Brittney Hamilton
Focuses on how human
communication is used to gain
knowledge and create
understanding
Berger assumes that when
strangers meet, the greatest
concern is increasing
predictability about the
behavior of both oneself and
the other person.

Fritz Heider
Attribution Theory:
Explains how people make assumptions about other
peoples’ character through observing their behavior

Behavioral vs. Cognitive
Berger focuses on Cognitive:
Acquiring information that allows you to
correct many previous possible thoughts
about the person
Axiom
A self-evident truth that requires no
additional proof
Berger axioms to connect his concept of
uncertainty with variables of
relationship development




Verbal
Communication
Nonverbal
Warmth
Information
Seeking
Self-Disclosure

Reciprocity

Similarity

Liking

Shared Networks
http://youtu.be/WOeb6cJ2Awk?t=2m31s

Berger inserts these axioms into the
pattern of
 If A=B
 And B=C
 Then A=C
Theorem
A proposition that logically and
necessarily follows from two axioms


+ means the two variables will rise or fall
together
- means that as one increases, the other
decreases
Message Plans
Mental representations of action sequences
that may be used to achieve goals
Main Goal
Abstract
Overall
Strategy
Action
Specific
More concrete
Action
Action
Specific
Specific
Action

Berger provides some strategies that, for
him, answer the questions of
How individuals cope with the inevitable
uncertainties they must face when constructing
messages or
 How a person eludes embarrassment, anger,
rejection, and other downside risks associated with
using a given message

Plan Complexity
A characteristic of a message plan based
on the level of detail it provides and the
number of contingencies it covers
Hedging
Saving face on the parts of both parties
through ambiguity and humor when a
message fails to reach the desired goal
Hierarchy Hypothesis
Predicts that when people are frustrated
in their attempts to achieve goals, they
first tend to alter lower level elements of
their message

William Gudykunst
 Inspired by Berger, William applied some
axioms and theorems to intercultural settings
AUM Theory
An intercultural theory that claims high
levels of uncertainty and anxiety lead to
greater misunderstanding when strangers
don’t communicate mindfully
AUM
Anxiety and
Uncertainty as twin
threats
 Effective
Communication:
Concept of having
mutual understanding
and minimizing
misunderstanding

URT


Uncertainty
Closeness or
relational satisfaction
AUM


Multiple Causes of
Anxiety/Uncertainty
Lower and Upper levels
for fear and doubt
Mindfulness
The process of thinking in
new categories, being
open to new information,
and recognizing multiple
perspectives

URT

Axioms and Theorems
PROS



Straightforward
Logically consistent
Simple to understand
CONS


Theorem 17
No motivation to seek
information through the
three
Anticipation of
future interaction
incentive value
Deviance