The Experience and Expression of Uncertainty in Close Relationships

Description

Close relationships are an important and desired aspect of the human experience; however, as individuals pursue intimacy and connection with others, they will encounter a variety of questions about the nature, status, and future of their relationships. Consequently, uncertainty is an inevitable and unavoidable element of close relationships. It can arise in response to a variety of relational circumstances and can shape the ways that partners think, feel, and act toward one another. This book summarizes the expansive body of theoretical and empirical research regarding the nature of uncertainty, the conditions that promote uncertainty about relational involvement, and the emotional, cognitive, and communicative outcomes of uncertainty for individuals and their relationships. Based on the robust accumulation of data about uncertainty in close relationships, the book also offers recommendations for coping with ambiguous relational circumstances and proposes new directions for conceptualizing and studying uncertainty in close relationships.

Jennifer A. Theiss is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at Rutgers University, New Jersey. Her research has contributed to the development of relational turbulence theory, which focuses on conditions during transitions in close relationships that give rise to cognitive, emotional, and communicative turmoil. She is a Rutgers University Chancellor's Scholar and her scholarship has received several awards, including the Early Career Award from the Interpersonal Communication Division of the National Communication Association, the Distinguished Article Award from the International Association for Relationship Research, and the John Garrison Award for Interpersonal Communication Research in Applied Contexts.

'The scholarly tradition on uncertainty within interpersonal relationships is broad, complex, and interdisciplinary. Theiss does a superb job of weaving together the theoretical and empirical approaches characterizing the literature. The book is chock-full of careful description, key insights, and comprehensive synthesis. It is a must-read for researchers, practitioners, and students seeking to learn more about the interplay among cognition and communication.' Leanne Knobloch, University of Illinois 'This book is the perfect solution for scholars and students searching for a well-written, engaging, and comprehensive examination of uncertainty as a fundamental and pervasive part of personal relationships. Dr Theiss is an eloquent writer who masterfully weaves together the various threads of the uncertainty experience - from the conditions that promote uncertainty to the effects uncertainty has on communication, cognitions, and emotions. Theiss also provides an insightful analysis of the many of the issues that scholars have grappled with related to the uncertainty - from theoretical issues to operationalization concerns. I'm thrilled that such a book exists and can't wait to assign it in my classes!' Rachel McLaren, University of Iowa