Study Finds Using The Word 'mate' Doesn't Make You More Trustworthy

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Study finds using the word 'mate' doesn't make you more trustworthyBy Sonia Lal7:19pm Sep 3, 2021
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Using the word 'mate' in conversation has been found not increase trustworthiness, a new study reveals.The study, published in Human Ethology, has revealed people without an Australian accent are considered less trustworthy.The author of the study, Dr Cyril Grueter from University of Western Australia's School of Human Sciences, said his research team set out to find out why Australians frequently interjected their conversations with the salutation 'mate' and if using the cultural idiom fortified connections between people.READ MORE:Sydney tradies fined and construction site closed for COVID-19 breaches
Using Aussie slang has been found by a new study to increase trustworthiness.
Using Aussie slang has been found by a new study to increase trustworthiness. (Getty)
Dr Grueter and his colleagues also researched whether Australians discriminated against speakers with accents other than Australian-English."We were specifically interested in the situation in Australia where you can hear all sorts of accents and it's customary to use the term 'mate' to address people," Dr Grueter said.Dr Grueter also added that accents were "a pertinent social marker and can shape group preferences; non-native speakers are often perceived less positively than native speakers in domains such as integrity and solidarity."Researchers conducted a psychological experiment that involved the recording of six speeches by three male speakers, which were differentiated by accent and use of the word 'mate'.
Study author Dr Cyril Grueter from UWA's School of Human Sciences said his research team wanted to know if Australians discriminated against speakers with different accents.
Study author Dr Cyril Grueter from UWA's School of Human Sciences said his research team wanted to know if Australians discriminated against speakers with different accents. (University of Western Australia)
READ MORE:WHO flags Mu variant as potentially dangerous strain of coronavirusListeners then rated each speech in regards to trustworthiness.Researchers said "Australian listeners regard speakers with their own accent as having higher trustworthiness".What's more, the study found that there was a distinction drawn between Australian-English speakers and other English speakers.Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards winners crownedView GalleryDr Grueter said it was important to acknowledge that the results were based on one experiment and required additional investigation.Continue reading
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Tag » Why Do Australians Say Mate