The Spiral of Silence Theory

Being alienated by friends and even strangers is not a good feeling. This can be particularly hurtful when the cause is having a differing opinion than the majority.

This demonstrates what is known as the Spiral of Silence Theory. When an individual is pressured into silencing oneself in fear of backlash from the majority, it creates a downward spiral affecting others to follow suit. The Theory was originally introduced by German political scientist, Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann, in 1974.

This phenomenon can have very detrimental consequences in social and organizational settings. It suppresses diverging opinions, which is crucial for growth within an organization. As we previously learned in the systems theory, organizations must be dynamic and open or they will die. A lack of discourse is a surefire way to expedite that process.

The spiral of silence is not limited to organizations. I have experienced this theory first hand within my various groups of friends. Conflict avoidance and apathy are just two of many viable reasons as to why people succumb to this theory. While the spiral of silence plays a part in many social interactions, it is just as important to know when to be vocal about one’s opinion.