“We never talk about that”: A comparison of cross‐sex friendships and dating relationships on uncertainty and topic avoidance

Abstract Uncertainty Reduction Theory (URT) proposes that individuals have a need to reduce uncertainty and that elevated levels of uncertainty are associated with relational dissatisfaction. Research on cross‐sex friendships suggests that these relationships may be characterized by elevated levels of uncertainty and topic avoidance. This investigation addresses the role of uncertainty as a theoretical construct that may be useful for explaining behavior in cross‐sex friendships. Specifically, we address the relationship between uncertainty and topic avoidance, and compare cross‐sex friendships and dating relationships on these variables. The results significantly extend past research on cross‐sex friendships and suggest that uncertainty may often be tolerated in cases where the expected information is undesirable.