"What 'You' and 'We' Say About Me: How Small Shifts in Language Reveal and Empower Fundamental Shifts in Perspective"
Authors: Orvell, Ariana; Gelman, Susan A.; Kross, Ethan
Source: Social and Personality Psychology Compass, Article Number: e12665, DOI: 10.1111/spc3.12665, April 2022
Type of Publication: Article
Abstract: One of the most fundamental, yet often overlooked, components of language is the personal pronoun system. Pronouns reveal and empower different perspectives, providing insight into and even altering how a person is conceptualizing the self. Here, we illustrate how the pronouns "I," "you," and "we" can enable shifts in perspective that bring a person further from, or closer to, others. We additionally highlight the implications of these pronoun shifts on the addressee(s). We review a growing body of research that focuses on how these words can function as both windows-providing insight into the thoughts and emotions of a speaker, and levers-that can subtly alter the speaker's and addressee(s)' thoughts, emotions, and even behaviors, across a range of domains. We conclude by discussing possibilities for future research.