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Journal of Language and Social Psychology
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Cancer Patients Versus Cancer Survivors

Social and Emotional Consequences of Word Choice

Catherine E. Mosher

State University of New York, Albany, mosherc{at}mskcc.org

Sharon Danoff-Burg

State University of New York, Albany

Two studies examined the social and emotional implications of different linguistic classifications of individuals with cancer. Undergraduates were randomly assigned to rate their reactions to either cancer patients or cancer survivors. Across studies, participants held more favorable perceptions of the character of cancer survivors relative to cancer patients and displayed more positive attitudes toward the former group. In addition, participants in Study 1 reported greater willingness to interact with cancer survivors compared with cancer patients. Positive perceptions of prognosis did not appear to account for favorable attitudes toward cancer survivors; most participants in Study 2 did not assume that cancer survivors were beyond the treatment phase of their illness or cured of their disease. Findings point to a potentially powerful effect of word choice on reactions to individuals with cancer.

Key Words: cancer • perceptions • attitudes

This version was published on March 1, 2009

Journal of Language and Social Psychology, Vol. 28, No. 1, 72-84 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/0261927X08325762
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