Lexical hypothesis: Difference between revisions
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{{bq |text=I tried to gain an idea of the number of the more conspicuous aspects of the character by counting in an appropriate dictionary the words used to express them...I examined many pages of its index here and there as samples of the whole, and estimated that it contained fully one thousand words expressive of character, each of which has a separate shade of meaning, while each shares a large part of its meaning with some of the rest.<ref name="Galton">{{cite journal | url=http://galton.org/essays/1880-1889/galton-1884-fort-rev-measurement-character.pdf | title=Measurement of Character | author=Galton, F. | journal=Fortnightly Review | year=1884 | volume=36 | pages=179-185}}</ref> |sign=Francis Galton |source=''Measurement of Character'', 1884, p. 181}} |
{{bq |text=I tried to gain an idea of the number of the more conspicuous aspects of the character by counting in an appropriate dictionary the words used to express them...I examined many pages of its index here and there as samples of the whole, and estimated that it contained fully one thousand words expressive of character, each of which has a separate shade of meaning, while each shares a large part of its meaning with some of the rest.<ref name="Galton">{{cite journal | url=http://galton.org/essays/1880-1889/galton-1884-fort-rev-measurement-character.pdf | title=Measurement of Character | author=Galton, F. | journal=Fortnightly Review | year=1884 | volume=36 | pages=179-185}}</ref> |sign=Francis Galton |source=''Measurement of Character'', 1884, p. 181}} |
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Despite Galton's early ventures into the lexical study of personality, it took over two decades before English-language scholars continued his work. A 1910 study by G. E. Partridge listed approximately 750 English adjectives used to describe mental states,<ref name="partridge">{{cite book | url=http://www.unz.org/Pub/PartridgeGE-1910 |title=An Outline of Individual Study | publisher=Sturgis & Walton | author=Partridge, G. E. | year=1910 | location=New York | pages=106-111}}</ref> while a 1926 study of the [[Webster's Dictionary|Webster's New International Dictionary]] by M. L. Perkins provided an estimate of 3,000 such terms.<ref name="perkins">{{cite journal | url=http://digital.library.okstate.edu/OAS/oas_pdf/v06/p344_347.pdf | title=The teaching of ideals and the development of the traits of character and personality | author=Perkins, M. L. | journal=Proceedings of the Oklahoma Academy of Sciences | year=1926 | volume=6 | issue=2 | pages=344-347}}</ref> These early explorations and estimates were not limited to the English-speaking world, with philosopher and psychologist Ludwig Klages stating in 1929 that the German language contains approximately 4,000 words to describe inner states.<ref name="klages">{{cite book | title=The Science of Character | publisher=George Allen & Unwin | author=Klages, L. | year=1929 | location=London}}</ref> |
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== References == |
== References == |
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Revision as of 17:23, 27 March 2012
The Lexical Hypothesis (or Fundamental Lexical Hypothesis[1]) is one of the most important and widely-used guiding theories in personality psychology.[2] Despite some variation in its definition and application, the Lexical Hypothesis is generally defined by two postulates. The first states that those personality characteristics that are most important in people's lives will eventually become a part of their language. The second follows from the first, stating that more important personality characteristics are more likely to be encoded into language as a single word.[3] With origins in the late-19th century, use of the Lexical Hypothesis began to flourish in English and German psychology in the early 20th century.[4] The Lexical Hypothesis has since been applied to the study of personality traits and the Five Factor Model in a number of cultural and linguistic settings.[5]
History
Sir Francis Galton was one of the first scientists to apply the Lexical Hypothesis to the study of personality, stating:
I tried to gain an idea of the number of the more conspicuous aspects of the character by counting in an appropriate dictionary the words used to express them...I examined many pages of its index here and there as samples of the whole, and estimated that it contained fully one thousand words expressive of character, each of which has a separate shade of meaning, while each shares a large part of its meaning with some of the rest.[6]
— Francis Galton, Measurement of Character, 1884, p. 181
Despite Galton's early ventures into the lexical study of personality, it took over two decades before English-language scholars continued his work. A 1910 study by G. E. Partridge listed approximately 750 English adjectives used to describe mental states,[7] while a 1926 study of the Webster's New International Dictionary by M. L. Perkins provided an estimate of 3,000 such terms.[8] These early explorations and estimates were not limited to the English-speaking world, with philosopher and psychologist Ludwig Klages stating in 1929 that the German language contains approximately 4,000 words to describe inner states.[9]
References
- ^ Goldberg, L. R. (1990). "An alternative "description of personality": The Big-Five factor structure". Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 59 (6): 1216–1229.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Ashton, M. C., & Lee, K. (2004). "A defence of the lexical approach to the study of personality structure" (PDF). European Journal of Personality. 19: 5–24. doi:10.1002/per.541.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ John, O. P., Angleitner, A., & Ostendorf, F. (1988). "The lexical approach to personality: A historical review of trait taxonomic research". European Journal of Personality. 2: 171–203.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Caprara, G. V., & Cervone, D. (2000). Personality: Determinants, Dynamics, and Potentials. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521583101.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ John, O. P., Robins, R. W., & Pervin, L. A. (2008). Handbook of Personality: Theory and Research, Third Edition. New York: The Guilford Press. pp. 114–158. ISBN 9781593858360.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Galton, F. (1884). "Measurement of Character" (PDF). Fortnightly Review. 36: 179–185.
- ^ Partridge, G. E. (1910). An Outline of Individual Study. New York: Sturgis & Walton. pp. 106–111.
- ^ Perkins, M. L. (1926). "The teaching of ideals and the development of the traits of character and personality" (PDF). Proceedings of the Oklahoma Academy of Sciences. 6 (2): 344–347.
- ^ Klages, L. (1929). The Science of Character. London: George Allen & Unwin.