Uncertainty Reduction Theory

Uncertainty Reduction Theory is a communications theory from the post-positivist tradition. The theory functions to predict and explain how communication is used to reduce the uncertainty among people in their initial interactions. Charles Berger and Richard Calabrese developed the theory in 1975. According to the theory, people find uncertainty in interpersonal relationships unpleasant and are motivated to reduce it through interpersonal communication. Berger and Calabrese propose a series of axioms to explain the connection between their central concept of uncertainty and seven key variables of relationship development: verbal communication, nonverbal warmth, information seeking, self-disclosure, reciprocity, similarity, and liking. People engage in passive, active, and interactive strategies to reduce uncertainty with others. For example, one could observe a stranger from afar (passive), one could solicit information about the stranger from someone else (active), or one could strike up a conversation with a stranger (interpersonal). The theory argues that the nature of information sharing changes over time as relationship intimacy evolves.