Wheresmysocks (talk | contribs) Expanding slightly, adding assumptions made. (My first edit.) |
m media is plural! |
||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
The '''spiral of silence''' is a [[political science]] and [[mass communication]] theory propounded by [[Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann]]. According to this theory, a person is less likely to voice their opinion on a topic if they feel they are in the minority because they fear reprisal or isolation from the majority. |
The '''spiral of silence''' is a [[political science]] and [[mass communication]] theory propounded by [[Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann]]. According to this theory, a person is less likely to voice their opinion on a topic if they feel they are in the minority because they fear reprisal or isolation from the majority. |
||
The media |
The media play a large part in determining what the dominant opinion is, since our direct observation is limited to a small percentage of the population. As the media's coverage of the majority opinion becomes the status quo, the minority becomes less likely to speak out. Conversely, as one feels their position gaining popularity, they become more and more likely to speak about it. |
||
The theory assumes that people are constantly assessing the public's opinion and that they use the media to do so. It also assumes that we have an inherent fear of isolation and know what opinions will bring on isolation by the majority. The theory neglects to explain a vocal minority that does not fear reprisal. |
The theory assumes that people are constantly assessing the public's opinion and that they use the media to do so. It also assumes that we have an inherent fear of isolation and know what opinions will bring on isolation by the majority. The theory neglects to explain a vocal minority that does not fear reprisal. |
Revision as of 19:09, 25 October 2004
The spiral of silence is a political science and mass communication theory propounded by Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann. According to this theory, a person is less likely to voice their opinion on a topic if they feel they are in the minority because they fear reprisal or isolation from the majority.
The media play a large part in determining what the dominant opinion is, since our direct observation is limited to a small percentage of the population. As the media's coverage of the majority opinion becomes the status quo, the minority becomes less likely to speak out. Conversely, as one feels their position gaining popularity, they become more and more likely to speak about it.
The theory assumes that people are constantly assessing the public's opinion and that they use the media to do so. It also assumes that we have an inherent fear of isolation and know what opinions will bring on isolation by the majority. The theory neglects to explain a vocal minority that does not fear reprisal.