What Is Social Inoculation

Social inoculation involves the inoculations of attitudes as individuals are exposed to counter arguments against what later can become persuasive messages. Providing individuals with arguments against actions enables individuals to resist later stronger messages (see McGuire 1961, 1968).

What is an example of inoculation?

For example, an inoculation message designed to discourage teen cigarette smoking (e.g., Pfau et al., 1992) might begin with a warning that peer pressure will strongly challenge their negative attitudes toward smoking, then follow this forewarning with a handful of potential counterarguments they might face from their …

What is an example of attitude inoculation?

For example, imagine you are the parent of a young boy and want to do everything you can to help him resist the peer pressure to smoke that he may encounter one day. One thing you could do to help is to facilitate attitude inoculation.