Uncertainty reduction theory, also known as information seeking theory, is a communication theory that explains how individuals attempt to reduce uncertainty in social situations. It was first proposed by Charles Berger and Richard Calabrese in 1975 and has since been widely studied in the fields of communication and psychology.
According to uncertainty reduction theory, individuals have a natural drive to reduce uncertainty in social situations. This drive is motivated by the desire to predict and control the outcomes of social interactions. In order to reduce uncertainty, individuals engage in various communication behaviors, such as asking questions, seeking information, and engaging in small talk.
One key concept in uncertainty reduction theory is initial uncertainty, which refers to the level of uncertainty that individuals experience when they first encounter a new person or situation. Initial uncertainty can be high in situations where there is a lack of information about the other person, such as when meeting someone for the first time. Initial uncertainty can also be high in situations where there is a lack of common ground, such as when interacting with someone from a different cultural background.
To reduce initial uncertainty, individuals may engage in various communication behaviors, such as asking questions, seeking information, and engaging in small talk. These behaviors serve to gather information about the other person and the situation, which helps individuals to better understand and predict the outcomes of social interactions.
Uncertainty reduction theory also proposes that there are four stages of uncertainty reduction: pre-encounter, encounter, experimentation, and resolution. During the pre-encounter stage, individuals gather information about the other person and the situation in order to reduce initial uncertainty. This may involve seeking out information about the other person through social media or asking mutual acquaintances for information.
During the encounter stage, individuals interact face-to-face with the other person and engage in communication behaviors designed to reduce uncertainty. This may involve asking questions, engaging in small talk, or seeking information about the other person's interests and beliefs.
During the experimentation stage, individuals test out different communication behaviors in order to gauge the other person's reactions and gather more information about them. This may involve trying out different topics of conversation or engaging in different types of activities.
Finally, during the resolution stage, individuals have reduced their uncertainty to a satisfactory level and can better predict and control the outcomes of social interactions.
Uncertainty reduction theory has been widely studied and has been found to have important implications for a variety of social situations, including communication in romantic relationships, friendships, and business interactions. It is a valuable tool for understanding how individuals seek to reduce uncertainty in social situations and how communication behaviors can impact the success of social interactions.
Uncertainty Reduction Theory & Examples
High levels of uncertainty cause increases in information seeking behavior. The relationships being studied are those, which take place over the Internet through e-mail Pratt, Wiseman, Cody, Wendt, 199, p. Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management, 18 1 , 55— 69. Anxiety Uncertainty Management theory, often referred to as AUM, was initially introduced by William Gudykunst. Recently Walther argued that CMC should be considered interpersonal when users have time to exchange information and share values that provide a foundation for making impressions Pratt et al. Under AUM, there are four levels of communication that have points of focus. When you feel as if you are not sure if you want to take a new job or not, this is an example of uncertainty.
(PDF) Understanding Uncertainty Reduction Theory
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 warmth, information seeking, self-disclosure, reciprocity, similarity,. Both in the immediate response to the crisis and in the subsequent sustained engagement, the IAGs matched demands with the need to avoid duplication of services, and they spearheaded a decentralised way of addressing issues on the ground, as acknowledged by some interviewees. In the first study, the participants engaged in the initial interaction for a short time, then they completed measures of communication satisfaction and uncertainty. Featured Scholars Researching Uncertainty Reduction Theory and Interpersonal Communication Learn more about how influential scholars of interpersonal communication have studied Uncertainty Reduction Theory in order to better understand relationship building and information management, and get a preview into the impact of their scholarship by reading our featured scholar profiles below. They also emphasised the need for more topographic, contour, geological, and drainage mapping, along with advanced technology and trained personnel for better decision-making. Berger says that there are two different kinds of uncertainty that a person may face when they encounter their first meeting with someone.
Uncertainty Management Theories
In addition, project coordinators from UNDP United Nations Development Programme , UNICEF and disaster relief NGOs were interviewed. Her research examines the links between uncertainty, resilience, adaptation, and contingency, and combines spatial planning, humanitarian action, decision-making and governance perspectives to understand temporal responses to environmental crises, shocks, and stresses in developmental contexts. Now, we have got a complete detailed explanation and answer for everyone, who is interested! The assumptions are that individuals feel uncertainty in interpersonal settings; uncertainty is an aversive state that produces cognitive stress; when individuals first meet their main concern is to reduce uncertainty or to increase predictability; interpersonal communication is a developmental process that happens in. The term is often used interchangeably with postulate, though the latter term is sometimes reserved for mathematical applications such as the postulates of Euclidean geometry. .
