Uncertainty Reduction Theory

Description

No matter what relationship two have, they always start as strangers. Professor Charles Berger believes when two people meet, they confront tons of uncertainties. For people to develop a relationship, the crucial step is to reduce uncertainty, or increase knowledge and predictability in their interactions.

Fitting one of the three conditions, or all of them, make people to strive for reducing uncertainties.

1. anticipation of future interactions

2. incentive value

3. deviance

If two people meet at an airport in a foreign country by chance, they will have no future interactions. It is difficult for them to reduce uncertainty and develop a relationship. They are passersby.

Berger also proposed message plans because of uncertain responses. If someone wants to borrow money from a roommate, he should form a mental strategy to get his goal. He will smile, talk nice things, cultivate a good atmosphere, tell a situation, and promise to pay back within certain time to realize the goal. It is a step by step, hierarchical plan because of uncertainty.

Berger also talked about getting knowledge about someone to reduce uncertainty: observation, asking someone, interacting and internet search.

Are there other method of getting info? When can relational turbulence occur?