Observing the "Spiral" in the Spiral of Silence

The spiral of silence effect describes individuals’ tendency to silence minority opinions, whilst using the media to gauge majority opinion. While the spiral of silence effect has been explored in controversial political contexts, the phenomenon has not been scrutinized in its relation to religious communication. The current study applies this concept to further the current understanding of communication as it applies to religion. A questionnaire was distributed electronically to 94 students at a large university in the southeastern United States. Using survey methods, this paper finds that religiosity is positively correlated to willingness to communicate about religion. This paper also finds that media exposure is not related to either willingness to communicate about religion or religiosity.

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A Cross-cultural Test of the Spiral of Silence Theory in Singapore and the United States1

Asian Journal of Communication ◽

10.1080/0129298042000256758 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 205-226 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Waipeng Lee ◽

Benjamin H. Detenber ◽

Lars Willnat ◽

Sean Aday ◽

Joseph Graf

Keyword(s):

Cross Cultural ◽

Spiral Of Silence ◽

The Spiral Of Silence

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Using the "L-Word" in Public: A Test of the Spiral of Silence in Conservative Orange County, California

Public Opinion Quarterly ◽

10.1086/269313 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 56 (2) ◽

pp. 232 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Cheryl Katz ◽

Mark Baldassare

Keyword(s):

Orange County ◽

Spiral Of Silence ◽

The Spiral Of Silence ◽

L Word

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Why Do Partisan Audiences Participate? Perceived Public Opinion as the Mediating Mechanism

Communication Research ◽

10.1177/0093650215593145 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 45 (1) ◽

pp. 112-136 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Shira Dvir-Gvirsman ◽

R. Kelly Garrett ◽

Yariv Tsfati

Keyword(s):

Public Opinion ◽

Presidential Elections ◽

Media Exposure ◽

Positive Outcome ◽

Selective Exposure ◽

Spiral Of Silence ◽

Behavioral Measures ◽

The Spiral Of Silence ◽

Partisan Media ◽

The One

The bulk of current literature on partisan media explores its various detrimental influences on the democratic sphere. This study highlights a possible positive outcome of partisan media consumption: enhanced political participation. It is hypothesized that consumption of congruent partisan media will tilt perceptions of opinion climate so that it is viewed as more supportive of one’s views, while consumption of incongruent partisan media is viewed as less supportive. Consequently, consumers of congruent partisan media will participate more, and vice versa. The hypotheses are tested using two panel studies: the first conducted during the 2012 U.S. presidential elections ( N = 377) whereas the second, during the 2013 Israeli election ( N = 340). In the Israeli case, survey data are supplemented with behavioral measures. All hypotheses are supported except the one regarding the effects of incongruent partisan media exposure. The results are discussed in light of the spiral of silence theory and the selective exposure hypothesis.

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Does online incivility cancel out the spiral of silence? A moderated mediation model of willingness to speak out

New Media & Society ◽

10.1177/1461444820954194 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 146144482095419

Author(s):

Gina M Masullo ◽

Shuning Lu ◽

Deepa Fadnis

Keyword(s):

Emotional Responses ◽

Moderated Mediation ◽

Emotional Reactions ◽

Spiral Of Silence ◽

Mediation Model ◽

Online Experiment ◽

Moderated Mediation Model ◽

The Spiral Of Silence

This study tested whether different negatively valenced emotional reactions—feeling angry or depressed—to incivility produce varying intentions to speak out. A related goal was to assess whether these emotional responses led to intentions to speak out regardless of whether one holds a minority or majority viewpoint. Results of an online experiment ( N = 1126) showed that intentions to speak out varied based on the intensity of the emotional responses people had after being exposed to incivility. Specifically, when uncivil messages produced lower levels of either emotion—anger or depression—people were less likely to speak out, regardless of opinion climate. However, if emotional responses were more intense for either emotion, people were more likely to speak out, regardless of opinion climate.

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