviews were taped and a studied side by side to compare. They lasted 16.5 minutes on average and showed that their results were consistent with Berger’s reasoning. Attributional confidence was positively affected by cultural similarity and interpersonal attraction and attitude similarity were positively correlated. Being culturally similar was associated with decreased uncertainty, and attitudinal similarity was associated with increased
Related Documents: Essay on The Uncertainty Reduction Theory
Uncertainty Reduction Theory “The Vow” and “Meet the Parents” Uncertainty reduction theory is “the point of view that uncertainty motivates communication and that certainty reduces the motivation to communicate” (Wood, definition). This theory was first developed by Charles Berger. He believed that when people are to meet for the first time they have a high level of uncertainty and the only way for them to reduce it is to communicate with one another. “They don’t know what each other likes…
communication theories are used during personal and professional day-to-day activities. Communication theories investigate both verbal and nonverbal communication. Communication theories are beneficial to personal and professional communication styles. There are different advantages to each communication theory. Communication theory provides friendship enhancements. Communication theories also enhance work relationship and bring closeness in families. This paper will reflect on Uncertainty Reduction Theory…
all. Two theories that are helpful when dealing with betrayal are the social exchange theory and the uncertainty theory. The social exchange theory is “the point of view that in relationships people try to minimize costs, maximize rewards, and ensure quality” (Wood, 2004, p. 192). In simpler terms, this theory means that you make sure you are going to get a fair amount out of the relationship from what you put in it. The uncertainty reduction theory is “the point of view that uncertainty motivates…
*TEST* Attribution process: "Two-component" theory of emotion E=A+C Emotion has two components: Arousal (internal, undefined) + Cognition (from external social environment). Stim->Physio changes (arousal)-->Cognitive interpretation-->experience *TEST* Aggression: Excitation Transfer Theory We carry high levels of arousal, while unaware of arousal. We make incorrect judgments to explain our excitement, *TEST* Behavioral Confirmation When belief creates reality. 1. Person A acts on belief. 2.…
relationships and the way in which those who engaged in online dating reduced uncertainty regarding self-reported important topics. The results of this study found that there were a wide variety of self-reported turning points and important topics to discuss with a potential partner as well as a general time frame for both partners to agree to a physical meeting, overall honesty in self-representation and ways to reduce uncertainty. The most common turning points described by interviewees were: first contact…
Communication theories paper Amanda Haring Com 310 Communication is defined as a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs or behavior. Communication helps us understand one another. ("Communication", 2011). Communication is broken down into theories. Three examples of these theories would be the social penetration theory, cognitive dissonance theory and the uncertainty reduction theory. The social penetration theory was created…
7 traditions theories objective/interpretive tradition it gravitates toward main concepts of theory assumptions present criticism of theory Ancilliary readings, chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 22, 23, 30 OBJECTIVE- QUANTITATIVE. INTERPRETIVE- QUALITATIVE. 7 Traditions SpCRSScCP 1. Socio-Psychological- processes of interaction & influence (cause and effect). Explains why and predicts what will happen next. OBJECTIVE 2. Cybernetic- communication as a system of information processing…
Cultural Relativism When People come from different cultures, it means that they have different values, behavior, customs and attitudes. What is believed to be “right” or “wrong” in one culture differs from another, and what is believed to be moral and immoral in one culture also differs from another. Even if you think that one cultural belief is wrong, you do not have any right to judge and say it’s not right. For instance, when I was 12 years old, my family and I had to move from the U.S to…
management 综合风险管理 This paper develops a framework for categorizing the uncertainties faced by firms operating internationally and outlines both financial and strategic corporate risk management responses. Managing risk is one of the primary objectives of firms operating internationall. Show us what kind of risks the firms will face. And three types of main uncertainties the firms will meet. And how they can response to the uncertainty through financial and strategic methods. 第二段:风险指的是什么,用在什么方面 The…