Uncertainty Reduction Theory

Question 1

Who observed that when we interact with strangers, we experience uncertainty because we don’t really know what to expect?

Answer 1

Charles Berger and Richard Calabrese (1975)

Question 2

What are the Elements of Uncertainty Reduction Theory?

Answer 2

UNCERTAINTY
PARTNER UNCERTAINTY
SELF UNCERTAINTY
RELATIONAL UNCERTAINTY
COGNITIVE UNCERTAINTY
BEHAVIORAL UNCERTAINTY
UNCERTAINTY REDUCTION

Question 3

Having multiple predictions or explanations.

Answer 3

Uncertainty

Question 4

Inability to predict behavior, thoughts, or feelings of a particular person.

Answer 4

Partner Uncertainty

Question 5

Represents a person’s insecurity in describing, explaining, or predicting his or her own behaviors, as well as his or her thoughts and feelings.

Answer 5

Self uncertainty

Question 6

Is the lack of confidence a person feels in his or her ability to predict or explain issues associated with a given relationship.

Answer 6

Relational uncertainty

Question 7

Is the uncertainty in knowing what another person has thought or is thinking, or uncertainty about our own thoughts.

Answer 7

Cognitive uncertainty

Question 8

Is the uncertainty associated with being able to predict or explain a person’s behavior, or in knowing what behaviors are expected of us or predicting our own actions.

Answer 8

Behavioral uncertainty

Question 9

What are the two way we apply uncertainty reduction that were identified by Berger and Calabrese?

Answer 9

PROACTIVE OR PREDICTIVE
RETROACTIVE OR EXPLANATORY

Question 10

The ability to generate predictions before an interaction.

Answer 10

Proactive or Predictive

Question 11

The ability to generate explanations during or afterwards.

Answer 11

Retroactive or Explanatory

Question 12

According to Berger and Bradac (1982), what is the third type of information that reduces uncertainty?

Answer 12

DESCRIPTIVE

Question 13

It represents simply the attributes we collect about people - their age, weight, hair color, etc. that led us identify a given person in a crowd.

Answer 13

Descriptive information

Question 14

SEVEN VARIABLES OF UNCERTAINTY REDUCTION IN INITIAL INTERACTIONS

Answer 14

(1) Amount of verbal communication
(2) Nonverbal affiliative expressiveness
(3) Information-seeking behavior
(4) Intimacy level of communication content
(5) Reciprocity
(6) Similarity
(7) Liking

Question 15

Essentially, the number of words that are exchanged during the course of an interaction.

Answer 15

Amount of verbal communication

Question 16

Form of number while communication in which people display feelings towards another person such as head nods, expressions, and arm gestures.

Answer 16

Nonverbal affiliative expressiveness

Question 17

The number of questions that an individual asks of another.

Answer 17

Information-seeking behavior

Question 18

Personal information is low risk, such as demographics, versus high risk, such as beliefs, attitudes, and opinions.

Answer 18

Intimacy level of communication content

Question 19

Relative equal sharing of information back and forth between two people.

Answer 19

Reciprocity

Question 20

Two people share similar attitudes and engage in communication that reflects agreement.

Answer 20

Similarity

Question 21

A positive feeling or regard for another person

Answer 21

Liking

Question 22

Are statements or propositions of a relationship between variables that are assumed to be true (Blalock, 1969)

Answer 22

Axioms

Question 23

It serves as the basis for logically deduced theorems through the application of a syllogism.

Answer 23

Axioms