Uncertainty Reduction Theory, A Communication Theory

Uncertainty reduction theory (URT) is a communication theory that explain about the development of interpersonal relationship between peoples. It is important to know that URT is a theory that link communication to the study of uncertainty. Uncertainty reduction theory focuses on how people by using communication can gain knowledge and create understanding towards each other. Every new relationship involve uncertainty and these uncertainty will create uncomfortable inside each person, so they will start to communicate with others to reduce those discomfort. People will tend to know more and better about someone they new meet (strangers) with the effort of trying to reduce the uncertainty towards others. According to Berger and Calabrese (1975), they said that it is normal for people to exchange information between each others because it is a basic human function in order to reduce uncertainty. They also mentioned that reducing of uncertainty are the main motive and key step of interpersonal communication.
The general purpose of studying uncertainty reduction theory can help people to understand human relationship in interpersonal communication. Basically, every person experience with the confront of uncertainty whereas in initial encounters, new …show more content…
The main assumption of URT is that people experience uncertainty in interpersonal settings and therefore create cognitive stress. Each people will experienced uncertainty and anxiety when they meet someone new because they are unable to predict and control the relationships. The second assumption of URT is when strangers meet, their will attempt to reduce uncertainty and increase predictability. Individual tend to communicate with strangers in order to get more information to reduces the uncertainty. In the process of communication, people can gain more information and it can help them to be able to predict others behavior and resulting