Differences in Egocentricity Between Spoken and Written Expression Under Stress and Non-Stress Conditions

Abstract

The Zipf rank-frequency curve, which measures the balance between word repetition and diversification, shows graphical differences between egocentric and socio-centric expression. The problem in this study is to demonstrate, by precise mathematical analysis of these curves, statistical differences in degree of " egocentric orientation." 40 Queens College undergraduates, divided equally into " stress " and " non-stress " groups, were asked to speak on one of two poems and write on the other. 4 Zipf curves were compiled and analysed. Spoken expression was more egocentric than written expression at p < 0.01. Results due to stress were unexpected: both non-stress speech and non-stress writing were significantly more egocentric than stress writing (p < 0.05). This finding is interpreted in terms of activation differences.