Pseudo-profound language and public opinion

Cynthia Alfliti - France

Have you ever heard about pseudo-profound language? 

It describes sentences that sound deep and important, but when you think about them carefully, they do not really mean anything clear. These statements often use big or emotional words to create the feeling of wisdom, even if there is no real idea behind them. Research shows that many people believe these sentences are meaningful because they sound good, not because they actually make sense. For example, the phrase “Make America Great Again” sounds powerful and meaningful, but it is very vague and does not clearly explain what “great” means or how to achieve it.

This can be seen clearly in political speech. In Lebanese politics, for example, leaders sometimes use phrases like calling someone a “happy martyr,” addressing their supporters as “the purest people,” or talking about “religious coexistence” without explaining what this means in real life. These expressions can touch people’s emotions, but they often do not include clear plans or solutions. More generally, many politicians depend on old religious or social conflicts to make their words sound powerful and important, especially during elections. In this way, pseudo-profound language is used to influence people and gain support, even when the message itself is unclear or empty. So, should we be more careful?

Pennycook, G., Cheyne, J. A., Barr, N., Koehler, D. J., & Fugelsang, J. A. (2015). On the reception and detection of pseudo-profound bullshit. Judgment and Decision Making, 10(6), 549–563.