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Spiral of Silence

What is the Spiral of Silence?

The spiral of silence is a theory in the field of communication and psychology that proposes that people are more likely to stay silent about their opinions on controversial or sensitive issues if they believe that their views are not widely shared by others. The theory suggests that people are afraid of being ostracized or punished for expressing views that are seen as unpopular, and as a result, they may be less likely to speak out about those views.

The spiral of silence theory suggests that this reluctance to express unpopular views can create a "spiral of silence" in which the expression of certain views becomes increasingly rare and marginalized. This can lead to a situation in which a small minority of people are able to dominate the public discourse on a given issue, while the views of the majority remain unheard.

The spiral of silence theory has been applied to a wide range of contexts, including political communication, media studies, and social psychology. It is often used to explain why certain voices and viewpoints may be underrepresented in the media or in other public forums, and it has implications for the way in which public opinion is formed and expressed.

The spiral of silence is a key concept in the field of communication and psychology, and it is an important factor to consider when studying the way in which public opinion is shaped and expressed.





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