Uncertainty Reduction Theory

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The Uncertainty Reduction Theory
This paper focuses on Charles Berger’s Uncertainty Reduction Theory. The paper covers various components of the theory and through a personal experience, the application of the theory is demonstrated. The paper also explores both the weak and strong points of the theory. The uncertainty reduction theory is an important theory in communication.
Charles Berger is a professor in the field of communications at the University of California. He developed the uncertainty reduction in 1975. The theory proposes that at the beginning of personal relationships, there are high levels of uncertainties. Therefore, individuals use communication to create understanding, gain knowledge and reduce the uncertainty. Berger assumes that reducing uncertainty or being able to predict the behaviors of others is the main concern for first-time interactions. Newly acquainted individuals aim to reduce uncertainty about their behavior and traits. According to Berger, the drive to reduce this uncertainty is brought by three factors; to understand weird behavior, to anticipate future interaction and for incentive value. Berger further suggests that for all social interactions, the main purpose of communicating or talking is to satisfy our natural curiosity. Berger also connects predictability to uncertainty; as predictability among new acquaintances increases then uncertainty reduces. Berger categorizes uncertainty into two; behavioral uncertainty and cognitive uncertainty.

Behavioral uncertainty is concerned with how an individual acts while cognitive uncertainty is concerned with an individual’s unique characteristics and traits. Berger also proposes axioms to explain his theory; he connects uncertainty with eight other variables. These variables include; verbal communication, self- disclosure, information seeking, nonverbal warmth, shared networks, similarity, reciprocity, and liking. Berger also suggests that individuals come up with plans to guide conversations. According to Berger, individuals cope with uncertainties through; choosing plan complexity, seeking information, hierarchy hypothesis and hedging (Griffin et al., pp. 108-115).
I personally experienced the theory, though it was unknowingly. My cousin once invited me to stay with him. We had never met before; he never came home. Once in a while, he invited my brothers to stay with him so this was my turn. I had a lot of uncertainties about our first encounter; I wondered whether he would like me. He was the cool cousin. He lived a stress-free life, never bothered what society thinks of him. I asked for more information about him from my brothers and also come up with a plan to understand him better. All these are components of Berger’s theory.
The uncertainty reduction theory by Berger has specific testable predictions, which is one of the theory’s strong points. The relativity of the axioms can be tested (Griffin et al., pp. 112). The theory is also essential since it improves communication by addressing the issue of uncertainty among social interactions. However, the theory also has glaring weak points. Berger assumes that all social interactions are motivated by the need to reduce uncertainty which is questionable (Griffin et al., pp. 115). Theorem 17also raises questions. The theorem states that the more an individual likes another individual, the less he/she will seek information on the individual (Griffin et al., pp. 112). The theorem is questionable since one is more likely to seek information from an individual he/she likes instead of an individual he/she dislikes. Kellerman and Rodney of California Lutheran University raised questions on axiom 3 (Griffin et al., pp. 117). The axiom states that a search of knowledge is triggered by lack of information. The two suggest that wanting knowledge triggers the search rather than lack of knowledge (Griffin et al., pp. 117).
Though the theory has several weaknesses, it is still an important asset to communications. The theory is being applied in real life as evident in the personal experience. The uncertainty reduction theory is key in communications.
Work cited Griffin, Emory A et al. A First Look At Communication Theory. 9th ed., Mcgraw Hill Education, 2015.