Text Messaging and Personality

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Authors
Paul, Korey J.
Advisor
Issue Date
2011-05
Keyword
Degree
Department
Other Identifiers
CardCat URL
Abstract

Text messaging is a relatively new phenomenon that needs empirically-based descriptions of its content and structure. Research on language use indicates that people are relatively consistent over time in their linguistic style, suggesting that this presents an important, stable aspect of personality. Participants (N = 224) were asked to bring their cell phones for an experimental session who were asked to write down the exact content of the last 20 sent text messages, date and time, and the nature of their relationship with the message recipient. Participants also completed a demographic questionnaire as well as various personality trait scales that were expected to be related to certain aspects of texting. Results indicate that gender differences may exist in relation to aggression and the use of sexual language. Females use more sexual words in text messages with lower scores of aggression. Males use more sexual words in text messages with higher scores of aggression. This may imply that nonaggressive females are more likely to feel comfortable expressing sexual language via text messaging that may not be expressed in other forms of communication.