On Relationship Uncertainty

(As I sort my journals, some are traditional communication fields, which includes social scientific research in interpersonal communication.  These are fun to read.)

From:  Leanne K. Knobloch & Denise Haunani Solomon (2003) Responses to changes in relational uncertainty within dating relationships: Emotions and communication strategies, Communication Studies, 54:3, 282-305, DOI: 10.1080/10510970309363287

As previously noted, relational uncertainty is the extent to which people are
confident in the level of involvement they observe within a relationship (Knobloch &
Solomon, 1999, 2002a).

• Relational uncertainty exists on a global level as doubts about a relationship in general (Knobloch et al., 2001; Solomon & Knobloch, 2001), but relational uncertainty can also be elicited by specific episodes (Emmers & Canary,1996; Knobloch & Solomon, 2002b). 
• Fluctuations in relational uncertainty occur due to events such as unfaithfulness, unexpected acts of supportiveness, and changes in a partner's personality (Afifi & Metts, 1998; Emmers & Canary, 1996; Planalp et al, 1988). These diverse episodes exert a substantial influence on close relationships (Planalp & Honeycutt, 1985; Planalp et al, 1988).

Relational uncertainty stems from, three sources within ongoing associations
(Berger & Bradac, 1982; Knobloch & Solomon, 1999, 2002a).

• Self uncertainty encompasses the doubts people have about their own participation in the relationship, and partner uncertainty comprises the questions individuals have about a partner's involvement in the relationship. 
• Self and partner uncertainty are similarly structured around people's questions about their desire for relationship involvement, their evaluation of the relationship's value, and their goals for the future of the relationship (Knobloch & Solomon, 1999). 
• Relationship uncertainty involves the doubts individuals have about the dyad apart from either self or partner concerns. Relationship uncertainty includes ambiguity about norms for appropriate behavior, mutuality of involvement, the definition of the relationship, and the future of the dyad (Knobloch & Solomon, 1999). Relationship uncertainty exists at a higher level of abstraction than either self or partner uncertainty because it focuses on the dyad as a whole (Berger & Bradac, 1982).

A review of literature suggests that relational, uncertainty can be both beneficial
and detrimental to romantic relationships. Although people desire certainty and predictability within intimate associations (Berger & Roloff, 1.982; Davis & Todd, 1985), they also value uncertainty and novelty (Altaian, Vinsel, & Brown, 1981; Baxter & Montgomery, 1996). Similarly, whereas partners want the security of certainty, they also seek the excitement of uncertainty (Zimmer, 1986). To gain insight into the emotional experience of episodic fluctuations in relational uncertainty, the following
paragraphs review the rewards and costs of relational uncertainty.

Achieving an adequate level of relational certainty seems to be beneficial for participants in romantic relationships. According to Uncertainty Reduction Theory (URT), individuals communicate more effectively under conditions of certainty (Berger & Calabrese, 1975; Berger & Gudykunst, 1991). Moreover, dating partners who increase relational certainty by establishing exclusive commitment also report greater relationship satisfaction (Baxter & Bullis, 1986). In addition, people who possess a high degree of relational uncertainty may be less susceptible to the experience of jealousy (Afifi & Reichert, 1996; Knobloch et al., 2001). Consequently, relational certainty appears to be valuable to romantic relationships.

As additional evidence that relational certainty is beneficial, other research documents the harmful effects of relational uncertainty; URT suggests that uncertainty must be reduced as rapidly as possible for relationships to survive (see Berger, 1987). Accordingly, a substantial body of research demonstrates that uncertainty decreases both attraction and liking (Berger & Calabrese, 1975; Gudykunst, 1985; Gudykunst, Yang, & Nishida, 1985). Similarly, the majority of relational uncertainty increasing events are characterized by negative emotion and have detrimental long-term effects (Planalp & Honeycutt, 1985; Planalp et al., 1988). Indeed, the termination of courtships is associated with relational uncertainty due to both conflict (Siegert & Stamp, 1994) and lack of communication with the partner's social network (Parks & Adelman, 1983). In sum, relational uncertainty can produce stress, anxiety, fatigue, and negative outcomes for close relationships (Berger, 1987).

Whereas some evidence suggests that relational certainty is valuable to relationship development, other lines of research imply that relational uncertainty is a component of relationship health. Complete certainty would likely preclude feelings of excitement and romance (Berger, 1993; Byrne & Murnen, 1988; Livingston, 1980); indeed, boredom is one of the reasons people terminate their dating relationships (Baxter, 1986; Cody, 1982; Hill, Rubin, & Peplau, 1976). Not surprisingly, then, relationship maintenance is enhanced by engaging in novel activities to combat monotony (Baxter & Montgomery, 1996; Harvey, Wells, & Alvarez, 1978). Further, the prevalence of topic avoidance in close relationships may reflect the perception that ambiguity can be more desirable than certainty (Afifi & Burgoon, 1998; Baxter & Wilmot, 1985). In fact, White (1980; see also Brainerd, Hunter, Moore, & Thompson, 1996) reported that 24% of participants in his study intentionally tried to make a dating partner jealous in an attempt to stimulate the partner's uncertainty about the relationship, and, in turn, capture the partner's attention. Taken together, this evidence suggests relational uncertainty is beneficial because it corresponds with excitement, feelings of romance, participation in novel activities, and increased attention to partners.

The preceding discussion has revealed two sources of ambiguity regarding the emotional experience of fluctuations in relational uncertainty. First, prior research suggests that relational uncertainty can be both rewarding and costly for participants in dating relationships. Second, because this work typically characterizes relational uncertainty in terms of long-range outcomes, the extent to which distinct emotions coincide with the events is unknown. Fluctuations in relational uncertainty are emotionally volatile (Planalp & Honeycutt, 1985; Planalp et al, 1988); however, the specific emotions associated with these episodes have yet to be examined.