Uncertainty Reduction Theory (Urt)

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Who developed URT (Uncertainty Reduction Theory)?

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Developed by Charles Berger & Richard Calabrese (1975)

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What is URT (Uncertainty Reduction Theory)?

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Humans use norms, past experience, or pre-conceptions to reduce uncertainty during the 1st encounter.

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What is URT (Uncertainty Reduction Theory)?

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In initial interactions, people are driven by their desire to reduce uncertainty. They want to increase predictability

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Goals of URT (Uncertainty Reduction Theory)

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To explain how strangers act during initial interactions.

To predict the type of behaviors that occur between strangers during the initial interactions.

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Two Types of Uncertainty

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Cognitive uncertainty:
Examples: thoughts, attitude,
Behavioral uncertainty
Example: actions (i.e., how others will react)

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Key Concepts in URT(Uncertainty Reduction Theory)

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Verbal Output
Nonverbal Warmth
Liking
Self-Disclosure
Information Seeking
Reciprocity of Disclosure

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URT Key Concept 1: Verbal Output

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As the amount of verbal communication between strangers increases, the level of uncertainty decreases.

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URT Key Concept 2: Nonverbal Warmth

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Nonverbal gesture (e.g., smiles, hug) conveying liking and acceptance.
As nonverbal warmth increases, uncertainty levels will decrease.
Decreases in uncertainty level will cause increases in expressions of non-verbal warmth.

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URT Key Concept 3: Liking

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Favorable impression or feeling
Increases in uncertainty level produce decreases in liking.
Decreases in uncertainty produce increases in liking

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URT Key Concept 4: Self Disclosure

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Disclosing personal information
High levels of uncertainty in a relationship cause decreases in the intimacy level of communication.
Low levels of uncertainty produce high levels of intimacy.

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URT Key Concept 5: Information Seeking

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Seeking information about the “stranger.”
High levels of uncertainty cause increases in information-seeking behavior.
As uncertainty levels decline, information-seeking behavior decreases

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URT Key Concept 5: Information Seeking - Active Strategies:

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Ask others about the person whom we're interested in or whom we will have future interaction with.
Try to set up a situation where we can observe that person (e.g., taking the same class, sitting a table away at dinner).
-- Once the situation is set up we sometime observe or talk with the
person (an interactive strategy).

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URT Key Concept 5: Information Seeking -Direct Strategies:

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Directly asking the person a question

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URT Key Concept 5: Information Seeking - Passive Strategies:

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A person is observed, either in situations where the other person is likely to be self-monitoring (at work at their desk) or where the other person is likely to act more naturally (at the bar).

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URT Key Concept 6: Reciprocity of Disclosure

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Communication that mirrors the other person’s self disclosure.
High levels of uncertainty produce high rates of reciprocity.
Low levels of uncertainty produce low levels of reciprocity.

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Development Stages of URT: Stage I

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1. Entry Stage: A person obtains sex, age, economic or social status, and other demographic information about the other person he or she is meeting.

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Development Stages of URT: Stage II

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2. Personal Stage: Communicators begin to share attitudes, beliefs, values, & more personal data.
During this phase, the communicators feel less constrained by rules and norms and tend to communicate more freely with each other.

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Development Stages of URT: Stage III

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3. Exit Stage: During this phase, the communicators decide on future interaction plans. They may discuss or negotiate ways to allow the relationship to grow and continue

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Explanation of URT (Uncertainty Reduction Theory)

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Human beings experience uncertainty during initial interaction.
Uncertainty (either cognition or behavior)is unpleasant.
Humans are motivated to seek information in order to reduce uncertainty.
As a result of uncertainty reduction, predictability of cognition or behavior about others increases.