Does multilingualism shape personality?: An exploratory investigation

• Autores: Jean-Marc Dewaele, Elouise Botes
• Localización: International Journal of Bilingualism: interdisciplinary studies of multilingual behaviour, ISSN 1367-0069, Vol. 24, Nº. 4, 2020, págs. 811-823
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Aims and objectives:

    Personality psychologists argue that personality is the result of nature and nurture. However, relatively little attention has been paid to the latter. The present study considers the effect of multilingualism, a social factor, on personality.

    Methodology:

    A total of 651 multilinguals from around the world filled out an online questionnaire containing questions about participants’ language profile and a so-called “Big 5” questionnaire: the Multicultural Personality Questionnaire (short form).

    Data and analysis:

    Correlation analyses were run between the level of multilingualism of participants and their scores on five personality traits. A parceled structural equation model was then used to examine the influence of multilingualism on three personality subscales.

    Findings:

    The model indicated significant positive path coefficients between the level of multilingualism and Flexibility, Social Initiative and Open-mindedness.

    Significance:

    Our findings confirm and expand earlier research that showed that multilingualism/multiculturalism can be considered to be enduring environmental factors that contribute to the shaping of personality profiles.