The Spiral of Silence Theory

Participating and being involved in a group is a normal part of life for almost every person in the world. People are always engaging and taking part in groups. Groups are formed in school, clubs, sports, church, work, etc. The spiral of silence theory is a theory that deals with the interaction of group members inside groups like these. According to an online communication theory workbook, the spiral of silence is a theory that explains why people often feel the need to conceal their opinions and views when they fall within the minority of a group. Another communication website, Changing Mind, adds to the communication theory workbooks definition by writing, “People will be unwilling to publicly express their opinion if they believe they are in the minority. They will also be more vocal if they believe they are apart of the majority.” However, this theory is not completely true. When moral issues arise in a group, minority group members will have the courage to speak out. There are a few past and present instances that show that when the minority is faced with issues that challenge their beliefs and morals, they stood up and spoke out. Examples that will be discussed which are contrary to the spiral of silence theory will include the American Revolution, Joseph Smith Jr., the three against Hitler, and a few minority groups.

The spiral of silence theory may hold true on issues or matters people feel are insignificant or not important enough to make a big deal out of. An example of this would be if a group of people where everyone does not know each other go out to dinner to a pizza place and order a pizza. If the majority of the group likes sausage, but the minority of one or two people does not, they may not speak up just because it may not be worth making a big deal out of it or drawing unwanted attention to themselves.


The American Revolution does not support the spiral of silence theory. The minority, American Patriots, sought for liberty and freedom. They were ruled by a tyrant who made laws that benefited himself more than the people as a whole. The majority of the people under the rule of England were content with how things were going. The Minority spoke up. Men like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, etc. spoke up and took action.

One of the ways Thomas Paine spoke up and raised his views and opinion toward separating from England and the tyrannical rule of the King was by writing a pamphlet titled "Common Sense." Many Americans were not as adamant as Paine or had the same views, but he wrote this pamphlet for them, and to strengthen the minorities resolve to be free. In the introduction it says about "Common Sense," “Its message sought out the heart of what was politically, ethically, morally, and practically wrong with English control of and interference with the American colonies,” (Common Sense, v). Paine writes, “Wherefore, since nothing but blows will do, for God’s sake, let us come to a final separation…” (Common Sense, 25). Thus, the American Revolution, and Thomas Paine are examples that do not support the spiral of silence theory.

Another example that shows that the spiral of silence theory is not completely true is the life of Joseph Smith Jr. Joseph Smith was born December 23, 1805. At the age of 14, he had a desire to know which of all the churches were true. After pondering, investigating other churches, and studying the scriptures, Joseph Smith decided to pray and inquire of God to know which Church was true. While he was praying the heaven’s opened and Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ appeared to him, and told him that no church on the earth had the complete truth, as well as many other things. After this vision he wrote, “I soon found, however, that my telling the story had excited a great deal of prejudice against me among professors of religion, and was the cause of great persecution, which continued to increase; though I was an obscure boy, only between fourteen and fifteen years of age…and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true; and while they were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me falsely for so saying…I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it...” (Joseph Smith History, 50-51).

Smith, who was the minority, stood by what he believed. Even though most the people did not believe him and persecuted him, he did not deny his beliefs. Smith’s story also shows that even if someone is young, even if they are the only ones to believe, they will speak up for what they believe and be open with their opinions.

The spiral of silence theory was critiqued by an online communications website. In the website’s critique they write that the spiral of silence theory is pretty accurate, but not exactly accurate because it leaves room for exceptions. The website writes, “The Spiral of Silence theory is a scientific theory that for the most part is quite sound in situations in which opinions are not of great consequence. For example, if my opinion is a strong conviction and I am unwilling to bend in my beliefs then the theory may not apply to me to such an extent.”

One exception is the story of the three boys in Germany during WWII who took a stand, and spoke up against Hitler the Nazis for what they believed. Even though they could have easily kept quite, they did not. Their choice to speak out for what they believed meant they would suffer many hardships. They were imprisoned, tried, and eventually one of the boys was executed. Jeff Lindsay, a journalist, wrote in an article Three Against Hitler: Questions for Our Day, “When does one stand up against a tyrannical government, when speaking out may cost you your life?...Ruddi Wobbe’s (one of the three boys) experience as a young teenager…had the courage to speak out against the Hitler Regime…three Mormon teenagers who heroically stood up and spoke out against the Nazis.” This story is another example of when young men were faced with a moral issue they rose up with moral courage to speak out for what they believed. The

Today there are many minority groups that have repeatedly spoken up against other majority groups. In 1917 woman suffragists picketed the White House. There are also gay and lesbian protestors raising their voices for equal rights. According to Indiana University’s political science website they write, “The modern gay and lesbian movement was born in the New York City Stonewall riots of 1969. More than 30 years after what began as an angry and disorganized appeal for basic human dignity, gays and lesbians have entered the mainstream of American politics. Twice a year in Salt Lake City at Temple Square minority groups can be found with painted signs and protesting against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Being in the minority does not seem to keep these groups from raising their voices against the mainstream opinions.

All over people who are in the minority are speaking out. When an individual or individual’s feel that their beliefs or moral values they hold dear are being challenged they almost always voice their opinion. In a survey taken by 20 students at Brigham Young University, 10 males and 10 females were asked what they would do if they were in a group such as a team and the conversation turned to topics concerning moral issues such as abortion, gay and lesbian rights, and church where the majority of the group had opposing views or beliefs than they did. 18 of the 20, 90%, said they would say something. This survey also brought up insightful ideas as to what influences people to speak up. All twenty surveyed were religious, and had a firm belief in their faith. All ten of the males said they would speak up. This could mean that religiousness and gender may influence whether a person will be more likely to speak up.

Nick Scano, one of the students, related a story that illustrates the principle that when someone has a firm moral belief they are more likely to speak up. He said that the other day when he was eating lunch with his friend Peter Anderson. Both he and Peter are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They both believe that people should use clean language. While they were eating lunch a large group of construction workers were talking loudly and using unclean and vulgar language. “Peter stood up and walked over to their group, and asked them to please use cleaner language,” Scano said. “They were angry at first, but in the end they apologized and started using cleaner language.” Other research has been done to show that the spiral of silence theory is not always correct.

A journal by Jeffres, L., Neuendorf, K.A., and Atkin, D. detailed a field study in which Noel-Neumann’s spiral of silence theory was adapted to a case of racially polarized and highly publicized opinions on the O.J. Simpson trial. The article, entitled, “Spiral of Silence: Expressing Opinions When the Climate of Opinion is Unambiguous,” The results from the experiment concluded that the spiral of silence theory was not completely correct. The minority opinion holders were not afraid to speak out.

Other journal articles have been published about the spiral of silence theory. As well in another article written by William Harlow in a Journal titled, “Encyclopedia of Public Relations,” he writes, “Two points are important to make here. First, spiral of silence theory does not completely explain public behavior. Examples abound of products that have been marketed as the “rebel” or otherwise atypical choice…However, the…theory does not explain human behavior universally…Continuing research in this theory will likely further explore the question of how attitudes change over time and how this influences the willingness to speak publicly on any issue.” Research, such as this shows that the spiral of silence theory is not completely accurate.

In an online article, written by Jill Martin and Karin Peters from the University of South Carolina write about the spiral of silence theory according to others who have done research in this area. They write that Daniel Lasorsa, who wrote the article, “Political outspokenness: Factors working against the spiral of silence,” argues against the ideas made by Noelle-Neumann’s spiral of silence theory, “It is circumstances such as political interest, self-efficacy, firmness of views, and the use of the media that determine a person’s willingness to voice his opinions…” Martin and Peters continue to write, “Although the spiral of silence theory has been tested, analyzed, agreed with, and argued against many times since Elizabeth Noelle-Neumann introduced it to the world of mass communications, it will continue to be poked and prodded for years to come.”

The spiral of silence theory raises a few good points and has some truth to it, but when people are faced with moral issues that challenge their beliefs, convictions, views, they will be willing to speak out.

In summary and conclusion, the spiral of silence theory says that when people are in the minority they will be unwilling to publicly voice their opinions. However, through examples like the American Revolution, Joseph Smith Jr., the three against Hitler, minority group protestors, and various research, the spiral of silence theory fails. The spiral of silence theory may contain some truth, but is not completely true. In situations when moral values and firm beliefs are discussed even if the person or people are in the minority they will have the courage to speak up.

Works Cited

Jeffres, L., Neuendorf, K.A., Atkin, D. (1999). "Spiral of Silence: expressing opinions when the climate of opinion is unambiguous." Political Communication.

Retrieved October 31, 2007 http://www.uky.edu/~drlane/capstone/mass/spiral.htm

Retrieved October 31, 2007 http://changingminds.org/explanations/theories/spirals_silence.htm

Retrieved November 24, 2007 http://com.hilbert.edu/students/papers/carolina-1999/1999spiral.html

Larsora, D. L. (1991). Political outspokenness: Factors working against the spiral of silence. Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, 68, 131–140.

Harlow, William. (2005). Spiral of Silence Theory. Encyclopedia of Public Relations,2, 804 – 806.

Paine, Thomas. (1997). Common Sense. Dover Publications. Mineola, New York. Retrieved

November 27, 2007 http://www.indiana.edu/~glbtpol/steve/y396syll.html Retrieved

November 27, 2007 http://www.timesandseasons.org/archives/001208.html Smith, Joseph. Joseph Smith – History. History of the Church, 1, Chapters 1 – 5.