What Strategy Is This?”
You look at a classmate’s public Instagram before talking to them.
What is extractive strategy?
You’re unsure whether to hug or shake hands when meeting someone.
What is behavioral uncertainty?
Two strangers talk more and begin to feel less awkward.
What is as verbal communication ↑ → uncertainty ↓?
Talking more with a new classmate makes you feel less awkward.
Verbal Communication ↑ → Uncertainty ↓
Who created Uncertainty Reduction Theory?
Who is Charles Berger?
You watch how coworkers act in meetings before speaking.
What is passive strategy?
You wonder if a new classmate is trustworthy or honest.
What is cognitive uncertainty?
Someone smiles and maintains eye contact, making others comfortable.
What is as nonverbal warmth ↑ → uncertainty ↓?
A new coworker smiles and maintains eye contact, helping you feel more comfortable.
Nonverbal Warmth ↑ → Uncertainty ↓
Name one reason people reduce uncertainty.
What is the anticipation of future interaction, incentive value, or deviance?
You ask a mutual friend what your new roommate is like.
What is active strategy?
You’re unsure what jokes are appropriate in a new culture.
What is behavioral uncertainty?
Two people discover they have the same major and hometown and instantly feel more relaxed.
What is as similarity ↑ → uncertainty ↓?
You and a new teammate discover you both love the same TV show, which makes conversation easier.
Similarity ↑ → Uncertainty ↓
What is the goal of URT?
To reduce uncertainty and gain understanding in initial interactions.
You directly ask your new teammate what their goals are.
What is interactive strategy?
You notice a colleague acts differently than expected and wonder why.
What is cognitive uncertainty?
Someone shares personal details first, encouraging the other to open up.
What is as self-disclosure ↑ → uncertainty ↓?
You share something personal about yourself, and the other person begins to open up too.
Self-Disclosure ↑ → Uncertainty ↓
What are the two types of uncertainty?
What are behavioral and cognitive uncertainty?
You want to reduce uncertainty about a distant friend, so you check their social media posts and ask a mutual acquaintance before calling.
What are extractive and active strategies?
You’re interacting with someone from a very different culture and are unsure both how to behave and how to interpret their personality.
What are both behavioral and cognitive uncertainty?
You realize that being part of the same social group helps you understand each other faster.
What is as shared networks ↑ → uncertainty ↓?
You realize that belonging to the same club or friend group makes predicting behavior easier.
Shared Networks ↑ → Uncertainty ↓
Name one critique of URT.
What is theorems may not always be true, reasons for reducing uncertainty don’t always hold, or uncertainty may not drive behavior?