Dealing with uncertain situations

ABSTRACT

There are two ways for a situation to be uncertain. Subjective uncertainty refers to not knowing facts. Objective uncertainty refers to future events that have not been determined yet. A wide ranging literature review finds that subjective uncertainty inhibits behavior, increases conserving resources and willpower, and stimulates search for information – though in crude, sometimes dysfunctional fashion. In contrast, objective uncertainty calls for action, reflected in agentic control, increased arousal, and greater willingness to take risks. Again, some responses are irrational, such as exerting more effort for less expected reward, and betting more on uncontrollable future than past events. With both kinds of uncertainty, attention is mobilized and emotion is prolonged. Our review uncovered multiple signs that some uncertainty is beneficial and heightens enjoyment as a kind of spice of life, or, in some cases, as a welcome hope that a bad outcome might still be avoided.

KEYWORDS:

• Uncertainty
• effort
• information-seeking
• risk
• conservation
• resources

Acknowledgments

We thank Amber McCord, Graphics Designer, Office of Research Services at TTU, for her help designing our figure.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).