Littlejohn - Chapter 6

From what I read on Littlejohn’s book titled “Communication Theories, Theories of Human Communication” chapter 6 (Conversation), I am interested in uncertainty reduction theory discussing the main process of how we know someone (page 218). We may have a strong curiosity to reduce the uncertainty about the person. In that situation, we tend to uncertain with the other’s capability to show the purpose and plan, the feeling, etc. Berger said that we are motivated to know the stranger by the information we can get.

I am interested in that theory because as the next Public Relations officer, I need to talk with someone new, even with the stranger. When we talk to the new one for the first time, maybe the people will not really enjoy to tell me his/her true feeling, purpose, plan, etc. This theory taught me this situation can be happen because of there is uncertainty within the self.

Due to the example (please kindly find the attachment), finding out a boy’s feeling, family background, and dream who sells broom everyday is not easy. Maria Yuniar, as the interviewer, need some opening question to “melt” the situation. Maria started the conversation by a “crunchy” question about his daily job as a broom seller and his age. Maria asked some questions about his siblings and the hometown of his parents. The conversation went on as a conversation between friend, became deeper and deeper until the boy told the interviewer about his youngest brother who had been adopted, his feeling as a broom seller, his feeling about he was the only one who could not afford a school picnic because there was no fund, until his dream and what he wants to say if he can meet The Education Minister Muhammad Nuh.

From the example above, I learnt that to know someone better, we should have trick to reduce the uncertainty. It takes a process, but it is interesting how to make a stranger become open to us.

Question: Why is there always uncertainty between the strangers?

References:

Littlejohn, Stephen W. and Karen A. Foss. Communication Theories, Theories of Human Communication. Indonesian Edition, 9^th Edition. Jakarta: Salemba Humanika, 2009.

Jakarta Globe. My Jakarta: ‘I Might Have a Job, but I Never Miss School Because of It’. 12 November 2010, page: A12.