Abstract

This interdisciplinary study examines whether self-perception and personality shifts occur in English-French bilingual speakers, and to what extent. Empirically, it draws on Dylman and Zakrisson’s (2023) study, which found a significant effect on language and culture. Qualitatively, this study analyzed a series of personal writings and interviews with a famous English-French bilingual named Nancy Huston, whose personal recounts offer a deep understanding of a bilingual’s unique experiences and lifelong journey of exploring identity. This study surveyed 32 college students at The College of Wooster. Participants were randomly placed into one of four conditions (French language and French speaking countries cultures, French language and American culture, English language and French speaking countries cultures, and English language and American culture) and then told to take a 60-question HEXACO personality questionnaire. Then participants responded to 20 qualitative questions about their experiences being bilingual. The study found that there was a significant main effect of language on Extraversion and Emotionality; however, no other significant main effects of language or culture were found for any of the other HEXACO factors. The qualitative responses showed that self-perceptions and personality do shift when switching languages and that participants become more open-minded to new experiences when they acquire a new language or have multicultural experiences. Some of these responses align with Nancy Huston’s own experiences. This study sheds light on the unique experiences of bilinguals, and how bilingualism can have an impact on our personalities and self-perceptions.

Advisor

Gamble, Harry

Second Advisor

Thompson, Claudia

Department

French and Francophone Studies; Psychology

Disciplines

French and Francophone Language and Literature | Personality and Social Contexts | Quantitative Psychology

Keywords

English-French Bilinguals, Bilingualism, Personality, Psychology, Self-Perceptions, Bicultural, Nancy Huston

Publication Date

2025

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

Download

Share

COinS
 

© Copyright 2025 Anna Chapman