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Symbolic interaction theory

The theory of symbolic interactionism was proposed by George. Mead. People respond not only to the actions of other people, but also on their intentions, "Unraveling" the intentions of others, analyzing their actions, as it were "putting yourself in the other person," "assuming the role of the other."

From the perspective of symbolic interactionism, the interaction between people is seen as an ongoing dialogue, during which they observe, comprehend each other's intentions and react to them.

Symbolic interactionism (Blumer G., A. Rose, G. Stone, A. Strauss et al.) In their theoretical constructions makes the emphasis on linguistic or substantive side of communication, especially on the role of language in shaping the consciousness of man's self and society.

The symbols may make gestures that nature J. Mead divides into insignificant and significant:

- insignificant gestures - a gesture that may cause reactions in which there is practically no idea. In other words, the actions of one person can stimulate the unconscious actions of the other;

- a significant gesture, above all, sound gestures, especially the specific words of the language. Meaningful gestures contribute to the development of human society, as lead to meaningful interaction.

Why I chose this theory? Because that is an attempt to consider all the various human communication with things, nature, other people, groups of people and society as a communication mediated by symbols.

We live in a society of people. Every day we have to communicate with people. The individual, the person is always social, that is, a person can not be formed outside society.

A similar understanding of the words, gestures and other symbols facilitates interaction, allows us to interpret each other's behavior. Understanding each other's behavior, people change their behavior, adapting their actions to the actions of another, coordinating their activities with other people, learning to see themselves through the eyes of the group being trained to take into account other people's expectations.

Uncertainty reduction theory

The uncertainty reduction theory, also known as initial interaction theory, developed in 1975 by Charles Berger and Richard Calabrese, is a communication theory from the post-positivist tradition. It is one of the only communication theories that specifically looks into the initial interaction between people prior to the actual communication process.The theory asserts the notion that, when interacting, people need information about the other party in order to reduce their uncertainty. In gaining this information people are able to predict the other's behavior and resulting actions, all of which according to the theory is crucial in the development of any relationship.

Within the theory two types of uncertainty are identified; cognitive uncertainty and behavioral uncertainty. There are three interactive strategies which people may use to seek information about someone, these are passive, active, or interactive. Furthermore, the initial interaction of strangers can be broken down into individual stages—the entry stage, the personal stage, and the exit stage. According to the theory, people find uncertainty in interpersonal relationships unpleasant and are motivated to reduce it through interpersonal communication.

The theory seemed to me interesting because we all feel sometimes insecurity and fear in communication.

Interaction with unfamiliar people, especially with the representatives of outgroups accompanied by great psychological stress, feelings and fear than with familiar people.

We have an alarm occurs, the uncertainty due to the inability to predict the future course of the communication process and its results. The state of human can be described as stressful.

If the uncertainty is too great, then people will either avoid contact, or to take care first of all about the impression they make on the interlocutor, and then stop to think about the act of communication. But when anxiety and excitement will not be at all, people also stop to think about the process of communication. Effective communication must be peculiar to a certain optimum level of uncertainty.