1,721,014 research outputs found
Verbs as Linguistic Markers of Agency - The Social Side of Grammar
Full text linkBasic grammatical categories may carry social meanings irrespective of their semantic content. In a set of four studies, we demonstrate that verbs – a basic linguistic category present and distinguishable in most languages – are related to the perception of agency, a fundamental dimension of social perception. In an archival analysis of actual language use in Polish and German, we found that targets stereotypically associated with high agency (men and young people) are presented in the immediate neighborhood of a verb more often than non-agentic social targets (women and older people). Moreover, in three experiments using a pseudo-word paradigm, verbs (but not adjectives and nouns) were consistently associated with agency (but not with communion). These results provide consistent evidence that verbs, as grammatical vehicles of action, are linguistic markers of agency. In demonstrating meta-semantic effects of language, these studies corroborate the view of language as a social tool and an integral part of social perception
Mobilize Is a Verb: The Use of Verbs and Concrete Language Is Associated With Authors’ and Readers’ Perceptions of a Text’s Action Orientation and Persuasiveness
No full textIn three studies, we investigated the role of linguistic features characterizing texts aiming to mobilize others. In Study 1 (N = 728), participants produced a leaflet either mobilizing others to engage in an action or expressing their thoughts about that action, and evaluated how action-oriented their text was. Mobilizing texts included more verbs and concrete words, and the presence of these linguistic characteristics was positively linked to participants’ evaluations of their messages as action-oriented. In Studies 2 and 3 (N = 557 and N = 556), independent groups of participants evaluated texts produced in Study 1. Readers’ perceptions of texts as action-oriented were associated with the same linguistic features as in Study 1 and further positively linked to perceived message effectiveness (Study 2) and behavioral intention (Study 3). The studies reveal how encoding and decoding of verbs and concrete words serve as distinct persuasive tools in calls to action
Verbs as Linguistic Markers of Agency - The Social Side of Grammar. Journal of European Social Psychology
No full textBasic grammatical categories may carry social meanings irrespective of their semantic content. In a set of four studies, we demonstrate that verbs – a basic linguistic category present and distinguishable in most languages – are related to the perception of agency, a fundamental dimension of social perception. In an archival analysis of actual language use in Polish and German, we found that targets stereotypically associated with high agency (men and young people) are presented in the immediate neighborhood of a verb more often than non-agentic social targets (women and older people). Moreover, in three experiments using a pseudo-word paradigm, verbs (but not adjectives and nouns) were consistently associated with agency (but not with communion). These results provide consistent evidence that verbs, as grammatical vehicles of action, are linguistic markers of agency. In demonstrating meta-semantic effects of language, these studies corroborate the view of language as a social tool and an integral part of social perception
Moral outrage predicts the virality of petitions for change on social media, but not the number of signatures they receive
Full text linkSocial media platforms help activists to share their perspectives. However, there is concern that amplified content (e.g., moral outrage) may limit collective action. We studied how online petitions on www.change.org were shared and signed. Analyzing posts on X (n = 1,286,442) with URLs to petitions (n = 24,785) revealed that expressions of moral outrage were uniquely associated with the number of times posts were liked and reposted (virality). Mediation analyses showed that outrage was indirectly related to the number of signatures petitions received (via virality). However, outrage was associated with fewer signatures when controlling for virality. In contrast, expressions of agency, group identity, and prosociality were associated with more signatures but no more virality. The findings outline the factors linked to engagement with online petitions and describe how social media can amplify content which has no direct link to the sorts of effortful behaviours which are conducive to social change
The benefits and pitfalls of language change – The case of gender-fair language use
No full textGender-fair language (GFL) is a symmetric linguistic treatment of women and men. To create GFL two principle strategies can be deployed. Neutralization means that gender-unmarked forms (police officer) are used to substitute the male-biased (policeman). Feminization, implies that feminine forms of nouns are used systematically to make female referents visible. The results of a comprehensive European research program provide evidence in support of a non-discrimination policy in language, yet identify the potential setbacks preventing linguistic reforms to be effective. In general, studies indicate positive effects of GFL. In an applied context, for example women feel more motivated to apply for the position if a job advertisement is formulated in a GFL. However, negative effects of reformed usage were also reported specifically when GFL is novel. For example, a woman referred to as a chairperson was evaluated lower in occupational status than a woman referred to as a chairman
Riot Like a Girl? Gender-Stereotypical Associations Boost Support for Feminist Online Campaigns
Full text linkThe current study examined whether congruence with gender stereotypes is associated with support for online feminist campaigns. In Study 1 (N-tweets = 510,000), we investigated how two real-world movements (i.e., #metoo and #sexstrike) were viewed in terms of adhering to the traditional feminine stereotype of high warmth/communion and low competence/agency, as per language used in the tweets posted within each campaign. We found that the #metoo movement was characterised by more communal and less agentic content than #sexstrike. In Study 2 (N = 195), when presented with descriptions of the movements modelled after #metoo and #sexstrike, participants associated the #metoo-like campaign with more feminine (e.g., community orientation) and less masculine concepts (e.g., rebelliousness), which, in turn, translated to greater declared support for the campaign. In Study 3 (N = 446), conducted in a more controlled and context-independent setting, we once again observed the link between the gender stereotypes attached to feminist movements and the support they received. We also found that this effect was independent of the effect of perceiving movements as violating social norms. Controlling for feminist identification, political conservatism, and gender system justification did not affect the pattern of results. Uncovering these stereotype-related effects on support for feminist movements furthers understanding of the strategies that might be used in the fight for gender equality
An overview of positive and negative effects of gender-fair language use
No full textThe basic principle of gender-fair language is symmetric linguistic treatment of women and men.
Depending on the structure of the respective language, two principle strategies can be deployed to make a language gender-fair. In languages with few gender-differentiating forms, such as English, there is a tendency towards neutralization. Here, gender-unmarked forms such as police officer or chairperson are used to substitute the male-biased policeman or chairman. The second strategy, feminization, implies that feminine forms of human nouns are used more frequently and systematically to make female referents visible.Since the 1970s, gender-fair language has been suggested, if not prescribed, for both scientific and official texts and its positive effects are widely documented. The use of gender-fair language increases the cognitive availability of feminine exemplars. Also in an applied context women responding to job advertisements formulated in gender-fair language feel more motivated to apply for the position. However, "side effects" of gender-fair language have also been observed: For instance, women referred to with a gender-fair title (e.g. chairperson) were evaluated as lower in status than women referred to with a masculine generic (e.g. chairman). Similarily, social initiatives framed with the use of gender-fair language were evaluated less-favourably than initiatives using traditional language. This presentation presents the gender-fair language use in the framework of a social dilemma. In order to protect themselves (or initiatives they stand for) from being ascribed incompetence or a lower status, women may avoid feminine forms and thus contribute to the perpetuation of gender-unfair language, which may be detrimental for women in general. Raising awareness for this social concern, and framing it both in terms of group and individual interest can direct the discussion about gender-fair language into a broader perspective of gender equality
Verbs as Linguistic Markers of Agency - The Social Side of Grammar
Full text linkBasic grammatical categories may carry social meaning irrespective of their semantic content. In a set of four studies, we demonstrate that verbs – a basic linguistic category present and distinguishable in most languages – are related to the perception of agency, a fundamental dimension in social perception. In an archival analysis on actual language use in Polish and German, we found that targets stereotypically associated with high agency (men and young people) are presented in the immediate neighborhood of a verb more often than non-agentic social targets (women and old people). Moreover, in three experiments using a pseudo-word paradigm, verbs (but not adjectives and nouns) were consistently associated with agency (but not communion). These results provide consistent evidence that verbs, as grammatical vehicles of action, are linguistic markers of agency. In demonstrating meta-semantic effects of language, these studies corroborate the view of language as a social tool and of language as an integral part of social perception
Verbs Are Associated With Agency. Evidence From Word Ratings and Natural Language Use
No full textAgency and communion comprise the big two of social perception, with agency in general denoting goal orientation and communion orientation toward others. Both dimensions can be coded and detected in language through agentic and communal words, however, only agency through lexical classes, namely verbs. This research examines whether the link between semantic and lexical agency occurs in natural language, as past research was limited to pseudowords or single words. Using existing databases, Study 1 found that people rated verbs as more agentic than nouns. Using large textual datasets, Study 2 found verb use to be positively related to agentic – but not communal word – use. These findings contribute to the identification of agency in language and indicate its importance in social cognition
The link between personality traits and linguistic markers of agency and communion
No full textAgency (achieving goals) and communion (forming meaningful social relationships) are the Big Two of social perception, guiding the way we see ourselves and others. Recently, it has been shown that their importance is reliably reflected in natural language use (Pietraszkiewicz et al., 2018). Here, we investigated relationship between the linguistic manifestations of the Big Two and personality traits (Big Five) of social media users. We analyzed agentic and communal content of Facebook updates written by apr. 40,000 participants and their Five Factor Model psychometric test scores (Costa & McCrae, 1992). We found moderate relationships between linguistic markers of the Big Two and self-evaluated personality traits. When controlling for age and gender, agency captured in language was positively related to self-rated conscientiousness, whereas communion to openness. The study contributes to ongoing debate whether personality traits might be captured in social media and opens new avenues for research investigating social judgements
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