Kang Muslim
The research, led by Liang Xu, Yiwen Wu, and Zehua Jiang, provides a quantitative window into the collective psyche of the English-speaking world. The findings suggest that while lawyers have consistently been viewed as highly organized and responsible, they are increasingly perceived as lacking in warmth and interpersonal cooperation. This divergence in personality traits reflects not only the changing nature of the legal industry but also broader societal shifts in how professional authority and competence are defined.
Methodology: Mining a Century of Literature
To capture a century’s worth of social stereotypes, the research team utilized the Google Books Ngram dataset, an expansive digital archive containing approximately 14,953,356 English-language books published between 1900 and 2019. This dataset allowed the scientists to bypass the limitations of traditional surveys, which are often restricted by small sample sizes and contemporary biases. Instead, they performed what can be described as "linguistic archaeology," tracking how adjectives associated with specific personality traits appeared in proximity to the terms "lawyer" or "lawyers."
The researchers grounded their analysis in the "Big Five" personality model, a gold standard in psychological research. This model categorizes human personality into five distinct dimensions:
- Openness to Experience: Creativity, intellectual curiosity, and a preference for novelty.
- Conscientiousness: Organization, dependability, discipline, and a focus on achievement.
- Extraversion: Sociability, assertiveness, and emotional expressiveness.
- Agreeableness: Trust, altruism, kindness, and cooperation.
- Neuroticism: Emotional instability, anxiety, and vulnerability to stress.
The team compiled a lexicon of 315 adjectives specifically linked to these five traits. Using computational programming, they measured the frequency with which these adjectives were used to describe lawyers. To ensure the results were not merely a reflection of general linguistic trends, the researchers established a baseline by tracking how these same adjectives were applied to the generic terms "person" or "persons." This allowed them to calculate the "relative frequency" of traits, highlighting the specific characteristics that society uniquely attributes to the legal profession.
A Chronological Evolution of the Legal Archetype
The study identifies three distinct eras in the public perception of lawyers, each defined by a different dominant personality trait.
1900–1939: The Era of Agreeableness
In the early decades of the 20th century, the prevailing description of lawyers was rooted in "Agreeableness." During this period, legal professionals were frequently associated with terms suggesting cooperation and social harmony. This likely reflects a historical period where the lawyer was often viewed as a "gentlemanly" counselor or a pillar of the community, whose role was as much about mediation and civic leadership as it was about technical litigation.
1940–1999: The Rise of the Conscientious Professional
Following the onset of World War II and the subsequent economic boom, the dominant trait shifted dramatically toward "Conscientiousness." For nearly sixty years, descriptions of lawyers emphasized practicality, ambition, and a conservative, disciplined approach to work. Researchers suggest this shift coincides with the professionalization and expansion of corporate law. As law firms grew into massive, hierarchical organizations (often referred to as "Big Law"), the public began to view the lawyer as a highly efficient, reliable, and hardworking cog in the industrial and financial machine.
2000–2019: The Modern Shift Toward Openness
By the 2100s, "Openness" emerged as the most frequently discussed dimension in relation to lawyers. This transition reflects the 21st-century emphasis on innovation, technological integration, and creative problem-solving. As the legal field adapted to globalization and digital transformation, the stereotype of the rigid, traditionalist lawyer was replaced by one of an intellectually curious and adaptable professional capable of navigating complex, modern systems.
Key Findings: The Widening Warmth Gap
One of the study’s most striking revelations is the persistent and growing "warmth gap" between lawyers and the general public. While lawyers were consistently rated higher than the average person in categories like conscientiousness and openness, they scored significantly lower in agreeableness.
The data indicates that over the last 120 years, lawyers have been increasingly portrayed as less cooperative and more aggressive. Words such as "manipulative," "self-serving," or "confrontational" have become more common in descriptions of the profession. This suggests that while society respects the intellectual and organizational prowess of legal professionals, there is a deep-seated and growing distrust regarding their motives and interpersonal empathy.
Furthermore, the perception of "Extraversion" underwent a surprising decline. Prior to the 1960s, lawyers were viewed as more outgoing and socially energetic than the average person—a reflection, perhaps, of the "courtroom orator" archetype. However, by the 1990s, this score dropped sharply, eventually falling below that of the average person. This may reflect a cultural shift toward viewing legal work as a sedentary, desk-bound, and perhaps more socially isolated profession.
Expert Analysis and Internal Perspectives
Zehua (Rankie) Jiang, one of the lead researchers from Zhejiang University, noted that the motivation for the study came from the jarring contrast in how lawyers are portrayed in popular media versus real-world legal contexts. "We noticed that lawyers are often described in very different ways, which made us curious: how has this profession actually been portrayed over time?" Jiang explained.
The research team emphasized that their findings do not necessarily describe how lawyers actually behave, but rather how they are perceived and written about. "The shift over time was quite interesting—lawyers were described as more agreeable in earlier periods, then more responsible, and more recently as more open and innovative," Jiang told PsyPost. "Compared to a ‘typical person,’ lawyers are more often portrayed as conscientious, open, extraverted, emotionally stable, and somewhat less agreeable."
Industry analysts suggest that these perceptions are often reinforced by high-profile legal cases and the portrayal of lawyers in film and television. The transition from the noble advocate (like Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird) to the hyper-efficient but morally flexible operator (like the characters in Suits or Better Call Saul) mirrors the data’s shift from agreeableness to conscientiousness and, eventually, to a more complex, "open" but less "agreeable" archetype.
Implications for the Legal Profession and Society
The results of this study have significant implications for the legal industry and the broader justice system. The persistent stereotype of the "disagreeable" lawyer can undermine public trust in the law. If the people responsible for upholding justice are viewed as increasingly aggressive or uncooperative, the perceived legitimacy of the legal system itself may suffer.
For law firms and legal educators, the study highlights a potential need to address "soft skills" and emotional intelligence. While the market demands conscientiousness and openness, the public’s desire for warmth and cooperation remains unmet. Firms that prioritize "agreeable" traits—such as empathy, collaboration, and ethical communication—may find themselves better positioned to bridge the gap between professional competence and public trust.
Additionally, the rise of "Openness" in the 21st century suggests that the legal profession is no longer seen as a static, tradition-bound field. This creates an opportunity for lawyers to rebrand themselves as innovative partners in progress, rather than just defenders of the status quo. However, the data warns that this innovation must be balanced with a return to the community-focused, cooperative values that defined the profession a century ago.
Limitations and Future Research Directions
While the study is groundbreaking in its scope, the authors acknowledge certain limitations. The analysis was restricted to English-language books, which primarily reflects Western, and specifically Anglo-American, cultural perspectives. The stereotypes associated with lawyers in civil law jurisdictions (such as in Continental Europe or East Asia) may differ significantly due to different legal traditions and cultural values regarding authority and conflict.
Furthermore, because the study relies on published books, it may reflect the biases of an educated, literate elite rather than the views of the entire population. The researchers also noted that the "Big Five" model, while robust, may not capture every nuance of professional identity.
Looking ahead, the research team plans to expand their methodology to other professions, such as doctors, engineers, and teachers, to see if similar patterns of professional "evolution" exist. "We’re interested in looking at other professions, and we’re also working on a more general framework for tracking personality descriptions over time," Jiang stated.
As society continues to grapple with the role of the legal system in an era of rapid technological and social change, this 120-year analysis serves as a vital reminder that the "personality" of a profession is not fixed. It is a living, breathing reflection of the values, fears, and aspirations of the society it serves.
