The Foreign-Language Effect: Thinking Rationally

Imagine you’re offered a bet. If you win, you get $150. If you lose, you lose $100. Most people, when presented with this in their native language, turn it down. The fear of losing $100 feels more potent than the potential gain of $150, even though the odds are favorable. Now, what if you were asked to consider the exact same bet, but in a language you learned in school? Suddenly, the odds might seem much clearer, and you’d be more likely to take the risk. Why? You’ve just experienced the foreign-language effect.

This fascinating cognitive phenomenon suggests that the language we use to think can fundamentally alter the quality of our decisions. Research from psychologists and linguists reveals that using a second language can strip away emotional biases, paving the way for more rational, deliberate, and logical thought. It’s a powerful reminder that language isn’t just a tool for communication—it’s the very scaffold upon which we build our reality.

What is the Foreign-Language Effect?

The foreign-language effect is the observed tendency for people to make more systematic and less biased decisions when thinking in a non-native tongue. The term was popularized by researchers at the University of Chicago, including Boaz Keysar and Sayuri Hayakawa, whose work has systematically demonstrated how this linguistic switch can override our ingrained mental shortcuts.

One of the most classic illustrations of this is through the “framing effect.” Consider this famous problem, adapted from the work of Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky:

An unusual disease is expected to kill 600 people. Two alternative programs to combat the disease have been proposed.

Now, one group of participants is given these options, framed in terms of gains:

• Program A: 200 people will be saved.
• Program B: There is a 1/3 probability that 600 people will be saved, and a 2/3 probability that no people will be saved.

Another group is given the same scenario, but framed in terms of losses:

• Program C: 400 people will die.
• Program D: There is a 1/3 probability that nobody will die, and a 2/3 probability that 600 people will die.

In their native language, most people choose Program A (the sure thing) but reject Program C in favor of Program D (the gamble). This is irrational, because A and C are identical outcomes, as are B and D. The only difference is the framing. We are risk-averse when it comes to gains, but risk-seeking when it comes to avoiding losses.

However, when researchers presented this problem to bilinguals in their second language, the framing effect was drastically reduced. Participants were far more consistent, choosing the sure thing or the gamble regardless of whether it was framed as a “gain” or a “loss.” By thinking in a foreign language, they were able to see the problem for what it was: a simple statistical choice.

Why Does Switching Languages Change Our Thinking?

The power of the foreign-language effect seems to stem from a combination of cognitive and emotional factors. It’s not that one language is inherently more “logical” than another, but rather that our relationship with each language is different.

1. Reduced Emotional Resonance

Our native language is something we absorb from infancy. It’s deeply intertwined with our memories, our culture, and our rawest emotions. Words like “mother,” “home,” “risk,” or “death” carry a heavy visceral weight. They are learned through experience and are connected to a web of feelings and gut reactions.

A foreign language, on the other hand, is usually learned in a more sterile, academic environment. The words are more abstract and less emotionally charged. The French word perdre doesn’t sting quite as much as the English word “lose” for a native English speaker. This emotional distance acts as a buffer, allowing us to analyze a problem without being swayed by the intuitive, and often irrational, feelings that our native tongue automatically triggers.

2. Increased Cognitive Load

Let’s be honest: thinking in a second language is harder work. It requires more mental energy and deliberate focus to process vocabulary, grammar, and syntax. This increased “cognitive load” is actually a good thing for rational decision-making.

It forces us to slow down. We can’t rely on the quick, automatic, and often biased mental shortcuts that psychologist Daniel Kahneman calls “System 1” thinking. Instead, we are pushed into using “System 2″—the slower, more analytical, and effortful mode of thought. This deliberate processing naturally helps us to override our built-in biases and evaluate information more carefully.

3. Psychological Distancing

Using a different language creates a sense of psychological distance. It’s like stepping back from a painting to see the whole picture. This distance separates us from the immediacy of a situation, allowing for a more detached and objective perspective. This is particularly powerful in moral dilemmas. In studies using the infamous “trolley problem,” people are more likely to make a utilitarian choice (e.g., pushing one person onto the tracks to save five) when considering it in a foreign language. The act feels less personal and emotionally horrifying, making a cold, calculated decision more palatable.

Beyond the Lab: Real-World Implications

This effect isn’t just a quirky laboratory finding; it has significant implications for our daily lives.

• Financial Decisions: When evaluating investments or managing your budget, thinking through the options in a second language could help you overcome loss aversion and make choices based on expected value rather than fear.
• Business Negotiations: In international business, where English is often used as a lingua franca, the foreign-language effect may inadvertently be promoting more rational outcomes. Negotiators may be less susceptible to emotional appeals and more focused on the logical merits of a deal.
• Personal Choices: Facing a difficult life decision? Try writing down the pros and cons in a second language. This simple act might help you disentangle your emotions from the practical realities of the situation, leading to a clearer path forward.

A Tool, Not a Panacea

Does this mean we should always default to a foreign language for important decisions? Not at all. The emotional richness of our native tongue is a feature, not a bug. For tasks that require empathy, creativity, social connection, or understanding deep cultural nuance, our first language is irreplaceable.

Furthermore, proficiency matters. For a beginner, the cognitive load of using a second language might be so overwhelming that it impairs, rather than enhances, decision-making. The effect is strongest for those who are proficient enough to think through a problem but not so fluent that the language has become as emotionally resonant as their native one.

Ultimately, the foreign-language effect is a powerful demonstration of how deeply language shapes our cognition. It provides us with a fascinating mental tool. The next time you find yourself stuck on a tricky problem, paralyzed by fear or bias, try a simple experiment. Switch languages. You might just find that a new perspective was only a few words away.