🧠ap psychology review

Whorf’s linguistic relativity hypothesis

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examWritten by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

Whorf’s linguistic relativity hypothesis suggests that the structure and vocabulary of a language influences how its speakers perceive and think about the world around them. In other words, the way we use language shapes our thoughts and perceptions.

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