RELATIONAL BEHAVIOUR

Relational Behaviour

Relational behaviors

A large and rapidly growing body of research on uncertainty reduction has developed since Berger and Calabrese's (1975) initial theoretical formulation. This research has examined uncertainty reduction processes in initial interactions (Clatterbuck, 1979; Douglas, 1984; Kellermann, 1986), in later relational stages (Parks & Adelman, 1983; Planalp & Honeycutt, 1985; Planalp, Rutherford, & Honeycutt, 1988), as well as in intercultural and cross-cultural situations (Gudykunst, l983,1985a, 1985b, Gudykunst & Nishida, 1984; Gudykunst, Nishida, & Schmidt, 1988).

In addition, much of this research has produced increased understanding of the information seeking processes that individuals employ to reduce uncertainty (Berger & Douglas, 1981; Douglas, 1985,1987; Kellermann & Berger, 1984). The heuristic value of URT is clear from the amount of research and accompanying information that it has produced regarding interpersonal communication processes. However, research results have produced only mixed support for Berger and Calabrese's original theoretical propositions, and for subsequent modifications (Berger, 1979; Berger & Bradac, 1982). As Sunnafrank's (1986a) review notes, only half of the tests reported to that time had produced support for uncertainty reduction axioms and theorems. Much of the research reported since appears to reflect only a slightly improved pattern (Sunnafrank, 1989).

There are two general explanations for this pattern of mixed theoretical support: URT has either been inappropriately tested or it is inaccurate. Inappropriate testing appears a likely explanation in several cases. For example, research frequently employs methods which may produce relational situations where concerns about uncertainty are low. Berger (1979) indicated that uncertainty reduction processes should be most likely in situations involving initial interaction partners with whom one expects to interact in the future, partners who act in a deviant manner, or those who have sufficient incentive value to the individual. Appropriate tests of theoretical predictions should therefore employ research procedures designed to examine situations in which at least one of these conditions exists.

Some unsupportive results for uncertainty reduction predictions come from studies which fail on this count. Contrary to Berger and Calabrese's original formulation, Planalp and Honeycutt (1985) discovered that communication may sometimes increase uncertainty in relationships. Several studies have reported that information seeking and uncertainty level may be negatively related or unrelated (Gudykunst, 1983,198513; Gudykunst, Yang, & Nishida, 1985) rather than positively related as expected. Modification of URT can account for some of these theoretically inconsistent findings.

Indeed, past modifications of the theory (Berger, 1979,1987; Berger & Bradac, 1982) resulted, in part, from these and other incompatible results. Sunnafrank (1986a) suggested that modification of theoretical specifications may be insufficient to address the mounting negative evidence. His predicted outcome value theory proposes that the root of these problems may be in a misplaced reliance on uncertainty reduction as the major explanatory construct for early acquaintance communication behavior. In the POV perspective, uncertainty reduction is subservient to each interactant's primary goal of experiencing positive relational outcomes. Sunnafrank's (1986a, 1989) reinterpretation of uncertainty reduction results indicates that POV has the potential to explain many of the empirical inconsistencies there ...