Causal uncertainty during initial interactions

Abstract

Causal uncertainty (CU) refers to persistent doubts people have about their ability to understand causes of social events. Although such confusion about social dynamics should affect social exchanges, previous research has been limited to the realm of social cognition (i.e., computer‐based studies exploring perceptions of hypothetical others). In three studies, we explored CU effects during real‐time social interactions with unacquainted conversational partners. We found that high CU participants perceived their conversations and conversational partners more negatively than did low CU participants and that these negative social perceptions stemmed from an inability to sufficiently reduce their cognitive uncertainty. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Doubt Begets Doubt: Causal Uncertainty as a Predictor of Relational Uncertainty in Romantic Relationships

“…However, Knobloch (2007) also suggested that ''people's doubts about themselves may lead them to feel more insecure about their relationships'' (p. 42), suggesting that people who experience other types of chronic uncertainty might be more likely to experience RU. Although researchers have examined how various types of uncertainty might be related to cognitive and behavioral uncertainty (i.e., doubts about thoughts= feelings, and about how to act=react during social interactions, respectively) during initial interactions (e.g., Boucher & Jacobson, 2012;Douglas, 1994), research has yet to examine the relationship between these dispositional forms of uncertainty and RU.…”

“…However, more recent research suggests that causally uncertain people experience difficulties reducing their cognitive and behavioral uncertainty during actual social exchanges. For example, Boucher and Jacobson (2012) found that high CU participants reported more doubts about their own thoughts and feelings, as well as about their conversational partner's thoughts and feelings, following a brief interaction with a same-sex stranger. In turn, these doubts led to more negative appraisals of the conversation and conversational partner.…”

“…Moreover, CU is positively related to insecure attachment (Passey, Jacobson, Edwards, & Hickey, 2008) and depressive symptoms (e.g., Boucher & Jacobson, 2012), both of which predict RU Knobloch et al, 2001), so it seems plausible that these difficulties might stem from difficulties managing their RU. That is, causally uncertain people may be more likely to question the level of involvement in their relationship, making them more vulnerable to the challenges associated with such heightened levels of RU.…”

“…Both members of a romantic couple were recruited to complete an online survey assessing the three sources of RU, their perceptions of relationship quality, CU, depression, and attachment. Given that high CU participants report higher levels of uncertainty in other relationships (Boucher & Bassett, 2013;Boucher & Jacobson, 2012), I predicted that higher levels of CU would be associated with higher levels of RU (H1). These higher levels of RU should then reduce perceived relationship quality (Knobloch, 2008), so I further predicted that higher levels of CU would be associated with more negative perceptions of relationship quality (H2), and that RU would mediate the relationship between CU and relationship quality (H3).…”

Sharing Extraordinary Experiences Fosters Feelings of Closeness

“…However, such a presumption neglects one key aspect of early interactions. Although getting to know another person is often a neutral or slightly positive experience, it can simultaneously be somewhat uncomfortable or awkward, as individuals know little about their interaction counterpart and are unsure about how the interaction will unfold (Berger & Calabrese, 1975; Boucher & Jacobson, 2012; Fraley & Aron, 2004; Graham, 1995). Accordingly, we believe that focusing one’s attention on the social interaction and how one feels about it may actually backfire, increasing rumination over the discomfort and awkwardness associated with the interaction.…”