Researchers show that even slight changes in the way a message is phrased, such as announcing an illness, can dramatically influence how it is received.
- Talking about “fighting cancer” or “journeying through cancer” is not trivial: those who hear war metaphors often perceive the disease as more deadly than those exposed to a journey allegory.
- This dynamic extends to other areas. For example, in discussions about climate change, the use of belligerent metaphors such as “fighting climate change” reinforces the perceived urgency compared to more neutral discourse.
- The concept of “framing” thus reveals how language shapes our vision of reality. “Just as a photograph changes depending on the frame chosen, information takes on a different meaning depending on the words used.”
What if words not only transmitted ideas, but also modified our perceptions, our emotions, our actions? A recent study, published in the journal Psychological Science in the Public Interesthighlights the profound power of language. Researchers at Vassar College, in the United States, show that even slight adjustments in the way a message is formulated can radically influence the way it is received.
The concrete effects of word choice
Take the example of discussions about cancer. Talking about “fighting cancer” or “journeying through cancer” is not trivial: those who hear war metaphors often perceive the disease as more deadly than those exposed to a journey allegory. These differences in language don’t just change the conversation: they transform the way people think about their futures and make decisions.
This dynamic extends to other areas. For example, in discussions about climate change, the use of bellicose metaphors such as “fighting climate change” reinforces the perceived urgency compared to more neutral discourse. According to the researchers, these metaphors work because they tap into familiar cognitive frameworks: we intuitively understand battles or journeys, which makes it easier to assimilate abstract concepts.
The importance of framing through language
The concept of “framing” thus reveals how language shapes our vision of reality. “Just as a photograph changes depending on the frame chosen, information takes on a different meaning depending on the words used,” explain the researchers in a press release. This study deepens a century of research on the subject, while opening new perspectives for the future.
The practical applications of this research are vast: in politics, health, education or even in our daily interactions. “Understanding executive psychology can improve not only our communication skills, but also our ability to navigate complex language environments“, write the authors.
