Language and Perception: Exploring the Psychological, Behavioral, and Social Dimensions of Language Bias and Identity

In today’s interconnected world, everyday interactions among speakers of various languages, cultures, and identities have become commonplace, shaping how language is used and understood. These exchanges not only affect linguistic processing but also deeply influence how individuals perceive one another, and how biases take root and are transmitted within communities. In environments rich in cultural and identity diversity, features such as speakers’ gender or accents often serve as salient cues for social categorization, shaping perceptions of group membership and social status. This dynamic landscape provides a robust foundation for exploring the psychological and behavioral mechanisms underlying language- and accent-based biases, as well as the formation of individual and group identities.

Currently, a significant challenge lies in understanding how language bias manifests at the level of communication and behavior, and, crucially, in elucidating the cognitive and psychological processes by which these biases influence social interaction. Linguistic choices—words, phrasing, accent, and prosody—can subtly influence perceptions, perpetuate stereotypes, and shape social interactions and community relations. The impact of these biases is profound, affecting societal dynamics, perpetuating inequalities, and influencing individual well-being, particularly within minority groups. Certain linguistic habits contribute extensively to these phenomena, reinforcing stereotypes and fostering social exclusion, pointing to the urgent need for comprehensive research—particularly into the underlying psychological mechanisms that translate language cues into attitudes and behaviors.

This Research Topic aims to advance our empirical and theoretical understanding of language’s complex role in shaping bias and identity formation across varied social, cultural, and institutional contexts. Emphasis will be placed on interrogating the psychological processes—such as implicit attitudes, stereotyping, attention, and memory—that mediate the relationship between linguistic and social-categorical cues, and the resulting social outcomes. The Topic aims to address key questions regarding how underlying attitudes and societal norms—such as those related to gender and ethnicity—impact experiences of inclusion, exclusion, and marginalization. Furthermore, the Topic explores how linguistic and behavioral practices are interwoven with processes of identity negotiation, social acceptance, and mental health among minority groups, especially in relation to their language competence and the sociocultural dimensions of language acquisition and use.

We invite contributions addressing, but not limited to:

• the influence of language competence on in-group/out-group perceptions
• attitudinal and behavioral patterns toward minoritized and regional language accents in multilingual societies and their implications for social categorization and linguistic stereotyping
• how gendered or biased language sustains traditional gender roles, perpetuates stereotypes, and contributes to gender-related stigma in both societal and professional contexts
• the emergence and implications of new methodological approaches for studying linguistic variation, especially in relation to minoritized and regional accents
• risks of discrimination and mental health consequences arising from linguistic exclusion
• how underlying cognitive processes are reflected and reinforced in language-based interactions between humans and artificial intelligence systems.

We welcome submissions reporting studies using experimental, computational, and neuroscientific paradigms, as well as studies covering cognitive processes in the linguistic interaction between humans and AI systems. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and focusing on the psychological mechanisms linking language to bias and identity, this initiative aims to advance understanding and promote the development of more inclusive, multilingual societies—benefiting researchers, educators, clinicians, policymakers, and developers of language technologies.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Registered Report
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: linguistic bias, inclusion, perception, gender bias, diversity, minority groups, stereotypical language

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.