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)Verbal communication 2)Nonverbal warmth 3)Information seeking* 4)Self-disclosure 5)Reciprocity 6)Similarity 7)Liking* 8)Shared networks

Coping with uncertainty  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?