Theory Report: Uncertainty Reduction Theory
This paper shows a comparison to the Uncertainty Reduction Theory and experiences in individual interactions. It will observe a few articles in order to show how individuals can reduce ‘uncertainty’ through a communicative process and body language, or nonverbal cues. Communication is typically defined as the ‘imparting or exchanging of information.’
How we initiate conversations with individuals will also determine how they interact with us in return.
The Uncertainty Reduction Theory: explains how we can bridge the gap that separates individuals and help the process of getting to know a person with whom we are communicating, by reducing uncertainty about one another through a process.
This also helps predict future interactions.
Initial Interaction Theory
Uncertainty Reduction Theory: (otherwise known as initial interaction theory) is a theory that was introduced in 1975 by Charles Berger and Richard Calabrese. They wanted “to explain how communication is used to reduce uncertainties between strangers engaging in their first conversation together.”
“The theory asserts the notion that, when interacting, people need information about the other party in order to reduce their uncertainty.” – Charles Berger and Richard Calabrese
This shows that how we interact, the body language, and words we use with individuals upon our first meeting is more important than what we are actually saying. We reduce that feeling we get of not knowing who we are talking to as the conversation moves forward naturally.
Types of Uncertainty
Cognitive Uncertainty
Our individual beliefs and understanding of each other in the situation.
Behavioral Uncertainty
Typically adopts the norm within societies or ‘the extent to which behavior is predictable in a given situation.’
The American society usually has more than one norm, depending on geographic location. There are many different cultures that exist within The United States. So, determining what is the ‘norm’ for this ‘society’, in particular, is, hard.
The theory has everything to do with communication, the way we initially interact with individuals determines if communication will occur in the future and is the process of building meaningful relationships.
How we interact on the first meeting, is usually a good indicator of how future meetings will occur in the future, if at all.
“Studies of impression formation have found that negative personality traits generally outweigh equally polarized positive traits in the formation of an overall impression of a stimulus person.” (Yoo, 2018).
Communication Stages
Along the axioms proposed by Berger and Calabrese, there are three stages that we enter and exit as we communicate.
Entry Stage
This phase focuses on using social norms, things that become acceptable over time because the majority of people have agreed upon them, within the communication context (politely greeting someone or smiling).
Personal Stage
When individuals get to know each other and start to understand one another on a more intellectual and emotional level.
Exit Stage
Where the decision is made to either continue or stop talking altogether.
Stages In Practice
The thing that changes consistently is “how” I we are either initiating the first contact, or what we are saying. Our goal of course, is to reduce ‘uncertainty’ amongst the individual in which we are communicating. Which would increase the likelihood that future interactions will occur.
‘Uncertainty Reduction Theory’ also seems to correlate with ‘Impression Formation,’ or the process by which individual pieces of information about someone else are integrated to form an overall impression of the individual.
Choose Them Carefully
Michael Sunnafrank pointed out that “…the expectation of future interaction may not always produce greater efforts to reduce uncertainty.” (Sunnafrank, 1986)
Sunnafrank spoke about how certain communication styles could increase uncertainty, so being mindful of the words you are using and how you are using them is proven to be even more important than previously thought.
To formulate a meaningful relationship we need to have a commonality with the individual with whom we are communicating or wish to communicate with. The way we usually create a commonality or reduce uncertainty of others is by our initial interaction.
More Than Words
How we behave and the things we say, focusing on ‘how’ we are saying things to the person we are talking with and the actions we take. As stated earlier. Utilizing the Uncertainty Reduction Theory will improve communication with unknown individuals and this paper has shown good indication on how.
Building Comfort
The entry phase is very important for anyone to be successful, you want to smile and greet them politely. This is something that takes a lot of practice. Ways in reducing uncertainty are also found through familiarity and saying things in a particular order. That way you can build a relationship with almost any individual. This process was shown by Berger and Calabrese in their axioms, which were defined as part of their theory.
People are more comfortable with people they like, or people they feel as if they know personally. Thus, initial interaction should always be to introduce yourself and build commonality. Avoiding provocation or things that might make the person uncomfortable, such as negative information as Jina H. Yoo pointed out, “…that when negative information is perceived as negative, the uncertainty level will increase more than if no information is given.”(Yoo, 2018)
On the Bright Side
People should practice never being negative in any communicative interaction they have, but focusing more so on the first interaction with individuals to reduce the ‘uncertainty’ they might have in the future.
Noticing subtle cues will also be a key indicator of how the interaction is usually going to end. So if the person is interacting and asking questions? Then, you should feel as if you are making progress and keep moving forward.
The theory proves that as communication progresses, people become more familiar with the type of person we ‘are’ and what we ‘believe’ which in turn reduces how uncertain they feel about us.
I would argue that this theory is something everyone should incorporate into their daily lives, in order to have a better overall interaction with every individual you communicate with.
Communication is changing and we spend more time talking to people through the palm of our hand, through social media, text messaging, or FaceTime, even just a regular phone call, then we ever do face to face or in real life.
Try to focus more on communication with people and of course always try to build meaningful relationships with everyone you meet.
References
Yoo, J. (2018). UVU Login Service. [online] Eds.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.uvu.edu. Available at: http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.uvu.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=3&sid=19bf8079-faef-44f9-b4a7-27b2b4bb9baa%40pdc-v-sessmgr04 [Accessed 7 Sep. 2018].
Sunnafrank, M. (1986). Predicted outcome value during initial interactions: A reformulation of uncertainty reduction theory. Human Communication Research, 13, 3-33.
