Uncertainty Reduction Theory

Chapter 9

1. UNCERTAINTY REDUCTION UNCERTAINTY REDUCTION
THEORYTHEORY
Of Charles BergerOf Charles Berger

2. BASIC IDEASBASIC IDEAS
New relationships involve uncertaintyNew relationships involve uncertainty
Communication reduces uncertaintyCommunication reduces uncertainty
Motivation to reduce uncertainty Motivation to reduce uncertainty
increases where:increases where:
-we expect continued interaction;-we expect continued interaction;
-there are strong incentives;-there are strong incentives;
-where the “other” is deviant -where the “other” is deviant
in some way.in some way.

3. TYPES OF UNCERTAINTYTYPES OF UNCERTAINTY
Behavioral uncertaintyBehavioral uncertainty (how to behave?) – (how to behave?) –
usually taken care of following accepted usually taken care of following accepted
conventions or protocolconventions or protocol
Cognitive uncertaintyCognitive uncertainty (who is this person?) (who is this person?)
– usually taken care of by acquiring more – usually taken care of by acquiring more
information about the otherinformation about the other
Berger’s 8 axioms (see next slides) can be Berger’s 8 axioms (see next slides) can be
paired to produce 28 theoremspaired to produce 28 theorems

4. Berger’s axioms (1-4)Berger’s axioms (1-4)
Verbal comm’n reduces uncertainty Verbal comm’n reduces uncertainty
and increases verbal comm’nand increases verbal comm’n
Nonverbal warmth reduces Nonverbal warmth reduces
uncertainty, increases nonverbal uncertainty, increases nonverbal
warmthwarmth
Uncertainty causes information-Uncertainty causes information-
seeking; as certainty increases, seeking; as certainty increases,
information-seeking declinesinformation-seeking declines
High uncertainty reduces intimacyHigh uncertainty reduces intimacy

5. Berger’s axioms (4-8)Berger’s axioms (4-8)
5. High uncertainty produces high 5. High uncertainty produces high
reciprocityreciprocity
6.Similarities between people reduce6.Similarities between people reduce
uncertaintyuncertainty
7. Decreases in uncertainty produce 7. Decreases in uncertainty produce
increases in likingincreases in liking
8. Shared communication networks 8. Shared communication networks
reduce uncertaintyreduce uncertainty

6. The TheoremsThe Theorems
By pairing different axioms, Berger produces 28 By pairing different axioms, Berger produces 28
theoremstheorems: e.g.:: e.g.:
Theorem 21: similarity reduces uncertainty; and Theorem 21: similarity reduces uncertainty; and
reduced uncertainty increases liking reduced uncertainty increases liking thereforetherefore, ,
similarity and liking are positively relatedsimilarity and liking are positively related
Theorem 17: combines axioms 3 (high Theorem 17: combines axioms 3 (high
uncertainty increases information-seeking)+7 uncertainty increases information-seeking)+7
( decreased uncertainty increases liking) and says ( decreased uncertainty increases liking) and says
that the more you like people the less you will that the more you like people the less you will
seek information about them)seek information about them)

7. Strategies to Cope with UncertaintyStrategies to Cope with Uncertainty
Social interaction is guided by people’s Social interaction is guided by people’s
overall strategies: mental representations overall strategies: mental representations
of action sequencesof action sequences
Strategies become more concrete over Strategies become more concrete over
timetime
Strategies include contingency plans for Strategies include contingency plans for
when things don’t work outwhen things don’t work out
Hedging our bets increases plan Hedging our bets increases plan
complexity, requiring high mental effortcomplexity, requiring high mental effort

8. Strategies to reduce uncertaintyStrategies to reduce uncertainty
1.Seeking information: observation, asking 1.Seeking information: observation, asking
third party, talking face-to-facethird party, talking face-to-face
2.Choosing plan complexity (level of detail, 2.Choosing plan complexity (level of detail,
number of contingency or fall-back plans)number of contingency or fall-back plans)
Hedging, providing ways for both parties Hedging, providing ways for both parties
“to save face” e.g. through ambiguity or “to save face” e.g. through ambiguity or
humorhumor
Amending plans (at lower levels, first of Amending plans (at lower levels, first of
all)all)

9. Critique (1)Critique (1)
Certain theorems flawed: 17Certain theorems flawed: 17
Some axioms are flawed: 3 and 7Some axioms are flawed: 3 and 7
Assumption that uncertainty reduction is Assumption that uncertainty reduction is
important in early encounters has been important in early encounters has been
challenged: predicted outcome value may challenged: predicted outcome value may
be more important in explaining early be more important in explaining early
comm’n. But Berger says you have to comm’n. But Berger says you have to
reduce uncertainty in order to predict reduce uncertainty in order to predict
outcome values.outcome values.

10. Critique (2)Critique (2)
Theory assumes fixed self, whereas Theory assumes fixed self, whereas
constructionists would argue that in constructionists would argue that in
reducing uncertainty the self is reducing uncertainty the self is
changedchanged
Assumes communication is very Assumes communication is very
informational in contentinformational in content
Theory is insufficiently interculturalTheory is insufficiently intercultural