Self-censorship and the ‘spiral of silence’: Why Americans are less likely to publicly voice their opinions on political issues
- Written by James L. Gibson, Sidney W. Souers Professor of Government, Washington University in St. Louis
Polarization has led many people to feel they're being silenced.AP Photo/Andrew HarnikFor decades, Americans’ trust in one another has been on the decline, according to the most recent General Social Survey.
A major factor in that downshift has been the concurrent rise in the polarization between the two major political parties. Supporters...