Uncertainty Reduction Theory (URT)

Uncertainty Reduction Theory (URT) suggest that during initial interaction, individuals tend to reduce the uncertainty and increase the ability to predict the others behaviour (Dawkins, 2010).  “Uncertainty reduction is a primary motivating factors for communication” (Berger & Calabrese, 1975). Berger (1975) argues that there are three conditions that increase the need to reduce uncertainty about the new acquaintance: (1) Anticipation of future interaction, (2) incentive value, and (3) Deviance.

Berger introduced series of axiom that help explain the relationship of uncertainty and eight key variables of relationship development: verbal communication, nonverbal warmth, information seeking, self-disclosure, reciprocity, similarity, liking, and shared networks (Griffin, 2012).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-n6ehVRzA-s

This essay will use Hitch (2005) movie as a media text. It will look into a scene where the main characters, Alex Hitchens and Sara Melas first meet. At a bar, Alex observes Sara from the bartender place. He saw her sitting alone. This action is what Berger called as a passive strategy, where a person is being observed. The bartender who saw this, told Alex some information about Sara. He told Alex that Sara is some kind of newspaper columnist that comes to the bar once in a while. Alex seeks for more information from the bartender. He asked what kind of drinks she usually drinks. Here, Alex is performing axiom 3: information seeking. When a person has high level of uncertainty, it will lead him to seek for more information from the others. Asking others for the person we interested in is called active strategy (Griffin, 2012).

Alex then tried to approach Sara by buying her drinks for that night. Before he could approach, some guy came first. He insists on complimenting her and talks to her even though Sara told her nicely that she is not interested in him. Alex then came in acting as her boyfriend so that the guy who flirts with Sara would go away. Since this is the first time Alex talked to her and later on have a conversation with her, that is called interactive strategy; when one talk directly to the other person (Griffin, 2012). Sara plays along with Alex, acting like she is really waiting for Alex. The guy then gets the idea that they are a couple thus left the scene.

After the guy had left them, he started to talk and introduce himself to her. They exchange information on their name and job. They then continue to talk about each other perception or thought on dating. Alex then leaves after gaining her interest by making the conversation short. A waitress then comes bringing Sara a drink. The waitress said that the drink was bought by Alex. That action elevates her interest and at the same time impresses her. Through verbal communication (axiom 1), they both now know each other’s name and job. However, the verbal communication is too short that uncertainty on each other has not yet reduces. As Berger mentioned that, the more you talk, the lesser the uncertainty is and vice versa (Griffin,2012).

In addition, during their short meeting, Alex maintained appropriate distance and give Sara a warm smile. He has a good eye contact with her which shows that he listens to her (Dawkins, 2010). He talks to her in a calm tone not. Unlike the guy that came before Alex, he keeps on attacking her with compliments and invades her space when she already told him she is not interested. In axiom 2, nonverbal warmth, it mentioned that the more one gives nonverbal warmth like what Alex did, the lesser is the level of uncertainty in that initial interaction (Griffin, 2012).

In conclusion, “Berger’s URT posits that interpersonal relationships develop as individuals reduce uncertainty about each other” (Yoo, 2009). Berger claimed that uncertainty give a position of uncomfortable to individuals that they tried to overcome it by increasing the predictability of others behaviour (Yoo, 2009). They can do so through eight key variables of relationship development: verbal communication, nonverbal warmth, information seeking, self-disclosure, reciprocity, similarity, liking, and shared networks (Griffin, 2012).

References

Dawkins, M.A. (2010). How it’s Done: Using Hitch as a Guide to Uncertainty Reduction Theory. Communication Teacher, Vol. 24, No. 3, July 2010, pp. 136 141.

Griffin, E. (2012). A First Look At Communication Theory 8th Edition. New York: McGraw Hill.

Yoo, J.H. (2009). Uncertainty Reduction and Information Valence: Tests of Uncertainty Reduction Theory, Predicted Outcome Value, and an Alternative Explanation?