Running head: SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM UNCERTAINTY REDUCTION
Symbolic Interactionism, Uncertainty Reduction Theory, and the Online Community
Brandon Vera
COMM 245-01
March 1, 2014
Prof. Kevin Crawford
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SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM UNCERTAINTY REDUCTION
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Symbolic Interactionism, Uncertainty Reduction Theory, and the Online Community
With technology becoming more ubiquitous and more integrated in society, its
existence has created a virtual culture: the online community. Because this “global
village” is growing exponentially, there is certainly an impact that requires more
investigation on this cyber world as well as the implications that can be made from this
examination. Supplementing this analysis, both symbolic interactionism and the
uncertainty reduction theory will be applied to reveal the outcomes today’s societal
infrastructure is experiencing. By understanding these concepts and exploring real-life
applications, one can see how these theories are unveiling and constructing a culture
comprised of a community built upon the foundations of virtual reality.
Defining Symbolic Interactionism and Uncertainty Reduction Theory
Developed by George Herbert Mead, symbolic interactionism describes how
one’s sense of self is generated through interaction. In other words, people acting toward
others, things, and occurrences are doing so based upon meanings they have ascribed to a
given subject. Moreover, “individuals interpret each other’s language, gestures, and
actions as symbols,” reflecting and constituting the self (Robinson, 2007, p. 96). Hence,
ongoing symbols are used in anticipation of how the other person will respond in a
conversation.
Conceptualized by Charles Berger, the uncertainty reduction theory explains that,
in initial interactions, the main goal is to lessen uncertainty; thus, individuals are
motivated to reduce it through interpersonal communication. According to Berger, three
preexisting conditions indicate one’s desire to reduce uncertainty: anticipation of future
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interaction, incentive value, and deviance (Griffin, 2011, p. 125). Thus, diminishing
uncertainty allows one to understand behaviors and make them more predictable.
Real-life Applications
Symbolic Interactionism and Blogging
In the realm of virtual reality, blogging has become a common form of online
interaction. According to Robinson (2007), bloggers present themselves by creating a
web page “and maintaining dialogue with [participants] that post reactions and
commentary” (p. 104). Through constant discourse, blogging lends a hand to “cyberself”
construction. With symbolic interactionism in mind, blogging displays that online
personalities are generated virtual extensions of reality. This online personality “is [thus]
the emergent product of social interaction in which the self masters the ability to be both
the subject and object of interaction” (Robinson, 2007, p. 104). Hence, the culture of an
online community is revealed through symbolic interactionism in which another
dimension of meaning is attributed and an intangible “cyberself” is the outcome of
Internet communications.
Uncertainty Reduction Theory and Online Dating
Whereas symbolic interactionism shows how the “cyberself” is created, the
uncertainty reduction theory displays how it becomes a living manifestation through
popular online dating sites. According to Gibbs et al. (2010), “interpersonal relationships
are indeed developed through [online dating] as predictability and understanding of a
partner’s behavior increases as well as demonstrating the use of particular uncertainty
reduction strategies” (p. 73). Even in traditional contexts, similar interactional approaches
(i.e. using Google to validate an identity claim made by people) are part of the normal
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processes in romantic relationships, assessing whether an individual could be a potential
partner. On the contrary, “online contexts change [the traditional] dynamic by enabling
asymmetric information exchange and interaction,” in which parties provide differing
information at varying rates of exchange. (Gibbs et al., 2010, p. 73). Overall, reducing
uncertainty to understand behaviors and their predictability demonstrates an interactive
community that is capable of forming and maintaining personal relationships.
Conclusion
Through the theories and their respective applications, one can assess that the
online culture, and the people that comprise it, truly exists and is created in virtual reality.
This is evident through the extension of the “cyberself” and the relationships maintained
through online dating. It becomes clear that, as online communities grow, unique beliefs
are simultaneously created. For instance, because online dating is an accepted way to
build relationships, it becomes part of the social norm.
By considering the online community as a culture of its own, there are individual
differences that must be addressed with respect to relationship formation in reality and
online. In both cases of the theories, the physicality of interaction is removed to include a
dimension that is abstract and dynamic. For example, Gibbs et al. (2010) clearly
acknowledges that online interaction is more asymmetrical and distinctly alters the rate at
which information is exchanged. Furthermore, Robinson (2007) indicates the online
“cyberself” results from collective contributions whereas, in reality, the concept of self
“is built on interrelated interactions that do not stand in isolation” (p. 104). Hence, it is
apparent that personal relationships are, indeed, developed online; nevertheless, the
manner in which they are achieved contrast the worlds of reality and cyberspace.
SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM UNCERTAINTY REDUCTION
References
Gibbs, J. L., Ellison, N. B., & Lai, C. (2010). First comes love, then comes google: An
investigation of uncertainty reduction strategies and self-disclosure in online
dating. Communication Research, 38(1), 70-100. doi:
10.1177/0093650210377091
Griffin , E. (2011). A first look at communication theory. (8 ed.). New York, NY:
McGraw-Hill Education.
Robinson , L. (2007). The cyberself: The self-ing project goes online, symbolic
interaction in the digital age. New Media & Society, 9(1), 93-110. doi:
10.1177/1461444807072216
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