Science News
Public perceptions of lawyers’ personalities have shifted significantly over the past 120 years. By analyzing millions of books, researchers found that society tends to view lawyers as highly conscientious and open to new experiences, but increasingly lacking…
⚖️ Lawyer Stereotypes Evolving: A 120-Year Analysis
A study of 14,953,356 English books (1900-2019) reveals shifting public perceptions of lawyers. Initially seen as agreeable (1900-1939), lawyers became associated with conscientiousness from the 1940s onwards. By the 2010s, "openness" emerged as the most discussed trait, suggesting a cultural shift towards valuing creativity and innovation in the profession.
🧠 Conscientious, Open, Less Warm?
Overall, lawyers are perceived as more conscientious, open, and extraverted than the general public. However, they are increasingly seen as less agreeable and less warm, with the gap in agreeableness widening over time. Extraversion perception also shifted, from being more extraverted than the public before the 1960s to falling below average by the 1990s.
📚 Methodology: Big Data & Personality Traits
Researchers analyzed millions of books using the Google Books Ngram dataset, focusing on the "Big Five" personality traits: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. They identified 315 adjectives linked to these traits and tracked their frequency alongside "lawyer" or "lawyers" to map evolving stereotypes.
#LegalTech #BigData #SocialTrends
A study of 14,953,356 English books (1900-2019) reveals shifting public perceptions of lawyers. Initially seen as agreeable (1900-1939), lawyers became associated with conscientiousness from the 1940s onwards. By the 2010s, "openness" emerged as the most discussed trait, suggesting a cultural shift towards valuing creativity and innovation in the profession.
🧠 Conscientious, Open, Less Warm?
Overall, lawyers are perceived as more conscientious, open, and extraverted than the general public. However, they are increasingly seen as less agreeable and less warm, with the gap in agreeableness widening over time. Extraversion perception also shifted, from being more extraverted than the public before the 1960s to falling below average by the 1990s.
📚 Methodology: Big Data & Personality Traits
Researchers analyzed millions of books using the Google Books Ngram dataset, focusing on the "Big Five" personality traits: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. They identified 315 adjectives linked to these traits and tracked their frequency alongside "lawyer" or "lawyers" to map evolving stereotypes.
#LegalTech #BigData #SocialTrends