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