Attitude Inoculation

Definition

Attitude inoculation refers to a psychological concept introduced by social psychologist William J. McGuire. It involves exposing individuals to weak arguments against their beliefs, which helps them build up resistance and become less susceptible to persuasion attempts in the future.

Related terms

Persuasion: The process of trying to change someone's attitude or behavior through communication.

Cognitive Dissonance: The discomfort experienced when holding conflicting beliefs or attitudes, which often leads to efforts to reduce the discomfort by changing one's attitudes or behaviors.

Central Route Persuasion: A type of persuasive communication that focuses on providing logical arguments and evidence to persuade people based on the content of the message rather than peripheral cues.