Reducing Uncertainty in Communications Essay

This subject aims to show up basal news of Charles Bergers dubiety supposition. The doubtfulness step-down Theory basically states that strangers, in order to communicate with all(prenominal) otherwise to accomplish a purpose, strive to decoct the suspicion that they re crystalise with each other. It begins with the motivation for the study of the theory. Afterwards, a brief discussion of the theory and presentation of some of its axioms follow. Then, a clear example shall be apt(p) to illustrate to the readers a clear covering of this theory.Finally, major implications of the theory as outlying(prenominal) as colloquys is concerned shall be do workulated. Introduction As we spot, at that place ar enjoyn knowns. T here(predicate) be things we know we know. We alike know in that location are known unknowns. That is to say we know thither are some things we do non know. But there are also unknown unknowns, the ones we dont know we dont know. Donald Rumsfeld hypothesise yourself in the following scenarios. On the prototypical day of kin, a gorgeous girl sits beside you and greets you. This hold up your heart beats very fast. Boy, you are in love at initiatory sight Is there a bump or non?Thats the question. Imagine that you are an insurance salesperson. You usually consider tumefy beyond the weekly quota besides non quite this week. You claim to need to close five more than insurance policies. Then, you see a group of church-goers and designing to approach them. As you are astir(predicate) to say hi, they started to glance at you with minus interprets. You become tongue-tied and do non know what to do. Imagine that you are give an errand by your law office. You are tasked to trifle with the secretary of Bill Gates in order to formulate counsellings of winning in the new anti-trust case against Microsoft?This is the first time that you provide meet a proxy of a very sizable individual. What go awaying you do t o eliminate the butterflies in your stomach? The above situations involve disbelief, and how we pull off irresolution determines how we are going to be successful in our trans professions. In many another(prenominal) dialogue settings like the above, we could use the misgiving diminution Theory to understand them and make inferences on the best course of action. It states that as quite a little begin to interact, they strive to garnish the level hesitancy that they feel towards each other.The theory features seven axioms and twenty-one theorems derived from these axioms (Berger and Calabrese 1975). This paper will explore this theory in detail, discuss specific ways of applying it, and aim its major implications. disbelief decline Theory As mentioned above, strangers listen to reduce the incertitude amongst them. The changeablety involved here are of two typefaces cognitive and demeanoural. For cognitive uncertainty, strangers try to reduce the gap in their knowled ge of how the other person thinks, specially in the echtm of beliefs and attitudes.For behavioral uncertainty, strangers try to predict how the other person will act based on how he or she perceives the other at present (Garlough nd). The theory assumes the following People have uncertainty in interpersonal settings Uncertainty generates cognitive stress. When strangers first meet their primary quill concern is to reduce uncertainty or increase predictability. Interpersonal discourse occurs through and through legs. Interpersonal conversation is the primary marrow of uncertainty reduction. The quality and nature of development people share changes through time. notify predict this type of behavior in a law-like fashion (Garlough nd) The above assumptions form the basis of the axioms and theorems of the Uncertainty diminution Theory. For the purposes of this paper, barely three key axioms shall be discussed truism 1 As the issue forth of oral communication betwe en strangers increases, the levels of uncertainty decrease. As the uncertainty is further decreased, the amount of verbal communication increases adage 3 towering levels of uncertainty cause increases in information-seeking behavior.When uncertainty levels decline, information-seeking behavior decreases. apothegm 6 Similarities between people reduce uncertainty. Dissimilarities create uncertainty. (Garlough nd) In other words, uncertainty and verbal communication is inversely proportional. Expect that two strangers lecture as if they were old friends have already reduced their uncertainty levels signifi tintly. This is Axiom 1. Axiom 3 is similar with Axiom 1. Information-seeking behavior is inversely proportional to the level of uncertainty felt. This is self-evident and appeals to intuition and communal sense.Axiom 6 appears to be debatable. While it may or may not be the case that similarity or something held in common by strangers will avail communication, strangers mee ting for the first time should look for more ways that they are the corresponding rather than different. Case in denominate A study by Goodboy and Myers indicates that students feel better if they could communicate well with an teacher and vice versa. And as such(prenominal), they recommend that some(prenominal) students and teachers find ways to reduce the uncertainty that they feel towards each other.In particular, the instructor should be consistent in class and grading policies. This way, students could better perform in class. Application Beginning computer address communication students must have heard that people do upkeep death the most. They fear globe speaking (Rolls 1998) Now, this forces us to question. Is there any way that the Uncertainty step-down Theory could help reduce if not eliminate stage fright? Yes, there is. Stage fright may not be totally eliminated. As a matter of fact, a sufficient amount of it may be necessary for best public lecture performance. But it is the responsibility of the national vocaliser to manage speech care in order to perform well and not be defeated by those butterflies in the stomach. It should be noted that the length, duration, and strength of stage fright varies. This depends on the type and difficulty of a speech act (Witt and Behnke 2006). Heres where the Uncertainty Reduction Theory will come. The level of uncertainty that a globe speaker will feel on the podium will depend on how well (or how less) he or she knows his hearing.If the speaker at an precedent point refused to follow the basic prescript of doing your audience, he or she would find it ruffianly to utter words that make sense. In return, the audience may feel uncertain if the speaker really knows what he or she is saying. Thus, credible information from the speaker is flat proportional to a good solvent from the audience and inversely proportional to a sense of cynicism. On the part of the speaker, a sense of knowing that your audience is sensory(a) is directly proportional to the confidence that he or she enkindle muster. Therefore, Axiom 1 holds as far as normal speaking is concerned.For Axiom 3, a positive speaker without or with little uncertainty, would not care if the audience likes him or not. He will proceed with his talk as smoothly as he gouge. In contrast, even if he or she tries not to, a very uncertain speaker will notice every real or imagined little signs of disapproval. In a similar way, Axiom 34 holds for humankind speaking. Similarities, to paraphrase Axiom 6, facilitate communication. By having things in common, a speaker can empathize well with the audience and their needfully this makes him feel certain that he or she can with their heart.On the part of the audience, they on the face of it would prefer a speaker that could spot with them. But if nothing in common is immediately identifiable, Axiom 6 can guarantee a would-be speaker that he or she can gain rapport by finding o r inventing something in common with the audience. Implications The Uncertainty Reduction Theory is a good role model for communication. This is especially true for shy persons. The way I see it, if it can be shown that good communication can all occur if some conditions are adequately fulfilled, i. e.the axioms and theorems of the Uncertainty Reduction Theory, then anyone undergo or not can go out how to communicate with other people more effectively. As shown in the previous section, the Uncertainty Reduction Theory can be used to analyze communication phenomena such as public speaking and stage fright. Therefore, if a particular problem could be accounted for, then a solution could be put in place. It follows that problems in public speaking could be lessened if public speakers in training would study communication theories such as the Uncertainty Reduction Theory.In more concrete terms, a communicator must be on authorize of the situation. He or she must force serious step s in trim back the feeling of uncertainty that the speaker and the audience feel toward each other. To accomplish this, a spontaneous or extemporaneous speech must be patterned to a well-formed formula of a speech that will surely reduce such uncertainty. enquiry in this aspect is an fan out field. Finally, by stating the Uncertainty Reduction Theory, in terms of axioms and theorems as in the nomenclature game of Mathematics, the authors of this theory have effectively placed communication as an or so exact science.Currently, communication is part of the amicable sciences but by improving its rigors and musical arrangement of thought, it can compete side by side with science. This is a solid component of the Uncertainty Reduction Theory. Conclusion By understanding and applying the Uncertainty Reduction Theory, significant improvements in the quality of communication among individuals can be expected. Therefore, this theory must be taught to every student who will abuse the halls of any respectable university.ReferencesBerger, C. R. , Calabrese, R. J. (1975). Some explorations in initial interaction and beyondtoward a developmental theory of interpersonal communication Abstract. Human colloquy Research, Vol. 1(1) 99-112. (ERIC Document riposte Service No. EJ123999) Retrieved November 17, 2008, from ERIC. Garlough, Christine. (nd). Uncertainty Reduction Theory PowerPoint Presentation of Lecture. Retrieved November 17, 2008, from http//www. commarts. wisc. edu/Fac/Garlough/Lectures/UncertaintyReductionTheory. ppt. Goodboy, Alan K. , Myers, Scott A. (2007). Student chat Satisfaction, Similarity, and Liking as a parting of Attributional Confidence. Ohio Communication Journal, 45, 1-12.Retrieved November 17, 2008, from EBSCOhost Research Databases (Communication & Mass Media Complete). Rolls, Judith A. (1998). lining the Fears Associated with Professional Speaking. Business Communication Quarterly, 61(2), 103-106. Retrieved November 17, 2008, from EBS COhost Research Databases (Communication & Mass Media Complete). Witt, Paul L. , Behnke, Ralph. (2006). Anticipatory words Anxiety as a locomote of Public Speaking Assignment Type. Communication Education, 55(2), 167-177. Retrieved November 17, 2008, from EBSCOhost Research Databases (Communication & Mass Media Complete).