The Uncertain Mind: Individual Differences in Facing the Unknown

Uncertainty is a major force in our lives. Whether it be regarding social relationships, our jobs, or our sense of who we are, these are uncertain times. This new book deals directly with how people cope with 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 these orientations 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 linking this uncertainty orientation to each of these issues, raising important practical and theoretical questions for each. The Uncertain Mindpresents some fifteen years of research devoted to understanding the dynamics ofuncertainty orientation. It will be important reading not only for those directly involved in the fields of social motivation and social cognition, but also for a broad range of people across the field of psychology.