Uncertainty, information‐seeking, and liking during initial interaction

Abstract

This study examined interlocutors’ uncertainty, information‐seeking, and liking for each other during initial interaction. Strangers met with each other for 2, 4, or 6 minutes. Subsequent to each conversation, participants’ uncertainty (global and specific) and liking for their partner were assessed. The final two minutes of each conversation were transcribed and coded in order to generate measures of question‐asking and self‐disclosure. Analysis of these data showed that (1) uncertainty decayed across interaction segments, (2) uncertainty reduction was associated with decreased use of question‐asking but with increased levels of disclosure, and (3) uncertainty and social attraction were inversely correlated. Implications of these findings for the usefulness and development of uncertainty reduction theory are discussed.