Critical Essay On Uncertainty Reduction Theory
155524 October 24, 2016
Com 11 – A
Ms. Jenna Mae L. Atun
Critical Essay: Uncertainty Reduction Theory Evaluation
One of the first theories in interpersonal communication that originated from the Communication field is the Uncertainty Reduction Theory. First proposed by Charles Berger and Richard Calabrese in 1975, the theory was initially developed to explain interactions between strangers.
According to Merriam-Webster, uncertainty is something that is doubtful or unknown. Being the people’s inability to predict or explain their own behavior or the behavior of others, uncertainty usually occurs when people lack information about their surroundings. Uncertainty Reduction Theory or URT tries to explain and predict relational development
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Some of the assumptions associated with the theory are: When strangers meet, their primary concern is to reduce their uncertainty or to increase predictability; uncertainty is an aversive state, generating cognitive stress; interpersonal communication is a developmental process that occurs through stages; interpersonal communication is the primary means of uncertainty reduction; people experience uncertainty in interpersonal settings; the quantity and nature of information that people share change through time; and it is possible to predict people's behavior. Uncertainty reduction occurs primarily by questioning new acquaintances in an attempt to gather information about them. This information can then be used to predict people’s behavior, or the outcome of starting a relationship with them (Uncertainty Reduction Theory - Communication Studies). Moreover, theorists have identified three situations or conditions in which people will want to decrease the level of uncertainty: deviation, incentives, and anticipation of future interaction. In deviation or deviance, people will want to reduce their uncertainty about odd, eccentric individuals who behave contrary to one’s expectations or social norms. In incentives or incentive value, people desire information about individuals who have the power to influence their lives either positively or negatively, such as employers, teachers and politicians. In an anticipation of future interaction,
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