La espiral del silencio. La opinión pública y los efectos de los medios de comunicación

Abstract

Neither colloquial discourse nor specialized language convey sufficient meaning in order to be able to do without public opinion, whose essence resides in that it is a process which implies assuring the cohesion and integration of societies and groups and thus the survival of communities and their ability to act. Without public opinion, understood as rationality and social control, people would be isolated vis-vis controversial areas implying values, as is the case in dictatorial regimes.