Uncertainty Reduction Theory

(also known as URT)Marisa Markwardt

The Main Idea:

When you meet someone, you want to

reduce your uncertainty about them.

Sometimes, we go about this in a passive way.

This means we are just making observations, like watching what they do.

Sometimes we go about this in an active way, like asking others about the person.

Kanucka: What do you know about Dr. Wolfe? Do you know what kind of music he likes?

He posted a picture of the lead singer of Phish, so he must like rock music.

We can also do this in an interactive way, like talking to the person to get to know them better.

3 Stages of the Process:

In the entry stage, we are meeting the person.

This is when biographic and demographic information is

most important.

In the personal stage, we learn about the person’s beliefs, morals, attitudes, and values.

In the exit stage, it is determined whether the two people will meet again and will continue a relationship.

There are also 7 factors that affect this

process:

URT is a theory of interpersonal communication, used to explain initial interactions between people and how relationships develop from that interaction.

Though this theory is over 20 years old, it can be applied to many situations…

long distance relationshipsonline datingsocial networking websitespremarital romantic relationships

Critics say the theory is too

narrowand

biased.

They also question the main premise that

uncertainty is the driving force of interaction.

Fun Fact! (Presenter’s Choice)

This is Charles Berger.

He is one of the two guys who developed URT. He has a B.S. in Psychology. Then he got a master’s degree in communication after that.

This sounds like someone else I know…me!