Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 27, 2025
08:53
Integrating Computerized Linguistic and Social Network Analyses to Capture Addiction Recovery Capital in an Online Community
Published on: May 31, 2019
5.5K
Thinking of You: How Second-Person Pronouns Shape Cultural Success
1Schulich School of Business, York University.
Psychological Science
|February 27, 2020
Summary
Cultural items like songs are more successful when they use second-person pronouns. This linguistic feature encourages listeners to think of personal connections, boosting liking and purchases.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Linguistics
- Cultural Studies
Background:
- Scholars propose narrative arts foster social connection.
- Cultural item success may depend on activating personal connections.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the role of second-person pronouns in cultural item success.
- Determine if increased use of second-person pronouns correlates with greater appeal.
Main Methods:
- Textual analysis of 4,200 Billboard chart songs.
- Controlled experiments with 2,921 participants.
Main Results:
- Higher frequency of second-person pronouns in songs predicted greater liking and purchase intent.
- Experiments confirmed that second-person pronouns enhance audience connection and preference.
Conclusions:
- Second-person pronouns offer a novel mechanism for cultural item success by fostering personal connections.
- The specific grammatical case of pronouns may influence their meaning and impact.
- Psychological factors mediate the relationship between language use and the success of narrative arts.
Keywords:
arts and entertainmentlanguageopen dataopen materialspreregisteredpronounspsychological foundations of cultureMore Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:30Self Within Cultural Contexts
138
Cultural frameworks for understanding the self are often categorized into two broad orientations: individualism and collectivism. These paradigms influence how people define themselves, relate to others, and interpret their social worlds. Each orientation offers distinct perspectives on autonomy, responsibility, and the role of the individual within a community.Individualistic CulturesIn individualistic cultures like North America and Western Europe, identity is understood as autonomous and...
138
01:26Self-Esteem and Culture
170
Self-esteem, a core psychological construct, is intricately shaped by cultural context and varies significantly between collectivist and individualistic societies. In collectivist cultures such as Japan, self-esteem tends to be flexible, context-sensitive, and influenced by relationships. A Japanese student, for instance, may show restraint in formal settings like school but behave more openly among close friends, reflecting the flexible and dynamic nature of self-concept in such...
170
00:52Social Proof
31.4K
Social proof is a form of persuasion based on comparison and conformity. People compare their behavior and actions to what others are doing and will change to conform to do what their peers do.
31.4K
01:30Social Foundations of Self IV: Self in Digital Communication
137
Since the early 2000s, computer-mediated communication (CMC) has grown rapidly, playing a crucial role in self-development. A key distinction between CMC and real-life interactions is the lack of a physically present partner. This absence makes non-verbal cues such as facial expressions, body language, and paralinguistic signals unavailable in CMC platforms like email, instant messaging, or social media. The lack of these cues can create ambiguity and complicate how feedback is interpreted.The...
137
01:20Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other
188
According to George Herbert Mead, as children progress beyond the game stage, they develop a more comprehensive understanding of societal rules and norms. This cognitive and social development enables them to internalize the expectations of the broader community, refining their ability to regulate behavior.Consistent participation in organized activities is crucial in helping children recognize that their actions are not isolated but contribute to a more significant, interconnected group...
188
02:57The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison
55.2K
According to Charles Cooley, we base our image on what we think other people see (Cooley 1902). We imagine how we must appear to others, then react to this speculation. We don certain clothes, prepare our hair in a particular manner, wear makeup, use cologne, and the like—all with the notion that our presentation of ourselves is going to affect how others perceive us. We expect a certain reaction, and, if lucky, we get the one we desire and feel good about it. But more than that, Cooley...
55.2K