Spiral of Silence Theory: Definition, Examples & Criticisms

Spiral of Silence Theory: Definition, Examples & CriticismsReviewed by Chris Drew (PhD)

This article was peer-reviewed and edited by Chris Drew (PhD). The review process on Helpful Professor involves having a PhD level expert fact check, edit, and contribute to articles. Reviewers ensure all content reflects expert academic consensus and is backed up with reference to academic studies. Dr. Drew has published over 20 academic articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education and holds a PhD in Education from ACU.

spiral of silence theory example and definition

The spiral of silence theory is a model of communication that explains the dynamic process by which individuals’ willingness to express their opinions publicly may change in response to the perceived majority or minority viewpoints (Noelle-Neumann, 1974).

According to the theory, individuals will be more confident and outward with their opinion when they see that it is shared by others.

Conversely, 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.

This can lead to a spiral of silence in which a minority opinion may become suppressed and ultimately disappear from public discourse. This changes the willingness of individuals to express their own opinions (Taylor, 1982).

Spiral of Silence Theory Definition

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.

According 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.

This can lead to a spiral of silence in which a minority opinion may become suppressed and ultimately disappear from public discourse.

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).

According 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.

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.

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.

Case Study: Coworker Political Discussion

Consider a group of coworkers discussing a controversial political issue at lunch.

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.

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.

The spiral of silence theory has been applied to a wide range of contexts, including political opinions, media coverage, and even consumer behavior.

Spiral of Silence Theory Examples

  • 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 individual may fear being ostracized or perceived as an outsider if they go against the perceived majority opinion and remain silent. This could lead to a spiral of silence, in which the minority opinion is suppressed and ultimately disappears from public discourse.
  • 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. 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 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 employee may fear being ostracized if they go against the perceived majority opinion and self-censor.
  • 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 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 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 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.
  • Social media debate: In a social media discussion about a controversial issue, an individual may be hesitant to express their minority viewpoint if they perceive that the majority of the comments are opposed to their stance. The individual may fear being ostracized or perceived as an outsider if they go against the perceived majority opinion and remain silent rather than speak out.
  • The pandering journalist: A journalist may be more likely to cover and amplify the viewpoints of certain political candidates or parties if they perceive that those viewpoints align with the majority opinion among their readership. The journalist may fear that expressing minority viewpoints or giving equal coverage to all candidates would result in a loss of readership or backlash from their audience, and as such, they may choose to self-censor their coverage to fit in with the perceived majority opinion. This thought process undermines their powerful role as a gatekeeper.
  • Businesses getting political: Small business owners may be less likely to express their support for certain social or political causes if they perceive that such views would be unpopular among their customer base. The business owner may fear losing customers or facing backlash if they go against the perceived majority opinion, and as such, they may choose to self-censor their views.
  • Regulations debate: During a discussion about government regulations, an individual may be hesitant to express their support for stricter regulations if they perceive that the majority of their social circle is opposed to such measures. The individual may fear being ostracized or perceived as an outsider if they go against the perceived majority opinion, and as such, they may choose to remain silent rather than speak out in favor of stricter regulations.
  • The politicized NGO: An employee at a nonprofit organization may be less likely to express their support for a certain political candidate or policy if they perceive that the majority of their coworkers and superiors disagree with that candidate or policy. The employee may fear

Criticisms of Spiral of Silence Theory

While the spiral of silence theory offers a useful framework for understanding the dynamic process of opinion expression and suppression, it is limited in its assumptions and fails to fully capture the complexity of opinion formation and change (Scheufle & Moy, 2000).

As such, it may be useful to consider other factors and approaches in understanding the group dynamics of public opinion and discourse.

Criticism 1

One major criticism of the spiral of silence theory is that it assumes a static majority and minority, with individuals simply conforming to the perceived majority opinion.

However, research has shown that majority and minority opinions can be fluid and dynamic, with individuals and groups influencing and shaping each other’s views through discussion and debate.

This challenges the notion of a static “climate of opinion” and suggests that the spiral of silence may not be as universal or inevitable as the theory originally proposed.

Criticism 2

Another criticism of the theory is that it does not adequately account for individual differences in personality, values, and communication styles, which may affect an individual’s willingness to speak out.

Some individuals may be more likely to speak out regardless of the perceived majority opinion, while others may be more hesitant to express their views even if they align with the perceived majority.

Conclusion

German political scientist Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann developed the spiral of silence theory.

The theory states that a person’s willingness to share their political opinions is affected by their understanding of what other people think about the same topic.

According to this theory, people influence one another’s willingness to express opinions through social interaction.

Individuals are more likely to speak out when they perceive their views to be shared by a group and less likely to do so when they perceive their views to be unpopular.

The theory proposes that people’s perception of the views of those around them shapes their confidence in expressing their opinions.

References

Glynn, C. J., Ostman, R. E., & McDonald, D. G. (1995). Opinions, perception, and social reality. Public Opinion and the Communication of Consent, 249–277.

Noelle-Neumann, E. (1974). The Spiral of Silence a Theory of Public Opinion. Journal of Communication, 24(2), 43–51. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.1974.tb00367.x

Scheufle, D. A., & Moy, P. (2000). TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF THE SPIRAL OF SILENCE: A CONCEPTUAL REVIEW AND EMPIRICAL OUTLOOK. International Journal of Public Opinion Research, 12(1), 3–28. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijpor/12.1.3

Taylor, D. G. (1982). Pluralistic Ignorance and the Spiral of Silence: A Formal Analysis. Public Opinion Quarterly, 46(3), 311–335. https://doi.org/10.1086/268729

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Tio Gabunia is an academic writer and architect based in Tbilisi. He has studied architecture, design, and urban planning at the Georgian Technical University and the University of Lisbon. He has worked in these fields in Georgia, Portugal, and France. Most of Tio’s writings concern philosophy. Other writings include architecture, sociology, urban planning, and economics.

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This article was peer-reviewed and edited by Chris Drew (PhD). The review process on Helpful Professor involves having a PhD level expert fact check, edit, and contribute to articles. Reviewers ensure all content reflects expert academic consensus and is backed up with reference to academic studies. Dr. Drew has published over 20 academic articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education and holds a PhD in Education from ACU.

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