Exemplifying a Dispositional Approach to Cross-Cultural Spiral of Silence Research: Fear of Social Isolation and the Inclination to Self-Censor

Abstract

Abstract This article tests the cross-cultural generality of one tenet of spiral of silence theory using an individual difference approach. We argue that the spiral of silence phenomenon is, in part, a manifestation of individual differences in stable personality traits that can be measured universally regardless of country or context—specifically, fear of social isolation (FSI) and willingness to self-censor. In accordance with the theory’s predictions, we examine whether people relatively high in trait FSI are more likely to self-censor their opinions in hostile opinion environments than low FSI individuals. We tested this hypothesis using data from an international online sample of over 2,200 participants spread across four continents and nine countries. Results of partially measurement-invariant multigroup confirmatory factor analyses confirmed the prediction in all countries except for China.