Uncertainty Reduction Theory

Uncertainty reduction theory focuses on how human communication is used to gain knowledge and create understanding for oneself. This is one of the theories classified under 'Relationship Development' in Griffins (2012) book. When people meet one another for the first time, their main concern is to reduce the feeling of uncertainty with one another because they know little of the other person (West & Turner, 2012).

This is a common scenario that almost everyone encounter. When we have just joined a club, or when we have just entered the working environment with new people.. we have uncertainties. We feel discomfort and uneasy because we feel curious about others. When we meet new people we tend to have question in our heads like "Does she like what I listen to?" "Will he judge me for what I do?"

Individuals may experience uncertainty in 2 ways - behavioral and cognitive (Griffin, 2012, p. 126-127). Behavioral is when some individuals may be unsure on how to behave in a particular environment or setting or how others will behave whereas Cognitive is when individuals may be unsure of how the other person is or what/how the other person think of the individual.

In explaining my analysis on Uncertainty Reduction Theory, I will be using The Lion King 2 focusing on Kovu. Kovu is a litter from Zira who was an 'outlander' as her family and her are banished from the Pride land. Kovu's family is disliked by Simba, the King of of Pride land because earlier on in the first film of The Lion King 1, Kovu's uncle Scar managed to kill Simba's dad - Mufasa, in a stampede by tricking Simba that it was his fault. However, fate turned their relationship around as Simba's cub Kiara became friends with Kovu and both eventually have mutual feelings for one another. Simba gives Kovu a chance to enter the Pride Land where from there, trust is valued. Kovu has never set his foot at the Pride Land and feels nervous as behind the motive on gaining Simba's trust, lies another motive which is to kill Simba as planned by Kovu's mother, Zira. In the process of gaining Simba's trust and at the same time getting to know Kiara - Kovu experiences uncertainty. He feels unsure of how to behave while being at the Pride Land and he is not sure whether Simba and the rest of the family likes him as at that time, he was not one of them.

Individuals must reduce their uncertainties at some point in order to be able to fashion verbal discourse and actions that will allow one to achieve their interaction goals. (Stacks & Salwen, 2008). According to

References:

Ayla Malai Abdullah, S. (2012). Lecture Notes. Ac-1201 Introduction to Communication. Universiti Brunei Darussalam

Griffin, E. (2012). A First Look at Communication Theory. New York: McGraw-Hill

Stacks, W., & Salwen, B., M. (2008) An Integrated Approach To Communication Theory and Research. London: Routledge

West, R., & Turner, L., H. (2010) Introducing Communication Theory: Analysis and Application (4th Ed). New York: McGraw Hill