Transcript Uncertainty Reduction - Interpersonal Communication

Uncertainty Reduction Theory
(Charles Berger)
Dr. Michael I. Arrington
COM 452
University of Kentucky
Nutshell Description
 When two people meet, they are motivated to
reduce uncertainty about the other person and
their relationship in order to make sense of
their interpersonal world
 With increasing verbal communication,
nonverbal warmth, intimacy levels, similarity,
liking, and shared communication networks,
uncertainty decreases
 High levels of uncertainty produce high levels
of information seeking and reciprocity
Key Ideas
 Eight axioms to URT (seven in the original
construction of the theory)
 28 resulting theorems
 Testable hypotheses
Eight URT Axioms
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
Verbal communication
Nonverbal warmth
Information seeking*
Self-disclosure
Reciprocity
Similarity
Liking*
Shared networks
Coping with uncertainty
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
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
Seeking information
Choosing plan complexity
Hedging
Hierarchy hypothesis
Criticisms
 Theorem 17 (the more you like people, the less
you seek information about them) is suspect
 Axioms 3 (information seeking) and 7 (liking) are
suspect
 “Wanting” knowledge versus “lacking” knowledge
is what promotes information seeking; but
anticipated future interaction, incentive value and
deviance are not related to motivation
 Predicted outcome value
How does this apply?
 Discuss in your group:
 Think of a time when you experienced
considerable uncertainty
 Which axioms were most applicable?
 Which strategy (or strategies) did you use to
reduce your uncertainty?
 Choose one member’s experience to share
with the class
Metatheoretical Assumptions
 Epistemology: One truth…many truths?
 Ontology: Determinism…free will?
 Axiology: Value neutral…value laden
 Scientific or Interpretive?