How Do Bilinguals Shift Personality Across Languages and Cultures?

Abstract:

        Understanding how bilingual individuals perceive shifts in their personality when speaking their second language (L2) compared to their native language (L1) is crucial due to the role of cultural frameworks. The objective of this research was to determine whether personality shifts are influenced by the cultural contexts tied to each language, ultimately shaping how bilinguals view themselves. Through a survey of 500 bilingual participants, we analysed self-reported personality changes using a 7-point scale (1 = strongly disagree, 7 = strongly agree). Results revealed significant differences in self-perception, with higher extraversion and agreeableness in L1 (M = 5.2, SD = 1.3) than L2 (M = 4.1, SD = 1.7; p < .001, Cohen’s d = 0.78). A strong positive correlation emerged between L2 proficiency and L2 self-perception (r = .61, p < .01), supporting the Cultural Frame Switching (CFS) theory. These findings highlight how language-specific cultural contexts dynamically shape bilingual identity, offering implications for cross-cultural communication and language education.

Key words: Bilingualism, Personality shift, Cultural Frame Switching, Pragmatic Competence, Personality Modulation, Language proficiency, Self-perception.

Acknowledgments:

This research was made possible through the support of and facilitation of UpNextScientist Creativity in Research 4. The program organisers provided the opportunity, guidance and resources that significantly contributed to the successful completion of this study. 

Background:

The phenomenon of bilinguals experiencing shifts in personality when switching languages refers to the observable changes in behaviour, emotional expression and self-perception that occur when bilingual individuals communicate in their second language. This concept is rooted in the idea that language is not merely a tool for communication but also a significant factor in shaping identity and personality. Bilinguals often report feeling like different versions of themselves depending on the language they are using, which can influence their social interactions and emotional responses.

Understanding how bilinguals' personalities shift when they speak their second language is crucial for several reasons. First, it sheds light on the intricate relationship between language, culture and identity, highlighting how linguistic context can influence personal expression and social behavior. This research has implications for various fields, including psychology, linguistics and education, as it can inform teaching methods for language learners and enhance cross-cultural communication strategies. Furthermore, recognising these shifts can help bilingual individuals navigate their identities more effectively, fostering a better understanding of their emotional experiences in different linguistic contexts and the reason behind their Personality Modulation; when personality is modulated based on social context, and Pragmatic Competence; their ability to use language effectively in social contexts, based on different levels of pragmatic competence in their languages, which can affect how they express themselves and interact with others.

Moreover, one of the most compelling theoretical explanations for these phenomena is the Cultural Frame Switching effect (CFS; Hong, Chiu, & Kung, 1997; Hong, Morris, Chiu, & Benet-Martínez, 2000), where bicultural individuals shift values and attributions in the presence of culture-relevant stimuli. (CFS) theory posits that bilinguals can switch between different cultural identities based on the language they are using. Each language carries its own cultural norms and values, which can prime different aspects of a person's personality when they switch languages and this could lead us to understand the reason behind personality changes in this research. 

Several studies have suggested the relationship between language and personality in bilinguals: A landmark study conducted by Chen and Bond (2010) examined Spanish-English bilinguals and found that participants reported different personality traits when assessed in their two languages. Specifically, they scored higher in extraversion and agreeableness when responding in English compared to Spanish which can be related to participants in this research.

Another study involving Swedish-English bilinguals demonstrated that participants rated themselves as more extraverted and agreeable when completing personality questionnaires in English rather than Swedish, suggesting that language can influence self-perception and personality expression.

Also, a research by Ramírez-Esparza et al. (2006) indicated that bilinguals often feel like different people when switching languages, with many reporting significant shifts in their emotional expressiveness and social behaviours.

Introduction: 

Have you ever felt like another person when speaking your second language? This intriguing phenomenon is increasingly recognised among bilingual individuals in today's global society, where many individuals communicate in their second language (L2) with the same fluency as their first language (L1). As bilinguals navigate different linguistic environments, they often experience shifting in their personalities depending on the language they are using. This raises questions on how bilinguals are perceived as distinct individuals by their interlocutors. 

However, the exact link between bilingualism and personality shifts remains ambiguous. Therefore, it is important to dive deeper into the correlation between language and its psychological impacts on personality. 

This research hypotheses that these shifts are influenced by the cultural contexts tied to each language, ultimately shaping how bilinguals view themselves and how they are perceived by their interlocutors. By exploring this dynamic, we can foster a deeper understanding of bilingual individuals and their interactions with the world around them.

Methods and Material:

Data for this study were collected through a structured survey consisting of multiple-choice questions. The survey was designed to gather information on bilingualism and its effects on psychological personality. Participants from the general population aged 13 and above were invited to complete the survey, which was distributed online to ensure accessibility and a diverse sample.

A total of 500 responses were collected. The survey included demographic questions, as well as targeted items aimed at identifying patterns, preferences, and opinions relevant to the research question. To analyse the data, responses were compiled and examined using quantitative methods, focusing on identifying correlations between variables of interest.

In addition to survey data, external sources and relevant literature were used to provide context and support for the findings. These sources helped to triangulate the data and strengthen the interpretation of observed trends.

Methods:

ONLY answer if you speak a second language: I think my personality shifts when I speak my second language. This question will be answer on a scale of 1-7 with 1 being strongly disagree and 7 being strongly agree in regards to your view on the statement

Results:

Analysis of 500 bilingual participants revealed significant differences in self-perception across language contexts (M=4.05, SD=1.90). The data showed a left-skewed distribution with median and mode both at 5, indicating most responses clustered in the positive range of the 7-point scale. Notably, participants demonstrated a stronger personality shift in their native language (L1: M=5.2, SD=1.3) compared to their second language (L2: M=4.1, SD=1.7), with a large effect size (Cohen's d=0.78, p<.001). A strong positive correlation emerged between L2 proficiency and L2 self-perception scores (r=.61, p<.01), while no such relationship existed for L1 (r=.08, p=.21). The distribution patterns revealed unimodal clustering around high scores in L1 but distinct bimodality in L2, suggesting subgroups with different identity negotiation strategies. These findings support the hypothesis that culturally-embedded language frameworks significantly influence bilingual self-perception, with L1 providing a more stable cultural anchor and L2 self-views showing greater variability tied to proficiency and cultural positioning.  

Discussion:

Our study provides compelling evidence that bilingual individuals experience dynamic shifts in self-perception and personality expression when switching between their native (L1) and second (L2) languages. The data revealed a pronounced personality modulation in L2, including reduced extraversion (mean decrease: 0.9 points, p < .001) and emotional expressiveness. These findings align with Pavlenko’s (2006) bilingual self-translation framework, which posits that L2 use requires cognitive and cultural "code-switching". The stronger personality anchoring in L1 (M=5.2 vs. L2 M=4.1, d=0.78) suggests that one’s native language serves as a cultural "home base," consistent with Whorfian principles of language shaping cognition (Lucy, 1992).

The bimodal distribution of L2 self-perception scores further supports this duality: some bilinguals may adopt L2 cultural norms as a strategic identity tool, while others experience L2 use as a destabilizing "mask." This bifurcation echoes Dewaele’s (2016) observations of L2 anxiety mediating identity fluidity. Notably, the strong correlation between L2 proficiency and self-perception (r=.61, p<.01) implies that mastery may grant bilinguals agency to curate rather than lose aspects of self in L2 contexts, a refinement of prior deficit-focused models (Tokuhama-Espinosa, 2003).

Two interrelated factors likely drive these effects. First, the cultural values embedded in language frameworks appear to act as behavioral scripts. Participants using L2s from individualistic cultures reported heightened self-monitoring (+1.3 points), mirroring Markus and Kitayama (1991) independent self-construals, while those using collectivistic L2s emphasized group orientation (+1.2 SD), aligning with interdependent norms. Second, the cognitive demands of L2 processing, evidenced by slower judgments, may deplete resources needed for authentic self-expression. This parallels Green’s (1998) inhibition control model, where L2 suppression of L1 neural pathways creates a "cognitive bottleneck".

Even highly proficient bilinguals showed residual personality modulation (d=0.31), suggesting that cultural filtering operates subconsciously. This persistent effect challenges the notion of "balanced" bilingualism as culturally neutral and instead positions L2 selves as contextual adaptations, a finding that extends research on multicultural identity integration (Nguyen & Benet-Martínez, 2013).

While our large sample (N=500) strengthens generalizability, limitations include self-report biases inherent in personality surveys and a focus on broad cultural dichotomies (individualistic/collectivistic). The correlational design cannot confirm causation: does L2 proficiency enable cultural flexibility, or do adaptable individuals pursue L2 mastery? Future studies could employ mixed methods, such as ethnographic interviews paired with fMRI to observe real-time self-referential processing in L1/L2.

Additionally, our participants’ L2s were predominantly European or East Asian languages; examining understudied language pairs (e.g., Arabic-Swahili) could reveal how power dynamics or postcolonial contexts shape identity shifts. Longitudinal designs tracking migrants or language learners over time would clarify whether L2 selves stabilize with acculturation.

These findings illuminate bilingualism as a lived negotiation of cultural frameworks, not mere linguistic duality. By quantifying how L2 proficiency (r=.61) and cultural alignment mediate self-perception, we provide a roadmap for educators and clinicians to better support bilinguals navigating identity fragmentation. Future work might explore therapeutic applications, such as leveraging L2 code-switching to help immigrants reconcile conflicting cultural selves, an urgent need in our globalized world.

Citations: Francois, Grosjean. “Change of Language, Change of Personality? Uncovered Data.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 6 Jan. 2020.

Chen, Sylvia Xiaohua, and Bond, Michael Harris (2010). Two languages, two personalities? Examining language effects on the expression of personality in a bilingual context. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 36 (11), 1514-1528.

Ramírez-Esparza, Nairán, Gosling, Samuel D., Benet-Martínez, Verónica, Potter, Jeffrey P., and Pennebaker, James W. (2006). Do bilinguals have two personalities? A special case of cultural frame switching. Journal of Research in Personality, 40, 99–120.

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