Spiral of silence
Etymology
Coined by German political scientist Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann in 1974 as "Schweigespirale." It draws on our fear of social isolation, which makes us monitor the climate of opinion and fall silent when we sense we are outnumbered. Flagged as a coinage.
noun phrase · /SPY-ruhl uv SY-luhns/
The tendency to stay quiet about an opinion you believe is in the minority, which makes that view seem even rarer and quiets it further.
What it names
Explains how a vocal majority — real or merely perceived — can mute dissent into a self-reinforcing hush; useful for reading public debate and social media.
Example
A spiral of silence took over the meeting — each skeptic assumed they were alone and swallowed their objection, so the plan passed unopposed.
Related idea
Compare pluralistic ignorance, the false read of what others think; the spiral of silence adds the dynamic of that misreading feeding on itself over time.