This research paper would focus on the effects of politically correct and incorrect speech on behavior. Specifically, the extent to which politically correct standards of behavior serve as justification for widespread censorship and further prejudiced actions. Conversely, the possibility that politically incorrect language can have harmful effects on behavior leading to measurable loss.
Both Geoffrey Hughes’ book and Frank Ellis’ article give us a thorough history of the transformation of the term “political correctness”. But Ellis’ article specifically focuses on the influence of socialist regimes on current conceptions of political correctness, defining it as a movement specifically concerned with appearance over substance. Roger Kimball’s article then goes on to highlight the negative results of such socialist ideals contrary to original intentions. That far from the populous utopia promised, we instead got a haven for censorship. Now using Ellis’ definition of maoist inspired PC we look at Robert Shibley’s and Merritt et al’s study. Which shows that this focus on appearances can justify problematic behavior such as censorship and prejudice. Lastly, McAdams and Dharmapala’s paper instead presents research showing that hate speech can have observable economic negative effects on a person’s behavior. Suggesting that political correctness, which aims to curtail that kind of speech, might in fact serve to eliminate harm if implemented properly. Further research into the harmful effects of politically incorrect language would have to be done. As well as looking into whether all current conception of PC do in fact fall in line with the socialist ideas of political correctness. And finally, is moral self-licensing primarily a consequence of hyper politically correct language or does it simply correlate with it?
Ellis, Frank. “Political Correctness and the Ideological Struggle: From Lenin and Mao to Marcuse and Foucault.” The Journal of Social, Political, and Economic Studies 27.4 (2002): 409-44. ProQuest.Web 24 Oct. 2016
Dharmapala, Dhammika, and Richard H. McAdams. “Words That Kill? An Economic Model of the Influence of Speech on Behavior (with Particular Reference to Hate Speech).” The Journal of Legal Studies 34.1 (2005): 93-136. Web.
Merritt, Anna C., Daniel A. Effron, and Benoit Monin. “Moral Self-Licensing: When Being Good Frees Us to Be Bad.” Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 5 May 2010. Web. 24 Oct. 2016.
Hughes, Geoffery. “Political Correctness : A History of Semantics and Culture.” Baruch College. Maldon, Mass. : Wiley-Blackwell, 2010. Web. 24 Oct. 2016.
Shibley, Robert. “Vindictive Protectiveness on Campus.” Society 53.4 (2016): 375-82. Web.
Kimball, Roger. “Political correctness or, the perils of benevolence.” The National Interest 74 (2003): 158+. Biography in Context. Web. 24 Oct. 2016.