The Uncertain Mind: Individual Differences in Facing the Unknown (Essays in Social Psychology)

Richard M. Sorrentino; Christopher J.R. Roney

ISBN 10: 0863776914 / ISBN 13: 9780863776915

Published by Psychology Press, 2000

About this Item

Hardcover, x + 194 pages, NOT ex-library. A small pictorial stamp on the title page. Sparse marginalia (short vertical lines, question marks) on 8 pages; few faint small marks from reading. Else interior is clean and bright with unmarked text, free of inscriptions, firmly bound. Boards show small areas of rubbing to the edges. Issued without a dust jacket. -- This book is a key text in social and personality psychology that explores how individuals differ in their psychological reaction to uncertainty. It challenges the traditional "universal" models of human behaviour by arguing that people possess distinct "uncertainty orientations" that dictate how they process information and make decisions. Core Theoretical Framework: Uncertainty Orientation - The authors categorise individuals into two primary groups based on how they face the unknown: Uncertainty-Oriented (UO): These individuals are motivated to resolve uncertainty; they actively seek out new information, enjoy discovery, and prefer to engage with things they do not yet understand. Certainty-Oriented (CO): These individuals are motivated to maintain clarity; they prefer familiar situations, rely on existing knowledge, and tend to avoid or ignore information that introduces ambiguity or challenges their current world-view. The book demonstrates how these orientations influence various domains of life: - Achievement and Motivation: It explains why some people are energised by difficult, uncertain tasks while others are only motivated when the outcome is predictable. - Social Cognition: The authors examine how uncertainty orientation affects how we judge others, process persuasive messages, and form stereotypes. - Close Relationships: It explores how these differences impact intimacy and communication between partners, especially when facing life transitions. - Group Dynamics: Analysis of how UO and CO individuals function within teams and how their differing styles can lead to either synergy or conflict. The book's primary contribution is its move away from "one-size-fits-all" psychology. It proves that a theory that works for an "average" person may fail completely when applied to a Certainty-Oriented individual. Integrative Model: It provides a "formal theory" that integrates motivation, cognition, and personality, making it a staple for researchers studying human behaviour and individual differences. Richard M. Sorrentino: A Professor Emeritus at the University of Western Ontario, he spent decades developing the Theory of Uncertainty Orientation.

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Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Uncertain Mind: Individual Differences in Facing the Unknown (Essays in Social Psychology)
• Publisher: Psychology Press
• Publication Date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0863776914
• ISBN 13: 9780863776915
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Good

About this title

Synopsis

This book discusses individual differences in how people react to uncertainty. The authors show that while some people are relatively comfortable dealing with uncertainty and strive to resolve it (uncertainty-oriented), others are more likely to avoid uncertainty, preferring the familiar or the known (certainty-oriented). They go on to examine the implications of an uncertainty orientation for understanding processes of self-knowledge, social cognition and attitude change, achievement, motivation and performance, interpersonal and group processes, and issues relating to physical and psychological health concerns. Research is discussed which links this uncertainty orientation to each of these issues, raising important practical and theoretical questions for each. The book also considers possible implications for people of both orientations of living in times that may be characterized as being uncertain.

About the Author

Sorrentino, Richard M.; Roney, Christopher J.R.