Uncertainty, Understanding, and the Development of Interpersonal Relationships
by Julia Kindl
INTRODUCTION
The following is the explanation and analysis of
the article "Beyond Initial Interaction: Uncertainty, Understanding, and
the Development of Interpersonal Relationships" by Charles R. Berger. The
article was printed in Language and Social Psychology. It is
an attempt by Berger to expand upon his own Uncertainty Reduction Theory
with explanations of both reasons for increased monitoring of behavior
and possible strategies for gaining information to reduce uncertainty about
another person.
SUMMARY
The original research done by Charles Berger on
uncertainty reduction (increasing the ability that a person has of predicting
the behavior of a specific other) dealt with initial interactions. He stated
that in first-time meetings an individual's primary concern is reducing
uncertainty about the other person. The article published in Language and
Social Psychology expands upon this theory to apply the desire for reduced
uncertainty to interactions past a first meeting, including long-term relationships.
Berger begins by explaining that uncertainty
may exist on two distinct levels - behavioral and cognitive.
A reduction in behavioral uncertainty yields an increase in ability to
predict how the other person will act as situations are placed before them.
Cognitive uncertainty deals with ability to predict and explain the underlying
mental reasons for the above action. Berger draws upon previous research
conducted with Gardner, Parks, Schulman, and Miller to further explain
the three knowledge levels on which a reduction of cognitive uncertainty
depends. They are descriptive, predictive, and explanatory. Descriptive
knowledge occurs when an individual can describe the behavior and attitudes
of another. Predictive knowledge moves one step farther and makes inferences
about future action and beliefs. Finally, explanatory knowledge occurs
when an individual can state a limited number of causes for the other's
behavior. (This level is present in fewer relationships than the previous
two levels.)
Reasons for Increased Monitoring of Behavior
The first main section of the article deals with
the fact that in order to reduce uncertainty about another person, one
must observe and monitor their behavior. Charles Berger postulates three
reasons that an individual would increase the attention that is paid to
another's actions.
1) Incentives
2) Deviation
3) Future Interaction
All three of these reasons are valid causes for increased monitoring of behavior. However, by implying that they are the only reasons that would cause increased monitoring, Burger is remiss. For example: Jane is from Athens, Ohio and visiting her grandmother in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She decided to spend an afternoon at the Andy Warhol Museum, where she met Paul. They spent the day together talking about the paintings as they walked around. If Jane was aware that she did not seek anything from Paul, and was just enjoying the afternoon, she may still be engaged in high levels of behavior monitoring. She doesn't want anything from Paul, so incentives are not an issue, he does not act in a deviant manner, so that is not a reason to monitor him, and Jane knows that the probablility of future interaction is very low, so that does not factor in. Yet she could still pay considerable amounts of attention to him for the afternoon, uncertainty would be reduced, but Berger's explanation would be incorrect.
Strategies for Dealing with Uncertainty
The second section of Berger's article puts forth numerous ways in which an individual can reduce uncertainty about another person. The strategies are grouped into three areas, passive strategies, active strategies, and interactive strategies. Passive strategies decode the subject's behavior while in the role of the unobtrusive observer. In active strategies there is effort made to discover information about the subject without actually communicating with him or her. Interactive strategies involve direct communication with the subject.
1) Passive strategies
2) Active strategies
3) Interactive strategies
While I do believe that individuals often engage in both passive and interactive strategies for reducing uncertainty about another person, I think that some of Berger's explanations of active strategies is a bit of a stretch. While people will readily question other people to gain information about someone that they're interested in, I have never seen someone attempt to shape the environment to gain more information. Berger's article didn't fully explain how this would be done and I find this part of his work purely theoretical, with little application to real life.
This article was easy to read and comprehend. Berger presents his ideas in language that, while using some jargon of the discipline, is highly readable. The ideas presented effectively expand upon his origional theory by explaining variables that weren't previously dealt with. Berger explains in the article that he has not yet provided a full treatment of some of the concepts that he presents. Despite the lack of completeness, this article is a useful resource for anyone seeking to research Uncertainty Reduction Theory in more depth.
Berger, Charles R. "Beyond Initial Interaction: Uncertainty, Understanding, and the Development of Interpersonal Relationships." Language and Social Psychology. Eds. H. Giles and R. St. Clair. Blackwell, Oxford, 1979. 122-144.
Return to Heidi's Title Page for an overview of Uncertainty Reduction Theory
View Tony's Examples to see applications of the theory
View Natalie's Critique for an indepth look at the theory
View Brian's Links for more information