James Fitzgerald Therapy PLLC

The Effects of Language on Thinking, Emotion, and Physiology

Priming is an implicit memory effect in which a person can recall information about a subject quicker once a related concept has been introduced. Research has shown that priming affects behavior. For instance, in a study by Alberts and colleagues (2007), participants were asked to read aloud sentences related to persistence (“John will go on”) or neutral sentences (“John buys a book”). Participants who were exposed to the persistence-related sentences persisted significantly longer on a physical endurance task compared to participants who read neutral sentences. Interestingly, participants were unaware of this effect or any relationship between the sentences and their performance. Most studies have shown that a prime does not require conscious awareness to have effects on thoughts and behavior (see Zemack-Rugar, Bettman, & Fitzsimons, 2007).

The effects that occur as a result of priming are believed to be caused by spreading activation. This means that the exposure to a prime triggers a particular representation or association in memory that is related to the prime. In other words, exposure to the negative prime word “sadness” will likely activate related concepts or memories of experiences like “pain,” “fear,” and so on. In a similar vein, exposure to a word like “joy” is expected to trigger cognitions and experiences that are related to these positive constructs, such as “happiness,” “pleasure,” and “energy.” With this tool, clients are primed with positive and negative language and become aware of the effects of using positive versus negative language.

Many people are unaware of the effect of words they use and of the stories they tell themselves and others. The purpose of this exercise is to help you become aware of the
effects of words and language on your thoughts, emotions, and body reactions. By increasing mindful attention to not just words but also to the ways in which they are used, the effect of these words on your behavior and the behavior of others can be leveraged more effectively. Rather than unconsciously priming oneself (and others) in a negative way by using negative language, mindful attention can be used to circumvent these automatic patterns and their effects.

After completing this exercise, you and I can discuss the implications of an increased awareness of using language:

• We can choose our words differently to have a (potentially) different effect on others.
• We can choose our tone and context differently to have a (potentially) different effect on others.
• We can choose our words and tone differently to have a different effect on ourselves.
• We can choose how we listen to others’ words and tone to be more aware of our automatic reactions and our responses to others’ primes, intentional or not.

To increase your awareness of negative and positive language, you may want to reflect on the following questions daily:

• What kind of words do I typically use when people ask me how I feel?
• How do I feel when I use negative words and phrases?
• How do I feel when I use positive words and phrases?

Together, we can use this exercise in various ways, for example:

• I can say various words out loud and have you report what you experienced after hearing them.
• You can repeat a list of words to another person you trust and have the person receiving the words reflect on them.
• I can encourage you to practice saying words to others at home and then reflect on what they experienced.

Instructions

This exercise aims to help you learn more about the effects of language on thinking, emotion, and physiological states. Words can affect how we view the world and think about ourselves. They can bring about negative physical experiences, such as heaviness in the body, tiredness, and even somatic sensations (for example, stomach upset or bodily tension). Other words can make us feel physically stronger and increase our positive energy. By increasing our awareness, we can take better care in choosing carefully not just what words we choose but also how we say them. To complete this exercise, do Parts I and II in order and answer the questions that follow.

Part I

Slowly repeat the following words aloud: 

Sad. Helpless. Inconvenienced. Bored. Defeated. Tired. Lonely. Doubtful. Uninterested.

Next, read the following statements aloud: 

Life is so hard. Nothing seems to go my way. There is no one to turn to or count on. It feels like I’ve been forgotten. Times are tough. Nothing seems to help. Things will not get better. They will probably get worse. There is no hope.

• Take a moment to think about and observe what you are thinking, feeling emotionally, and sensing physically.
• Consider what specific words you repeated and experienced physiologically mean to you.
• What came to mind when you said them?

Part II

Slowly repeat the following words aloud: 

Exciting. Fun. Laughter. Joy. Anticipation. Attractive. Possibility. Aliveness. Peace. Love.

Next, read the following statements aloud: 

Life is beautiful. When I think about the future, I become excited. I’m energized. There is so much I can accomplish. There is so much to see and experience. Life is wonderful, and there are so many possibilities in the world.

• Take a moment to think about and observe what you are thinking, feeling emotionally, and sensing physically.
• Now consider what the specific words you repeated and experienced physiologically mean to you.
• What came to mind when you said them?
• What did you notice when you compared what you felt in your body physiologically in Part I with what you felt in Part II?
• What did you notice when you compared what you thought in Part I with what you thought in Part II?
• How might this be helpful to you?
• What do you think you will do and say differently to yourself and others as a result?
• Please reflect, consider any additional insight, reflections or takeaways, and ask yourself, how was it to complete this activity?

This activity was adapted from a positive psychology worksheet. A license to use the worksheet with my clients was purchased in 2023. The material is copyright protected, however you are welcome to print a copy of the completed activity for your personal use. This exercise is available as a Quenza activity and pathway, a therapy portal electronic form, and a PDF worksheet.

References

• Alberts, H.J.E.M., Martijn, C., Greb, J., Merckelbach, H. & de Vries, N.K. (2007). Carrying on or giving in: The role of automatic processes in overcoming ego depletion. British Journal of Social Psychology, 46, 383-399.
• Zemack-Rugar, Y., Bettman, J.R., & Fitzsimons, G.J. (2007). The effects of nonconsciously priming emotion concepts on behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 93, 927-939.