The Handbook of Inoculation Theory and Practice

by Bobi Ivanov, Josh Compton, Kimberly Parker

Overview

Provides a comprehensive account of inoculation theory across multiple disciplines and applied contexts worldwide

Inoculation theory has become one of the most influential frameworks for understanding how people resist persuasion, misinformation, and undue influence. Despite its wide-ranging application in fields as diverse as political communication, health promotion, advertising, organizational management, law, and public relations, much of the available literature on inoculation remains scattered across journal articles and limited book chapters. The Handbook of Inoculation Theory and Practice addresses this critical gap by offering a single, authoritative resource that brings together the full scope of theory, research, and application.

Spanning 35 chapters organized into three major sections, the Handbook provides unparalleled depth and breadth. The opening section traces the foundations of inoculation theory, its historical development, and evolving conceptual frameworks. The second section addresses issues of study design, measurement, and analytic strategies essential to advancing inoculation research. The volume concludes by highlighting applications across a wide spectrum of contexts, including politics, health, sports, crisis communication, gaming, education, journalism, public policy, and beyond. Featuring contributions from leading scholars, each chapter delivers both rigorous theoretical grounding and forward-looking perspectives that reveal how inoculation continues to shape communication practice and research.

Mapping what inoculation theory has achieved while exploring its enduring potential in confronting today’s complex communication challenges, The Handbook of Inoculation:

• Integrates classical perspectives with cutting-edge research and applications
• Explores a wide range of real-world contexts, from misinformation and conspiracy theories to health and political messaging
• Offers practical strategies for designing effective inoculation-based communication interventions
• Identifies emerging questions and future directions for inoculation research and practice

The Handbook of Inoculation: Theory and Practice is an essential reference for graduate students, scholars, and practitioners working in communication, psychology, sociology, political science, marketing, public health, and related disciplines. It is especially relevant for advanced courses in persuasion, social influence, communication theory, social psychology, and resistance to persuasion, and serves as a foundational resource for researchers and professionals seeking to apply inoculation strategies in diverse contexts.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781394199358
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	02/25/2026
Pages:	432
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 1.50(h) x 9.50(d)

About the Author

Bobi Ivanov, PhD, is a Professor of Advertising in the College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Florida. His research focuses on social influence, persuasion, and resistance, with an emphasis on inoculation theory, strategic message design, advertising, and risk communication. He has published extensively in leading journals and contributed to advancing inoculation scholarship across multiple domains.

Kimberly A. Parker, PhD, is a Professor in the University of Kentucky College of Communication and Information. A former Fulbright Scholar, she studies social influence, persuasive communication, and resistance, with a focus on promoting positive social change. With 25 years of nonprofit collaboration experience, Dr. Parker has published widely and applies her expertise to both academic and applied contexts.

Josh Compton, PhD, is Professor of Speech at Dartmouth College. Internationally recognized for his expertise on inoculation theory, he has studied the field for more than two decades, publishing influential work that has sparked conversations among groups as varied as NATO, the U.S. Department of Defense, healthcare professionals, and medievalists.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 Origins of Inoculation Theory

Chapter 2 Threat

Chapter 3 Inoculation Theory and Counterarguing

Chapter 4 Inoculation Theory Then and Now: Extending the Boundaries of Theory and Practice

Chapter 5 Beyond Threat and Counterarguing: A Consideration of Additional Inoculation Theory Mechanisms

Chapter 6 The Nature of Resistance: Mechanisms in Inoculation Theory vis-à-vis Alternative Theories/Models

Chapter 7 Exploring the Interplay of Temporal Factors and Resistance within Inoculation Theory

Chapter 8 Persuasive Inoculation Message Design Features: Style, Language, Content, and Structure

Chapter 9 Inoculation: Length and Modality

Chapter 10 (Mis)Matching in Inoculation: The Impact of Composition, Strength, Structure, and Modality Between and Within Established Positions and Messages

Chapter 11 The Use of Humor and Narratives in the Inoculation Process

Chapter 12 Affect, Motivation, and Resistance in Inoculation

Chapter 13 After Inoculation: Persuasive Attack as the Understudied Second Pillar

Chapter 14 Inoculation Study Designs, Methods, and Procedures

Chapter 15 Best Practices for Modeling the Inoculation Process

Chapter 16 Inoculation Message Design and Strategic Application

Chapter 17 Consumer Inoculation: The Inoculation Paradigm at the Consumer-Organization Interface Chapter 18 Public Relations and Corporate Image: Leveraging Inoculation to Build Trust, Foster Relationships, and Navigate Reputational Crisis

Chapter 19 Inoculation Theory and Politics

Chapter 20 Preventing Violence through Inoculation: Strategic Counter-Messaging to Undermine Beliefs and Attitudes that Justify Harm

Chapter 21 Inoculation Strategy for the Promotion of Healthy and the Prevention of Risky Behaviors

Chapter 22 Inoculation Against Misinformation: Theoretical and Practical Implications

Chapter 23 Inoculation Theory at the Intersection of Disasters and Catastrophes

Chapter 24 Inoculation Theory, Family, and Interpersonal Relationships

Chapter 25 Inoculation Theory and the Media

Chapter 26 Inoculation and Culture

Chapter 27 Inoculation Theory and Legal Communication

Chapter 28 Inoculation in Education, Instruction, and Training Contexts

Chapter 29 Inoculation Theory and Sport, Exercise, and Physical Activity

Chapter 30 Inoculation in Organizations, the Workplace, and Small Groups: Current and Future Directions

Chapter 31 Inoculation Theory and the Communication of Scientific Findings

Chapter 32 Inoculation Theory and Public Policy

Chapter 33 Additional Issues and Topics in Inoculation Theory Research

Conclusion