Uncertainty Reduction Theory “the Vow” and “Meet the Parents”
Uncertainty Reduction Theory
“The Vow” and “Meet the Parents”
Uncertainty reduction theory is “the point of view that uncertainty motivates communication and that certainty reduces the motivation to communicate” (Wood, definition). This theory was first developed by Charles Berger. He believed that when people are to meet for the first time they have a high level of uncertainty and the only way for them to reduce it is to communicate with one another. “They don’t know what each other likes, thinks and believes; how each other responds to certain reactions, and they’re unsure what each other expects or wants from interacting” (Wood,184). There are three prior conditions that are meant to help individuals want to reduce uncertainty. First is anticipation of future interaction, people will try and communicate and get to know someone as much as they can so they can reduce the possible ‘awkwardness’ in the future. Next is incentive value, which means people will try and reduce the uncertainty in hopes for something good to come from their interaction; relationship, friendship etc. Last is deviance. The uncertainty reduction theory is something that we see and experience in our daily lives. We are constantly meeting new people, as well our movies and television shows are filled with multiple examples of this theory. So for the following project I have decided to focus my attention on two popular movies and I have observed the characters while they meet new ‘friends/family’ and ‘companions’. I hope from these two movies I will be able to prove the following theory that people try and communicate more in hopes to reduce uncertainty.
The first movie I selected is a very recent movie that just came to theatre’s, “The Vow” starring Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams. It is based off a true story, a recently new married couple get into a serious car accident where the wife is left in a coma. When she awakens she is left with severe memory loss and cannot
“The Vow” and “Meet the Parents”
Uncertainty reduction theory is “the point of view that uncertainty motivates communication and that certainty reduces the motivation to communicate” (Wood, definition). This theory was first developed by Charles Berger. He believed that when people are to meet for the first time they have a high level of uncertainty and the only way for them to reduce it is to communicate with one another. “They don’t know what each other likes, thinks and believes; how each other responds to certain reactions, and they’re unsure what each other expects or wants from interacting” (Wood,184). There are three prior conditions that are meant to help individuals want to reduce uncertainty. First is anticipation of future interaction, people will try and communicate and get to know someone as much as they can so they can reduce the possible ‘awkwardness’ in the future. Next is incentive value, which means people will try and reduce the uncertainty in hopes for something good to come from their interaction; relationship, friendship etc. Last is deviance. The uncertainty reduction theory is something that we see and experience in our daily lives. We are constantly meeting new people, as well our movies and television shows are filled with multiple examples of this theory. So for the following project I have decided to focus my attention on two popular movies and I have observed the characters while they meet new ‘friends/family’ and ‘companions’. I hope from these two movies I will be able to prove the following theory that people try and communicate more in hopes to reduce uncertainty.
The first movie I selected is a very recent movie that just came to theatre’s, “The Vow” starring Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams. It is based off a true story, a recently new married couple get into a serious car accident where the wife is left in a coma. When she awakens she is left with severe memory loss and cannot