Uncertainty Reduction TheoryUncertainty Reduction Theory

Anne SuryaniDani VardiansyahNovita DamayantiUniversitas Multimedia Nusantara2010

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Chuck Berger“The beginning of personal relationships are

fraught with uncertainties.” Focusing on how human communication is

used to gain knowledge and create understanding

Our drive to reduce uncertainty about new acquaintances is influenced by:

Anticipation of future interaction Incentive value Deviance

inverse

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Uncertainty reduction: to predict and Uncertainty reduction: to predict and explainexplain

Predictability (based on Shannon & Weaver’s information theory) “as the ability of persons to predict which alternative or alternatives are likely to occur next decreases, uncertainty increases”

Attribution theory: a systematic explanation of how people draw inferences about the character of others based on upon observed behavior (Fritz Heider)

Uncertainty reduction: increased knowledge of what kind of person another is that provides an improved forecast of how a future interaction will turn out

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An axiomatic theory: certainty about An axiomatic theory: certainty about uncertainty uncertainty

Axiom: a self-evident truth that requires no additional proof

Uncertainty & relationship development:1. Verbal communication: ... as the amount of

verbal communication between strangers increases, the level of uncertainty for each interactant in the relationship will decrease. As uncertainty is further reduced, the amount of verbal communication will increase

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An axiomatic theory: certainty about An axiomatic theory: certainty about uncertainty ...uncertainty ...

2. Nonverbal warmth: as nonverbal affiliative expressiveness increases, uncertainty levels will decrease in an initial interaction situation... Decreases in uncertainty level will cause increases in nonverbal affiliative expressiveness

3. Information seeking: high levels of uncertainty cause increases in information-seeking behavior. As uncertainty levels decline, information-seeking behavior decreases

4. Self-disclosure: high levels of uncertainty in a relationship cause decreases in the intimacy level of communication content. Low levels of uncertainty produce high levels of intimacy

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5. Reciprocity: high levels of uncertainty produce high rates of reciprocity. Low levels of uncertainty produce low levels of reciprocity

6. Similarity: Similarities between persons reduce uncertainty, while dissimilarities produce increases in uncertainty

7. Liking: increases in uncertainty level produce decreases in liking; decreases in uncertainty produce increases in liking

8. Shared networks: shared communication networks reduce uncertainty while lack of shared networks increases uncertainty

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Theorems: the logical force of uncertainty Theorems: the logical force of uncertainty axiomsaxioms

Theorem: A proposition that logically and necessarily follows from two axiomsIf A = B

and B = C

then A = C

If similarity reduces uncertainty (axiom 6)

and reduced uncertainty increases liking (axiom 7)

Then similarity and liking are positively related (theorem 21)

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Message plans to cope with uncertain Message plans to cope with uncertain responsesresponses

Message plans: mental representations of action sequences that may be used to achieve goals

Most social interaction is goal-driven“A plan-based theory of strategic

communication”Uncertainty is central to all social interaction“The probability of perfect communication is

zero”

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“How do individuals cope with the inevitable uncertainties they must face when constructing messages?”

“How can a person hedge against embarrassment , anger, rejection and other downside risks associated with deploying a given message?”

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StrategiesStrategies

1. Seeking information Passive strategy Active strategy Interactive strategy

2. Choosing plan complexity◦ Complexity: details & contingency plans

3. Hedging: use of strategic ambiguity and humor to provide a way for both parties to save face when a message fails to achieve its goal

4. The hierarchy hypothesis: the prediction that when people are thwarted in their attempts to achieve goals, their first tendency is to alter lower-level elements of their message

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Anxiety/Uncertainty Management Anxiety/Uncertainty Management TheoryTheory William Gudykunst AUM theory: an intercultural theory that claims high

levels of uncertainty and anxiety lead to greater misunderstanding when strangers do not communicate mindfully

Characteristics:1. Anxiety: the feeling of being uneasy, tense, worried, or

apprehensive about what might happen

2. Effective communication: the extent to which a person interpreting a message does so in a way that’s relatively similar to what was intended; minimizing misunderstanding

3. Multiple causes of anxiety/uncertainty

4. Lower and upper threshold for fear and doubt

5. Mindfulness: the process of thinking in new categories, being open to new information, and recognizing multiple perspectives

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Basic components of AUM theory (Griffin, 2009, p. 132)

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Situational context

Motivation to interact

Self-concept

Categorization of strangers

Attitudes toward strangers

Closeness with strangers

Ethical responsibilities

Uncertainty management

Anxiety management

Mindfulness Communication effectiveness

Summary

• Reference: Griffin, 2009.

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