ABSTRACT
The surge of interest in uncertainty and information seeking is evidenced by the fact that at least 10 active programs of research in this area have either started or grown considerably in the past decade (Afifi, 2009). One of the more recent such programs is the development and subsequent testing of the theory of motivated information management (TMIM; Afifi & Weiner, 2004). To date, the theory has been tested for its utility as a perspective from which to understand information-seeking decisions across several contexts, including relationally relevant issues, broadly (Afifi, Dillow, & Morse, 2004), partner's sexual health status (Afifi & Weiner, 2006), family attitudes regarding organ donation (Afifi et al., 2006), and adolescent topic avoidance with parents (Afifi & Afifi, in press). The theory has also been the subject of several review chapters and encyclopedia entries (e.g., Afifi, 2009, in press; Afifi & Lucas, 2008). We have reflected, in several of these manuscripts, on the incompleteness in the coverage of emotion in the framework and have argued that revisions to the theory need to extend its reach in that domain. This chapter is our first effort to do so. The end product is a revision of the first two (of seven original) propositions in TMIM's structure and the addition of two new propositions—in other words, a significant change to the theory's propositional structure.
