Schweigespirale

The second edition of this textbook provides a profound yet easy to read introduction to the complex theory of the spiral of silence. Having been developed by Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann since the 1960s, this theory endeavours to explain how the predominant opinions in a society change and how the media influences them. Since its development, this theory has evoked the interest of researchers all over the world and has therefore been examined and analysed in countless studies using a diverse array of methods. This book explains the spiral of silence theory, the methods used to research it, the most significant findings on it, and its social and political consequences.