Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Businesstopia
COMMUNICATION MASS COMMUNICATION HUMAN RESOURCE ECONOMICS BLOG
https://www.businesstopia.net/communication/uncertainty-reduction-theory-definition 1/6
12/23/2018 Uncertainty Reduction Theory - Definition and examples | Businesstopia
Uncertainty reduction theory is based on the central assumption that the primary concern of
strangers upon initial interaction is to reduce uncertainty and increase predictability. Other
assumptions related to this theory are:
Verbal communication
The level of initial uncertainty for each individual decreases with the onset of verbal
communication. Also, the communication increases as uncertainty decreases.
Nonverbal warmth
As nonverbal af liative expressiveness such as eye contact, head nods, smiles increase,
uncertainty decreases.
Information seeking
The need of information seeking decreases as uncertainty about the other person decreases.
Self-disclosure
Individuals disclose intimate information as they feel the level of uncertainty decreasing.
https://www.businesstopia.net/communication/uncertainty-reduction-theory-definition 2/6
12/23/2018 Uncertainty Reduction Theory - Definition and examples | Businesstopia
Reciprocity
Similarity
When individuals realize that they share the same interests as the other person, the uncertainty
decreases.
Liking
Individuals feel the need to reduce uncertainty only under certain circumstances. Berger has
identi ed three conditions that drives our need to reduce uncertainty.
We want to reduce uncertainty when we know we will see the other person again.
Incentive value
Deviance
Types of Uncertainty
According to Berger there are two kinds of uncertainty that strangers face as they set out for
their rst meeting. They are:
Cognitive uncertainty
Cognitive uncertainty means uncertainty related to beliefs and attitudes of people. Strangers
are not aware of each other’s beliefs and attitudes on initial interaction, so uncertainty is high at
this point.
Behavioral uncertainty
Behavioral uncertainty occurs when people try to predict the action of others in a given
situation. Uncertainty is high when people ignore societal norms (how one is expected to act) in
initial interactions. This reduces the likelihood of future conversations.
https://www.businesstopia.net/communication/uncertainty-reduction-theory-definition 3/6
12/23/2018 Uncertainty Reduction Theory - Definition and examples | Businesstopia
Individuals begin communication under the guidance of behavioral norms, such as greeting and
exchange of demographic information (age, occupation, hometown).
They share more personal information as communication furthurs and one will seek indications
of values, attitudes, and morals from the other.
They will choose whether to continue the relationship based on the satisfaction level of the
interpersonal communication.
Some researchers argue that uncertainty reduction is not always the motivating factor for
communication. There is often a genuine desire to get to know the other person.
Berger and Calabrese only included middle class white people in their sample size.
The theory may be easily disproved because of the large scope of its axioms.
Planalp and Honeycutt suggest that uncertainty will continue to increase after initial
interaction because of lack of understanding and impulsive behavior.
Michael Sunnafrank argued that positive relational experience is the actual motivation of
interaction.
https://www.businesstopia.net/communication/uncertainty-reduction-theory-definition 4/6
12/23/2018 Uncertainty Reduction Theory - Definition and examples | Businesstopia
« »
PREVIOUS NEXT
WHY IS NON-VERBAL SOCIAL EXCHANGE
COMMUNICATION THEORY
IMPORTANT?
Barriers to Communication ▶
Theories of communication ▼
-- Uncertainty Reduction Theory
-- Social Exchange Theory
-- Normative Theory
-- Authoritarian Theory
-- Communist Theory
-- Libertarian Theory
-- Social Responsibility Theory
-- Democratic-participant Theory
-- Development Communication Theory
-- Agenda Setting Theory
-- Communication Accommodation Theory
-- Contagion Theory
-- Expectancy Violation Theory
-- Face Negotiation Theory
https://www.businesstopia.net/communication/uncertainty-reduction-theory-definition 5/6
12/23/2018 Uncertainty Reduction Theory - Definition and examples | Businesstopia
-- Framing Theory
-- Gatekeeping Theory
-- Groupthink Theory
-- Hypodermic Needle Theory
-- Priming Theory
-- Social Marketing Theory
-- Standpoint Theory
-- Uses and Grati cations Theory
Email*
Subscribe
Businesstopia
Top articles and posts on Economics, Management
and Communication.
Copyright © 2018 Businesstopia · All rights reserved · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use
https://www.businesstopia.net/communication/uncertainty-reduction-theory-definition 6/6