Comparing the language style of heads of state in the US, UK, Germany and Switzerland during COVID-19

Dworakowski, Olenka; Meier, Tabea; Mehl, Matthias R.; Pennebaker, James W.; Boyd, Ryan L.; Horn, Andrea B.

doi:10.1038/s41598-024-51362-7

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 42 publications

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“…Most of the data sources are self-reported, and some studies are based on social media such as X (formerly known as Twitter) and online forums. The topics cover psychological intervention [ 26 ], historical data analysis [ 27 ], personality traits [ 28 ], and language differences [ 29 ]. Compared with general situations, people’s decision making in a crisis is more likely to be affected by others on social media.…”

Section: Literature Review and Theoretical Foundationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Influence of Cognitive and Emotional Factors on Social Media Users’ Information-Sharing Behaviours during Crises: The Moderating Role of the Construal Level and the Mediating Role of the Emotional Response

2024

Behavioral Sciences

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Understanding the intricate dynamics of social media users’ information-sharing behaviours during crises is essential for effective public opinion management. While various scholarly efforts have attempted to uncover the factors influencing information sharing through different lenses, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Building upon the heuristic–systematic model (HSM) and construal level theory (CLT), this study explores the complex mechanisms that govern social media users’ information-sharing behaviours. The results indicate that both cognition and emotion play crucial roles in shaping users’ information-sharing behaviours, with systematic cues having the most significant impact on information-sharing behaviours. In terms of heuristic cues, positive emotions are more influential on information-sharing behaviours than primary cognition and negative emotions. Furthermore, spatial distance emerges as a key moderator, influencing individuals’ levels of engagement in information sharing. Emotion also acts as a mediator, connecting cognition to information sharing. This study provides insights into the sophisticated mechanisms of information sharing during crises, offering valuable implications for emergency management agencies to utilise social media for targeted public opinion guidance.

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Section: Literature Review and Theoretical Foundationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Influence of Cognitive and Emotional Factors on Social Media Users’ Information-Sharing Behaviours during Crises: The Moderating Role of the Construal Level and the Mediating Role of the Emotional Response

2024

Behavioral Sciences

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Topic modelling and sentiment analysis during COVID-19 revealed emotions changes for public health

Figueiredo

2024

Sci Rep

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Between 2020 and 2022, lockdown and restraining measures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic led to changes in daily routines and also in language usage. At certain points during the pandemic, populations in some countries were unwilling or unlikely to respond to government messages, either because of the tone and analytic discourse used by leaders, or because they did not understand the messages. Linguistic markers and meanings were therefore linked to low levels of engagement, negative emotions and high levels of analytical thinking, especially in relation to the discourses of influential international leaders. We subjected sixteen speeches by eight country leaders to topic modelling and sentiment analysis in order to understand how the psychological functions of language were affected during two different periods of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this topic analysis we organize 39,073 words collected from sixteen authentic speeches delivered in two different periods of the acute phase of the pandemic. These were encoded in the Linguistic Inquiry Word Count program (LIWC), with the main aim being to identify differences between the periods. We examined the following aspects: (1) the emotional tone, analytical thinking and clout (empathy dimension); (2) the changes in these three dimensions or factors between periods 1 and 2 (February and May 2020). We observed a negative relationship between emotional tone and analytical thinking and a positive relationship between clout and emotional tone. When we considered the changes in pandemic circumstances, the psycholinguistic profiles of eight country leaders demonstrated fluctuations in language and emotions. Further reviews and research should focus on the current language and deficit wording of this population (leaders). We also note that psychologists and schoolteachers can play an important role in supporting language programmes with positive wording and by emphasising the collateral effects of face-to-face classes when teaching children to read and write. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-024-75209-3.

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Comparing the language style of heads of state in the US, UK, Germany and Switzerland during COVID-19

Cited by 2 publications

References 42 publications

The Influence of Cognitive and Emotional Factors on Social Media Users’ Information-Sharing Behaviours during Crises: The Moderating Role of the Construal Level and the Mediating Role of the Emotional Response

The Influence of Cognitive and Emotional Factors on Social Media Users’ Information-Sharing Behaviours during Crises: The Moderating Role of the Construal Level and the Mediating Role of the Emotional Response

Topic modelling and sentiment analysis during COVID-19 revealed emotions changes for public health

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