AUTHOR=Feng Guangchao Charles 

TITLE=Inoculation theory revisited: reinterpretations, extensions, and new directions

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Communication

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/communication/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2025.1576772

DOI=10.3389/fcomm.2025.1576772

ISSN=2297-900X

ABSTRACT=Inoculation theory offers a unique perspective on how beliefs can be fortified against persuasive attacks. However, several aspects of the theory warrant further exploration and reinterpretation, particularly its analogies with immunology. The paper aims to broaden the theory’s boundary conditions by delving into thought-provoking analogies between immunology and persuasion. The author redefines multiple key concepts within inoculation theory and addresses a range of existing issues associated with classic inoculation theory, including the distinction between passive and active defense and addressing “infected” people and “allergy” with therapeutic inoculation. The paper concludes by proposing future research directions that include exploring diverse, especially mRNA forms of “inoculation” and formulating a series of conceptual propositions.