Uncertainty, anxiety, and avoidance in communication with strangers

Abstract

Anxiety/uncertainty management theory explains interpersonal and intergroup communication. It suggests that managing uncertainty and anxiety are central processes that affect our communication with strangers and that the anxiety and uncertainty that we experience when we communicate with others are related to each other. This research is concerned with the association of anxiety and uncertainty with avoidance in interpersonal and intercultural communication. The effect of anxiety and uncertainty on avoidance was examined through communication between strangers of the same and different cultures. The results indicate that anxiety and uncertainty are associated with avoidance in communication with strangers from both the same and different cultures. Furthermore, the data suggest that anxiety and uncertainty may be good predictors of avoidance. When studying communication between strangers of a different culture, anxiety and uncertainty were found to be associated with one another. Nevertheless, anxiety and uncertainty were not related to each other in communication between strangers of the same culture. These results provide partial support for AUM theory.