Problematic integration theory: Difference between revisions

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'''Problematic integrationIntegration theoryTheory''' is a [[Outline of communication|theory of communication]] that addresses the [[Process|processes]] and dynamics of how people receive, evaluate, and respond to information and experiences. The premises of PI are based on the view that message processing, specifically the development of probabilistic and evaluative orientations (our perceptions of something's likelihood of occurring and its value, respectively), is a [[social]] and [[Culture|cultural]] construction. In situations where there is agreement between probabilistic orientation (a person's constructed belief about an object's likelihood, i.e., how likely something is to occur) and evaluative orientation (a person's constructed belief about an object's value), integration is in harmony, i.e., not problematic. However, when there is disagreement between these orientations about an object (i.e., an event, thing, person, idea, outcome, etc.), then integration becomes problematic. This disharmony leads to [[Conflict (process)|conflict]] and [[discomfort]], which can manifest itself as cognitive, communicative, affective, and/or motivational.

== History ==

[https://www.ohio.edu/scripps-college/comm-studies/about/faculty-student/babrow Austin Babrow]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20081014234303/http://coms.ohiou.edu/austin-babrow Austin Babrow, Ph.D.], Ohio University (archived)</ref> first introduced the [[theory]] of Problematic Integration (PI) in 1992. Babrow brought together a diverse and [[Interdisciplinarity|interdisciplinary]] literature (from the field of [[Communication theory|communication]] and related disciplines, like [[psychology]], [[sociology]], and [[philosophy]]) to serve as building blocks for his new theory. Among the theoretical underpinnings that support PI are: [[uncertainty reduction theory]]; the theory of belief in a just world; analysis of decision-making; the theory of and motivation and self-esteem; and [[cognitive dissonance]]. However, despite integrating elements from these theories, PI has striking differences (e.g., unlike URT, PI does not assume that uncertainty is an undesirable situation, nor does it suggest that resolution of uncertainty is always necessary or desirable).<ref>Bradac, James J.; “Theory Comparison: Uncertainty Reduction, Problematic Integration, Uncertainty Management, and Other Curious Constructs”, ''[[Journal of Communication]]'', September 2001, Vol. 51, No. 3, pp. 456-476.</ref>

== Concepts ==