Spiral of Silence theory

The Spiral of Silence theory suggests that individuals are less likely to express their opinions if they believe they are in the minority. This fear of social isolation encourages people to stay silent, which can lead to a spiral where the dominant opinion becomes even more pronounced, pushing minority views further out of the public conversation. As a result, people may think that the prevailing opinion is more widely held than it actually is, making it harder for diverse perspectives to emerge. This theory highlights the impact of social pressure on public dialogue and opinion formation.