What is Charles Berger uncertainty reduction theory?
Uncertainty reduction theory (URT) was originally created to explain the communication process that occurs when two strangers interact. Charles Berger and Richard Calabrese (1975) observed that when we interact with strangers, we experience uncertainty because we don’t really know what to expect.
How does the uncertainty reduction theory work?
The theory suggests that human beings are uncomfortable with uncertainty and seek the means to predict the trajectory of social interactions. In attempting to reduce that uncertainty, people tend to utilize passive, active, and interactive strategies to help predict and explain someone’s behavior during an interaction.
What is an assumption of uncertainty reduction theory?
Uncertainty reduction theory is based on the central assumption that the primary concern of strangers upon initial interaction is to reduce uncertainty and increase predictability. Other assumptions related to this theory are: People feel uncertain in initial interpersonal communication.
What is the role of uncertainty in ongoing relationships?
Every interaction involves incomplete knowledge about a partner’s state of mind; therefore, uncertainty is always relevant to interpersonal communication. Accordingly, people cope with uncertainty by seeking to reduce it and by creating communication plans that accommodate these unknowns.
What are the three strategies for reducing uncertainty?
These three options reflect three strategies of URT for gaining information and thus reducing uncertainty: passive, active, and interactive (Berger, 1979; Berger & Bradac, 1982).
What is an example of uncertainty reduction theory?
Uncertainty Reduction Theory It states that people need to reduce uncertainty about other individuals by gaining information about them. For example, your friend, Sam, invites you to join her and her co-workers for dinner. You know your friend spends a lot of time with her colleague, Deb, both at and outside of work.
What is uncertainty measurement?
Uncertainty as used here means the range of possible values within which the true value of the measurement lies. This definition changes the usage of some other commonly used terms. For example, the term accuracy is often used to mean the difference between a measured result and the actual or true value.
What is meant by uncertainty reduction?
The uncertainty reduction theory was developed by Charles ‘Chuck’ Berger. It states that people need to reduce uncertainty about other individuals by gaining information about them. For example, your friend, Sam, invites you to join her and her co-workers for dinner.
What is uncertainty reduction theory in psychology?
Uncertainty reduction theory (URT) was originally created to explain the communication process that occurs when two strangers interact. Charles Berger and Richard Calabrese (1975) observed that when we interact with strangers, we experience uncertainty because we don’t really know what to expect.
What is Berger’s theory of communication?
The theory states that people often feel uncertainty about others they don’t know and are motivated to communicate in order to reduce that uncertainty. Professors Charles Berger and Richard Calabrese invented the theory in 1975 after noting that initial interactions between individuals followed predictable patterns…
What are Berger and Calabrese’s three stages of interaction?
In essence, uncertainty is felt about the current or future status of the relationship – which may be platonic or romantic. Berger and Calabrese defined the initial interaction of strangers into three stages: Entry stage – the first stage is characterized by the use of behavioral norms, which some may describe as small talk.
What are the 7 types of uncertainty reduction?
Uncertainty reduction theory is defined by seven self-evident truths that describe the various ways individuals try to reduce uncertainty. These include verbal communication, nonverbal warmth, information seeking, self-disclosure, reciprocity, similarity, and liking.