An exploratory study on abusive verbal language and its effects on the personality of Turkish adolescents with different religious backgrounds

Abstract

This study aims to explore and understand the effects of abusive verbal language on the personality of Turkish adolescents with different religious backgrounds such as Islam, Christianity and Judaism in Türkiye, Istanbul. A phenomenological case-study qualitative research approach was employed using semi-structured interviews with six participants aged between 15 and 19 years old as well as three religious’ teachers. The thematic content analysis was utilized to analyse the collected data. The findings revealed the five-factor personality traits in terms of openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness and neuroticism. There was a correlation between the use of abusive language and the five-factor personality traits, where they also perceived the use of abusive language and its users as those at low levels of the five-factor personality traits. A set of recommendations with the objective of reducing the prevalence of profanity was proposed. In accordance with these recommendations and within the framework of general interview questions, five supplementary themes which were culture, friendship, family, education and faith surfaced. This study aspires to contribute to the fields of educational psychology, educational psycholinguistics, personality, spirituality and adolescents’ development especially among Turkish adolescents in Istanbul. Therefore, the findings of the study are directly proportional to the literature and are sources for teachers as well as religious NGOs in developing future curricula on the needs of Turkish adolescents’ education and personality development. It is hoped that the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of National Education will play its role in devising effective policies that inculcate spiritual and religious guidance.