Origins of Inoculation Theory

This chapter provides a historical overview of McGuire's (1964). Inducing resistance to persuasion: Some contemporary approaches. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 1, pp. 191–229). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2601(08)60052-0 theory of inoculation, tracing its origins and development. It begins by exploring the early influences on the theory, including Aristotle's ideas and foundational persuasion research conducted by Hovland and his research team. The chapter defines the theory and introduces the two core mechanisms—threat and counterarguing—central to its original formulation. It then connects the theory to the biomedical inoculation metaphor and examines the early empirical tests of the theoretical processes, highlighting their contributions to our understanding of the theory and its contemporary extensions. In addition, the chapter discusses the significance of the biomedical analogy in the evolution of inoculation theory, exploring both its limitations and empowering potential. By reflecting on the formative period in inoculation research, the chapter emphasizes how many of the original questions about the theory continue to shape scholarly inquiry today.