Uncertainty Reduction Theory

By: Charles Berger & Richard Calabrese

Basic Premise: Uncertainty arises when people lack information therefore individuals seek
information in order to predict and explain their surroundings thus reducing their overall
uncertainty of the situation.
Three Reasons to Seek Information:

Deviation: An individual violates our expectations and we are curious to find out more
information

Anticipation of Future Interaction: We are more motivated to reduce uncertainty when we

expect to interact with someone again in the future

Incentive: We want to know more about people who control rewards that we are interested
in
Three Ways to Seek Information:
Passive Strategy: Watching someone without being observed

Active Strategy: Asking a third party for more information

Interactive Strategy: Obtaining information directly through asking questions and offering
personal information about yourself

Eight Axioms of Uncertainty Reduction Theory

(self-evident truths that require no additional proof)
1Uncertainty is negatively associated with verbal communication
2Uncertainty is negatively associated with nonverbal affiliative expressiveness
3Uncertainty is positively associated with information-seeking behavior
4Uncertainty is negatively associated with the intimacy of communication content
5Uncertainty is positively associate with reciprocity rate
6Uncertainty is negatively associated with the degree of similarity between partners
7Uncertainty is negatively associated with liking.
8Uncertainty is negatively associated with shared communication networks between
partners
Overview of Film Examples
Uncertainty Reduction Theory can be found in all four movies; Meet the Parents, My Big Fat
Greek Wedding, You, Me & Dupree as well as Guess Who. In all of these films, two members of
the triad lack information regarding each other and subsequently attempt to seek information in
order to reduce their uncertainty. In most of these examples, the son-in-law or future son-in-law
attempts to seek information more because they are not only hoping for future interaction with
the parent-in-law but the parent-in-law also holds a reward; their approval of their daughters
significant other. The axioms that are used most frequently by members of the triad are axiom
one, three, six and seven.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding

This scene highlights Gus Portokolass high uncertainty because of his lack of information and
understanding regarding his future son-in-law Ian Miller. In the next few encounters between
Gus & Ian, Gus uses both an active and interactive strategy to gain more information about Ian in
the hopes of reducing his uncertainty. (axiom 3) In addition, as soon as Ian is baptized in the
Greek Orthodox Church, Gus finds a commonality between them and even begins to like Ian
which then drastically decreases his uncertainty. (axiom 6 & 7)