Uncertainty Reduction Theory Essay - 685 Words

The Uncertainty Reduction Theory states that before and during initial interactions between two people, ones first instinct is to reduce uncertainty about the other through various methods. For example, when you see someone you think you would like to know, you try and figure out what they are like through various methods so you can control the conversation and steer it into a path that the other person finds interesting. There are a few methods, or strategies, of figuring out what the other person likes: passive, active, and interactive. In the passive strategy, you try to find out the other persons interests through observation from afar. This happens without their knowledge, because youre trying to figure out what theyre like†¦show more content†¦This happens most frequently in what is commonly referred to as â€Å"small talk.† Since I am a rather shy person, I dont generally use the active nor the interactive strategy of reducing uncertainty. However, because I do spend most of my time online, the easiest way of finding out more information about someone is through passive strategy. While most people do think its a little creepy to search for someone specifically, even more would agree that it would be creepy to start a conversation with friends of a person youre searching about online. In real-life encounters, I still generally use the passive strategy of observing people, mainly because my social skills are less-than-adequate. From my non-experience, I can infer that each of the interpersonal encounters have their benefits and drawbacks. The passive strategy does get you information about the person youre looking for, but if it comes up how you got the information you know, it could severely impact the potential relationship you could have with that person. The active strategy gives you information by proxy, and also has the added bonus of getting to know the kind of people your person socializes with, as well. Unfortunately, as previously stated, faulty information is easy to get with this method, and its possible the people you talk with will tell the person you want to know, causing them to avoid you. And finally, the interactive strategy givesShow MoreRelatedUncertainty Reduction Theory3285 Words   |  14 Pagesnumber of uncertainties; some small and miniscule, such as meeting a student next to you in a classroom, while others life-changing and pivotal, including switching careers or becoming a parent. As each new unpredictable day arises, uncertainty fills the air, constantly swarming one’s emotions and daily interactions. While factors of uncertainty revolve around routinely aspects, Charles Berger and Richard Calabrese (1975) narrowed their focus and devised a theory specifically on uncertainty and interpersonalRead MoreThe Uncertainty Reduction Theory And The Face Negotiation Theory1756 Words   |  8 PagesDuring the course of this paper two communication theories will be reviewed and analyzed. The two theories will first be introduced, followed by comparing and contrasting the implications, assumptions and concepts of both theories. The two communication theories that have been chosen are the Uncertainty Reduction Theory and the Face Negotiation Theory. The theories were not chosen randomly, they were chosen because they both deal with how individuals perceive one another, as well as themselves, inRead MoreEssay on A Critique of Bergers Uncertainty Reduction Theory901 Words   |  4 PagesA Critique of Bergers Uncertainty Reduction Theory How do people get to know each other? Bugs Bunny likes to open up every conversation with the question, Whats up Doc? Why does he do this? Is Bugs Bunny uncertain? Lets explore this idea of uncertainty. Shifting focus now to college students. As many other college students at Ohio University, I am put into situations that make me uncertain of my surroundings almost every time I go to a class for the first time, a group meeting, or socialRead MoreUncertainty Reduction Theory â€Å"the Vow† and â€Å"Meet the Parents†1720 Words   |  7 PagesUncertainty Reduction Theory â€Å"The Vow† and â€Å"Meet the Parents† Uncertainty reduction theory is â€Å"the point of view that uncertainty motivates communication and that certainty reduces the motivation to communicate† (Wood, definition). This theory was first developed by Charles Berger. He believed that when people are to meet for the first time they have a high level of uncertainty and the only way for them to reduce it is to communicate with one another. â€Å"They don’t know what each other likesRead MoreAnalysis of the Uncertainty Reduction Theory on Interpersonal Communication1521 Words   |  7 PagesAnalysis of the Uncertainty Reduction theory on interpersonal communication Through this paper I will conduct an analysis of the uncertainty reduction theory and will then apply it to my own experience here in Colorado university. This theory has been subject to many articles and studies in the communication and social departments. Indeed, studying this theory can help us understanding human relations in interpersonal communication. Each of us has been one day confronted to uncertainty, whereas inRead MoreA First Look At Communication Theory : Ninth Edition ( 2015 ) And Charles Bergers Uncertainty Reduction Theory2032 Words   |  9 Pagessurrounded by uncertainty and change in our everyday life even if we do not realize it. Meeting new people is not always easy but fortunately there are a few ways that you can cope with this uncertainty. Our book A first look at Communication Theory: Ninth Edition (2015) and Charles Berger’s Uncertainty Reduction Theory he states that (URT) focuses on how human communication is used to gain knowledge and create understanding. This paper will narrow in on the topic of ways to cope with uncertainty in a friendshipRead MoreThe Uncertainty Reduction Theory Of Uncertainty1395 Words   |  6 Pages The uncertainty reduction theory describes when individuals who are defined as strangers engage in their first conversation when communication uncertainties are bound to occur. When strangers encounter for the first time, they are worried about the increasing certainty to make sense of their first communication occurrence even before the actual communication process takes place. When strangers have a first-time occurrence of communicating, their conversation is just trying to make sense of theirRead MoreUncertainty Reduction Theory1967 Words   |  8 PagesJonathan Quinones Literature Review Paper Comm 306 Uncertainty Reduction Theory Uncertainty is an unpleasant feeling and because of this feeling, people are motivated to reduce this uncertainty by means of communication. Uncertainty reduction theory (URT) was developed to describe the interrelationships in any type of communication exchange using seven factors: verbal communication, nonverbal expressiveness, information-seeking behavior, intimacy, reciprocity, similarity, and liking (BergerRead MoreUncertainty Reduction Theory3317 Words   |  13 Pagesfirst time, their primary thought is one of uncertainty. These doubts are natural, as the two attempt to predict the outcome of the initial encounter. Charles Berger founded this theory of Uncertainty Reduction, and defines it as, â€Å"When people meet, their primary concern is to reduce uncertainty about each other and their relationship. As verbal output, nonverbal warmth, self-disclosure, similarity, and shared communication networks increase uncertainty decreases, and vice versa. Information seekingRead M oreUncertainty Reduction Theory Essay4674 Words   |  19 Pageswith uncertainty reduction theory from its origin to date. Ever since uncertainty reduction theory was first created, many researchers have examined it by comparing it with other theories. Uncertainty reduction theory had been tested across different cultures in order to confirm its generalizability. It had also been applied to real life situations to examine how individuals interact in their initial encounters with strangers. In addition, researchers suggested testing uncertainty reduction theory