ABSTRACT
Inoculation against persuasion works much like inoculation against viruses. Exposure to weakened versions of the offending agent triggers resistance to stronger versions of an offense. Inoculation theory boasts a more than 50-year record of efficacy in such areas as politics, health and commerce. This chapter offers a concentrated look at inoculation theory and character assassination, with attention to 1) how inoculation might be used to protect against character assassination and 2) how inoculation might function as character assassination. It also proposes image prepare – a combination of inoculation theory and image repair – as a means of protection against character assassination.
