The individual may fear being ostracized or perceived as an outsider if they go against the perceived majority opinion and choose to self-censor their views. The political minority: During a political campaign, an individual may be less likely to express their support for a minority party candidate if they perceive that the majority of their community is supporting one of the two main political parties.The student may fear being ostracized or perceived as an outsider if they go against the perceived majority opinion and remain silent rather than speak out in favor of the speaker. The college minority: A college student may be hesitant to express their support for a controversial speaker on campus if they perceive that the majority of their classmates are opposed to the speaker’s views.The employee may fear being ostracized if they go against the perceived majority opinion and self-censor. The silenced employee: An employee at a large corporation may be less likely to express their support for stricter environmental regulations if they perceive that the majority of their coworkers and superiors are opposed to such regulations.The resident may fear being ostracized or isolated by the community if they go against the perceived majority opinion and remain silent rather than speak out against the project. The town hall meeting: During a town hall meeting, a resident may be hesitant to express their opposition to a proposed development project if they perceive that the majority of their neighbors support it.This could lead to a spiral of silence, in which the minority opinion is suppressed and ultimately disappears from public discourse. The individual may fear being ostracized or perceived as an outsider if they go against the perceived majority opinion and remain silent. Hesitancy to express political views: An individual may be hesitant to express their support for a certain political policy if they perceive that the majority of their community is opposed to it.The spiral of silence theory has been applied to a wide range of contexts, including political opinions, media coverage, and even consumer behavior. On the other hand, if the majority of the coworkers express opposition to the candidate or policy, an individual who supports it may be less likely to speak up, even if they strongly believe in it, to avoid standing out as a minority. If the majority of the coworkers express support for a certain political candidate or policy, an individual who disagrees with that candidate or policy may be less likely to express their opposing view, even if they strongly believe in it, out of fear of being isolated or ostracized by the group. This can lead to a feedback loop in which the media reinforces the perceived majority opinion, leading to further self-censorship among individuals with minority views, and ultimately contributing to a spiral of silence.Ĭase Study: Coworker Political DiscussionĬonsider a group of coworkers discussing a controversial political issue at lunch. In terms of media coverage, the theory suggests that media outlets may be more likely to cover and amplify certain opinions or perspectives if they believe they align with the perceived majority, while minority opinions may be underrepresented or ignored. One key aspect of the spiral of silence theory is the concept of a “climate of opinion,” or the perceived social norm or majority opinion within a particular social group or society at a given time (Glynn et al., 1995).Īccording to the theory, Individuals will often base their own opinions and willingness to express them on the perceived climate of opinion and may be more likely to speak out if they believe their views align with the majority, or more likely to self-censor if they believe their views are in the minority. This can lead to a spiral of silence in which a minority opinion may become suppressed and ultimately disappear from public discourse. The spiral of silence theory explains the dynamic process by which individuals’ willingness to express their opinions publicly may change in response to the perceived majority or minority viewpoints.Īccording to the theory, individuals have a natural fear of isolation and a desire to belong to their social group, and as such, they may self-censor their own opinions to fit in with the perceived majority or avoid standing out as a minority. Tio Gabunia (B.Arch, M.Arch) Spiral of Silence Theory Definition
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