Spiral of silence

High school (ages 12+)
Thinking & Learning

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/spiral-of-silence

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the Spiral of Silence?It is a theory that explains why people sometimes keep quiet when they think their opinion is different from most people. It shows how the fear of being alone can stop us from speaking up.
2. Why do people stay silent even if they disagree?Because they worry about being isolated or left out. The fear of not fitting in can be stronger than wanting to share their true thoughts.

Public Opinion: The aggregate of individual attitudes or beliefs held by a significant portion of a population regarding a particular issue or event.
Fear of Isolation: A psychological phenomenon where individuals suppress their opinions to avoid social ostracism or alienation from their peer group.
Quasi-statistical Sense: An individual's intuitive, non-empirical perception of the prevailing trends and strength of public opinion within a social environment.
Hardcore Group: A segment of the population whose opinions remain steadfast and are unaffected by social pressures or perceived shifts in public opinion.