Uncertainty: A Catalyst for Growth

The older I get, the more settled I become with uncertainty. Living in the morass of complexity, we only grasp a sliver of available knowledge. The vulnerability of the unknown frightens the courageous and confounds the ignorant. Many in a wild chase to create stability where none exists boil down life to a meager selection of right and wrong, missing out on the richness of life. This approach limits learning, allowing rigid self-confining biases to rule their mind. To gain knowledge, learning an uncertainty must travel together.

F. Scott Fitzgerald once said, “The test of first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in the mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.”

When I observe the recent workings of the government—Congress, Supreme Court, and, especially, the White House—I shudder that so many ignorant men (and women) appear blind to their own tribal biases. “The democrats,” the republicans scoff; “the Republicans,” the democrats jeer, once they aligned with a political party, the elected official give way to anger and self-righteousness, bolstering an unshakable conviction of their rightness and the other’s wrongness. Ambiguity and compromise are out of the question. Instead of intelligent discussions, we hear the same hollow dogma while little meaningful work gets accomplished.

​The Psychological Dynamics Behind Uncertainty and Curiosity

Human beings are natural explorers. From the moment we are born, curiosity drives us to make sense of the world around us. Uncertainty, often viewed negatively, actually plays a pivotal role in motivating learning and discovery. Uncertainty is an intrinsic part of human experience, characterized by a lack of predictability or clarity regarding future outcomes. It can evoke a range of emotions, from anxiety to excitement, depending on the context and individual differences. While uncertainty can sometimes lead to discomfort, it also opens up a space for exploration and growth.

Voltaire put forward almost three centuries ago that:

“Uncertainty is an uncomfortable position. But certainty is an absurd one.”

In his great wisdom he recognized that uncertainty was a give of life. Most our certainty is not because we stumbles on an unshakable truth but because we have elevated an unproven idea to the unquestionable state of truth.

Thomas Gilovich, a professor of psychology at Cornell University, wrote: ​

“Information that is consistent with our pre-existing beliefs is often accepted at face value, whereas evidence that contradicts them is critically scrutinized and discounted” (Gilovich, 1993).

Rollo May warns:

“People who claim to be absolutely convinced that their stand is the only right one are dangerous. Such conviction is the essence not only of dogmatism, but of its more destructive cousin, fanaticism. It blocks off the user from learning new truth, and it is a dead giveaway of unconscious doubt. The person then has to double his or her protests in order to quiet not only the opposition but his or her own unconscious doubts as well” (May, 1994).

We make certain that which is not just so we can avoid the discomfort of uncertainty.

Uncertainty as a Catalyst for Curiosity

Curiosity is often described as a desire for new knowledge or experiences. When faced with uncertainty, our brains are prompted to seek information to fill the gaps in our understanding. This drive to resolve uncertainty is a fundamental aspect of curiosity. Studies in cognitive psychology have shown that when people encounter ambiguous or incomplete information, they are more likely to engage in behaviors aimed at resolving the ambiguity. This engagement is a crucial step in the learning process (Alquist & Baumeister, 2024).

Research suggests that uncertainty elevates emotions which focuses attention and increases effort (Alquist & Baumeister, 2024). Neurologically, uncertainty triggers the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. When we encounter something uncertain, our brains release dopamine, which not only makes us feel good but also motivates us to seek out more information. This dopamine-driven motivation enhances our learning capacity by making the process of discovery and problem-solving more rewarding.

See Embracing Doubt for more on this topic

Intolerance for Uncertainty

Individual tolerance for uncertainty varies. Some of these differences can be traced back to genetics. Early childhood experiences also contribute to our ability to tolerate the complexity of our uncertain lives. Research suggests that greater intolerance for uncertainty has several detrimental effects. Higher intolerances for uncertainty is positively related to vulnerability for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Parker & Ahrens, 2023). A meta-analysis found that intolerance of uncertainty was significantly related to higher rates of generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, panic disorder, depression symptoms, and eating disorders (Alquist & Baumeister, 2024).

Whatever our biological beginnings, we can increase our tolerance for uncertainty. And, this will enhance our wellness.

Managing Uncertainty in Learning

While uncertainty can be a powerful motivator, it is important to manage it effectively to prevent overwhelming learners. Excessive uncertainty can lead to anxiety and disengagement, undermining the learning process. Therefore, striking the right balance is crucial.

Abraham Maslow wrote:

“All the evidence that we have (mostly clinical evidence, but already some other kinds of research evidence) indicates that it is reasonably to assume in practically every human being, and certainly in almost every newborn baby, that there is an active will toward health, an impulse toward growth, or toward the actualization of human potentialities” (Maslow, 1993, p. 25).

While for some this innate drive to grow has been buried, many do not need to reach far to find and nurture the seed, giving life to a growth mindset.

Scaffolding and Support

Providing appropriate scaffolding and support can help learners navigate uncertainty without becoming overwhelmed. Scaffolding refers to the temporary support that educators provide to help learners accomplish tasks they cannot yet complete independently. Basically, uncertainty is not so frightening when we are holding the hand of someone with confidence and experience.

This support can take various forms, such as providing hints, asking guiding questions, or modeling problem-solving strategies. By gradually reducing the level of support as learners become more competent, educators can help students build confidence and resilience in the face of uncertainty.

See Zone of Proximal Development Theory for more on this topic

Encouraging a Growth Mindset

Fostering a growth mindset, the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort and learning, can also help learners embrace uncertainty. When students view challenges and uncertainties as opportunities for growth rather than threats, they are more likely to engage in the learning process and persist in the face of difficulties. Educators can promote a growth mindset by praising effort, encouraging persistence, and framing failures as learning opportunities.

See Growth Motivation for more on this topic

Defense Mechanisms to Protect Our Ignorance

We resolve our fear by splitting complex issues into simplified and opposing parts, and then align with one while rejecting the other. The splitting and rejecting gives the comfort of certainty by employing common defense mechanisms, creating a world where certainty doesn’t exist. While comforted in the ignorance, we sacrifice wisdom, and invite the hate of self-righteous indignation, robbing issues of complexity, richness and vitality. The splitting halts learning and prevents resolutions (Burgo, 2012).

Learning, gaining knowledge, only emerges from uncertainty. Learning reduces ambivalence, filling in the gaps. In the process, we must tolerate the uncertainty to allow ideas to germinate. With a careful balance of search and acceptance, we move forward without simple-minded acceptance, or constant doubt (Claxton, 1999, p. 6).

People that claim to have absolute certainty are dangerous. The certainty gives rise to dogmatism and fanaticism, demanding blind acceptance. These mindsets invite violence. Upon righteous convictions, many ills have stained mother earth. We see the blatant acts of the fools in our own country. These claims to certainty don’t allow for any political deviation from the narrow-minded view without igniting hatred, spawning threatening letters, and violent confrontations.

​Commitment and Uncertainty

​We can be committed to a cause without certainty. Rollo May states:

“Commitment is healthiest when it is not without doubts, but in spite of doubts” (May, 1994).

Commitment to a cause while still able to entertain doubts and listen to opposing arguments isn’t a contradiction. Our willingness to listen shows respect for the complexity of truth. Other morals remain active and can intervene when we see the harm of our cause. Lies by the leaders still appear as lies instead of contested with foolish arguments.

Associated Concepts

• Approach-Avoidance Theory: This theory suggests that individuals are motivated to approach desirable stimuli and to avoid undesirable ones.
• Self-Efficacy: Experiencing and overcoming doubt can strengthen one’s belief in their own ability to succeed in future tasks and challenges.
• Prospect Theory: This theory describes the way people make decisions under uncertainty. It suggests that individuals evaluate potential losses and gains relative to a reference point, rather than in absolute terms.
• Regulatory Focus Theory: This theory proposes that individuals differ in basic priorities for regulating emotion. He suggests that individuals are either promotion focused with an emphasis on growth, or prevention focused with an emphasis on safety and security.
• Motivational Orientation: This refers to an individual’s underlying motivation to accomplish tasks, goals, or activities. It reflects the underlying motivations that drive a person’s behavior and influence their choices.
• Behavioral Activation System (BAS): This is a neurological network, regulates goal-directed behavior, motivation, and reward processing. It interacts independently with the Behavioral Inhibition System, affecting personality and psychopathology.

A Few Words by Psychology Fanatic

Uncertainty, often perceived as a source of discomfort, can be a powerful motivator for learning. By stimulating curiosity and engagement, uncertainty drives individuals to seek out new information and experiences, leading to deeper understanding and growth. In educational settings, leveraging uncertainty through strategies such as problem-based learning and scaffolding can enhance students’ learning experiences and foster a love of discovery. Ultimately, embracing uncertainty as a natural and valuable part of the learning process can help individuals develop the skills and resilience needed to navigate an ever-changing world.

Come join me in the pools of uncertainty and open your minds for more than the same worn out arguments expected to be received without skepticism. Those whose views differ may not be as ignorant as we think, to be dismissed as unenlightened, for hidden in their thoughts may be knowledge we refuse to see. Learning and uncertainty create a dynamic loop, uncertainty prompts learning and learning creates more uncertainty.

Last Updated: December 18, 2025

References:

Alquist, Jessica; Baumeister, Roy (2024). Learning to Love Uncertainty. Current Directions in Psychological Science, OnlineFirst, 1. DOI: 10.1177/0963721424127953
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Burgo, Joseph (2012). Why Do I Do That?: Psychological Defense Mechanisms and the Hidden Ways They Shape Our Lives. New Rise Press. ISBN-10: 0988443120
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Claxton, Guy (1999). Hare Brain, Tortoise Mind: How Intelligence Increases When You Think Less. Ecco. ISBN-13:‎ 978-0060955410
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Maslow, Abraham H. (1993). The Farther Reaches of Human Nature. ‎Penguin; First Edition. ISBN-13: 978-0140194708 APA Record: 1993-98832-000
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May, Rollo (1994). The Courage to Create. W. W. Norton & Company; Revised ed. edition. ISBN: 978-0-393-31106-8; APA Record: 1976-26086-000
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Parker, S., & Ahrens, A. (2023). (Just Thinking of) Uncertainty Increases Intolerance of Uncertainty. Journal of Individual Differences, 44(1), 1-8. DOI: 10.1027/1614-0001/a000376
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