{"id":19456,"date":"2025-03-05T18:15:55","date_gmt":"2025-03-05T18:15:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/?p=19456"},"modified":"2025-03-05T18:21:28","modified_gmt":"2025-03-05T18:21:28","slug":"how-self-silencing-opinions-impacts-behavior-new-study","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/how-self-silencing-opinions-impacts-behavior-new-study\/","title":{"rendered":"How Self-Silencing Opinions Impacts Behavior: New Study"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-blockquote uagb-block-e7eb3fc3 uagb-blockquote__skin-border uagb-blockquote__stack-img-none\"><blockquote class=\"uagb-blockquote\"><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__content\">A recent study by Ohio State University reveals how individuals who self-silence their minority opinions in conversations may act against their beliefs. Learn how this behavior impacts public perception and why open discourse matters.<\/div><footer><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__author-wrap uagb-blockquote__author-at-left\"><\/div><\/footer><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b0ffac9c wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-size:16px\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-author\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\">The University Network<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share uagb-social-share__outer-wrap uagb-social-share__layout-horizontal uagb-block-ee584a31\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-ec619ce7\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.8 90.69 226.4 209.3 245V327.7h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.3 482.4 504 379.8 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-32d99934\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"twitter\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-1d136f14\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"linkedin\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People who hold minority opinions on contentious issues often refrain from voicing their thoughts, leading them to act contrary to their beliefs, according to a new study by researchers from The Ohio State University. This phenomenon, known as &#8220;self-silencing,&#8221; can have significant implications on personal behavior and public perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The study, recently <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S0272494425000386\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">published<\/a> in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, examined the behavior of 248 undergraduate students who discussed their views on increasing plant-based food options at Ohio State\u2019s dining facilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Amid a strong campus culture supporting sustainability and plant-based diets, participants were paired with confederates posing as fellow students who either supported or opposed the proposal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The researchers found that students with minority viewpoints were reluctant to elaborate on their position during these discussions and exhibited behaviors inconsistent with their true beliefs afterward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;We found that those with the minority belief didn\u2019t just refrain from speaking up \u2013 they conformed their behavior to the majority, which is very consequential,&#8221; co-author Nicole Sintov, an associate professor of behavior, decision making and sustainability at Ohio State, said in a news release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Participants in the study were first asked to rate their support for expanding plant-based food options on a scale from 1 (very opposed) to 7 (very supportive). They were then informed they would discuss this topic with another student, unaware that their conversation partners were part of the research team and instructed to present standardized arguments either for or against the proposal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Interestingly, students with minority views expressed fewer unique arguments and employed avoidance tactics, such as feigning uncertainty or changing the subject. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;If you don\u2019t speak up with your true opinion, then you\u2019re not processing the conversation as deeply,\u201d Sintov added. \u201cYou\u2019re not analyzing and thinking and reflecting on the information in the conversation in the same way that you might if you did speak up.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After the discussion, participants engaged in a task to support their stated position by clicking a mouse to raise funds for the plant-based food initiative. Surprisingly, those who opposed the initiative clicked as many times as those who supported it, indicating a conformity of behavior contrary to their stated beliefs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The study underscores the broader consequences of self-silencing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;It leads to a public perception that the minority viewpoint doesn\u2019t exist \u2013 it is less important,&#8221; Sintov added. \u201cIt becomes this vicious cycle where people\u2019s true thoughts aren\u2019t expressed and the public belief is the majority opinion is overwhelming and can\u2019t be changed.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The study was led by Kristin Hurst, a former Ohio State postdoctoral researcher&nbsp;who&#8217;s now a faculty member at Southern Illinois University. Other co-authors included Grant Donnelly, an assistant professor of marketing at Ohio State, and Logan Hobbs, an Ohio State graduate currently at Michigan State University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The findings suggest that fostering open discourse and encouraging minority viewpoints is essential. Those holding minority opinions should be more willing to share their beliefs, and those in the majority need to be open to hearing differing perspectives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;We need to be open to civil discourse in our society. It has to be a two-way street,&#8221; added Sintov.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the study reveals, understanding and addressing self-silencing is crucial in creating inclusive environments where all voices are heard and valued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:7px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Source:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/news.osu.edu\/how-self-silencing-your-opinion-may-change-behavior\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">The Ohio State University<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>People who hold minority opinions on contentious issues often refrain from voicing their thoughts, leading them to act contrary to their beliefs, according to a new study by researchers from The Ohio State University. This phenomenon, known as &#8220;self-silencing,&#8221; can have significant implications on personal behavior and public perception. The study, recently published in the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-no-separators","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[57],"class_list":["post-19456","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-people-culture","tag-ohio-state-university"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"The University Network","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/author\/funky_junkie\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"People who hold minority opinions on contentious issues often refrain from voicing their thoughts, leading them to act contrary to their beliefs, according to a new study by researchers from The Ohio State University. This phenomenon, known as &#8220;self-silencing,&#8221; can have significant implications on personal behavior and public perception. The study, recently published in the&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19456","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19456"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19456\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19483,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19456\/revisions\/19483"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19456"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19456"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19456"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}