3.1 Problematic Integration Theory

Problematic Integration (PI) theory: From the theories of planned behavior and reasoned action, we believe that we can predict people’s behaviors because people are assumed to be “rational”. However, there are communication substance that could input uncertainty and inconsistency expectations to predict human behavior.

• Goals:
  • find important and ubiquitous communication process
    
  • increase sophistication
    
  • encourage other ways of understanding
    
  • increase communicators’ empathy and compassion.
    
• Forms of PI:
  • Uncertainty
    
  • Diverging expectations and desires
    
  • Ambivalence
    
  • Impossible desires (theoretical vs. practical impossibility).
    
• Discussion regarding PI can deepen or hurt relationships
  
• Encounter PI, we can engage in presentational and avoidance rituals.
  
• PI defines uncertainty as “difficulty forming a mental association”. (Babrow and Matthias 2009)
  • form-specific adaptation of messages means “communicating in ways that speak to the precise dilemma.” (Babrow and Matthias 2009)

References

Babrow, A. S., and M. S. Matthias. 2009. “Generally Unseen Challenges in Uncertainty Management: An Application of Problematic Integration Theory.” Uncertainty, Information Management, and Disclosure Decisions: Theories and Applications.