The Nature of Resistance

Inoculation theory is not alone in explicating resistance to attitude change or influence attempts in various information environments. The process of resistance explicated in inoculation theory and the other theories/models might compete with or supplement each other, and they might be mutually exclusive or parallel each other in coexistence. This chapter first discusses the general issues and assumptions for studying resistance and then moves on to review, analyze, and compare the specific assumptions, scopes, and explanatory mechanisms of resistance in different theories/models. The chapter is meant to be a first step toward and hopefully serves as the foundation for future theory development and testing in inoculation as well as resistance to influence/persuasion in general.