Inoculation theory

The Inokulationstheorie is an invented in 1964 by William J. McGuire theory in the field of social psychology and describes a method to make adjustments resistant to modification attempts.

The theory is aimed at so-called Truismen, ie socially recognized settings. McGuire believes that the attitude towards such Truismen can be particularly easily changed, since one is due to the general acceptance motivated still practiced neither to defend this.

Cognitive vaccination

Truismen can be made resistant in two ways:

• Support: Provide supporting arguments
• Cognitive vaccine: providing counter- arguments that are refuted immediately

The supporting arguments are loud McGuire remember easily again, but retain the counter-arguments with their refutation longer.

Hence the name of inoculation, which means the introduction of pathogens in medicine. The attitude towards the truism is made ​​resistant by vaccination with counter-arguments.

• Social Psychology