Pair person-first language with an explicit explanation of its rationale rather than expecting language change alone to shift attitudes¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The article recommends that language initiatives be accompanied by education about why language matters. Drawing on Belisle et al. (2025), it reports that person-centred language alone did not change student perceptions, but "providing a clear and thorough explanation of its rationale – emphasizing the humane treatment of the individuals in this population and how labels can contribute to stigmatization and bias – appears necessary to bring about meaningful changes in perceptions" of sentencing and management. The strategy is therefore to embed language guidance within instruction that explains stigma and recidivism evidence.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• An explicit explanation of the rationale for person-first language, emphasizing humane treatment and how labels contribute to stigmatization and bias, delivered alongside the language change

Constraints¶

• The cited classroom study had no control condition with a lecture on stigmatizing language without person-centred language, and no significant differences on stereotype endorsement or risk perception subscales

Target Learners¶

• community members and public audiences
• students in criminal justice or psychology courses

Target Learning Goals¶

• reduce stigmatizing attitudes toward individuals who have committed sexual offences
• support accurate understanding of rehabilitation and recidivism

Related Strategies¶

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Robles Chella, Cheema Harleen, Buro Karen, Jung Sandy. (2026). Changing Language May Not Be Enough to Change Public Perceptions of Individuals Who Sexually Offend. Sexual Offending: Theory, Research, and Prevention. https://doi.org/10.5964/sotrap.17345