Cardiff University | Prifysgol Caerdydd ORCA
Online Research @ Cardiff 
WelshClear Cookie - decide language by browser settings

A surprising lack of consequences when constraining language

Vaughan-Johnston, Thomas I., Nguyen, Andrew and Jacobson, Jill A. 2024. A surprising lack of consequences when constraining language. Frontiers in Psychology 2 , 1260974. 10.3389/frsps.2024.1260974

[thumbnail of frsps-02-1260974.pdf]
Preview
PDF - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

Download (506kB) | Preview

Abstract

Labels considered normatively appropriate for specific social identity groups change. Researchers have examined the effects of censorship and slur usage, but minimal research examines the psychological consequences of imposing new language constraints on people. Across four samples of university students (Ntotal = 997), we sought participants’ compliance in avoiding usage of numerous commonplace group labels while they wrote essays about obese people (Sample 1) or specific ethnic groups (Samples 2-4). We observed consistently high compliance rates: participants either invented novel terminology to describe the group or avoided group labels entirely. We observed a substantial absence of task discomfort, attitudinal shifts towards the group, or motivational shifts, according to Bayesian analyses. Nor did we detect negative effects of language constraint among people who saw themselves as opposed to censorship. Although free speech and respectful language remains a multifaceted social debate, our findings show that university students are willing to follow even completely contrived language directives when describing social identity groups and to do so without substantial discomfort or backlash against those groups.

Item Type: Article
Date Type: Publication
Status: Published
Schools: Psychology
Publisher: Frontiers Media
ISSN: 1664-1078
Date of First Compliant Deposit: 14 March 2024
Date of Acceptance: 14 March 2024
Last Modified: 08 Apr 2024 13:17
URI: https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/167267

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item Edit Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

Loading...

View more statistics