If I understand it correctly, NPL posits that since our personal vocabulary is a reflection of ourselves we can modify our behaviour and attitudes by changing our vocabulary. Now though I can agree with the first concept, the idea that the causal relationship works both ways is frankly absurd – virtually implying that if I was to say 'they did well this season' sufficiently often I would develop a genuine and credible interest and subsequent career as a sports commentator?!
Oh, You think I could ?!??………
Ok that might not be a a good example…..
Anyway, I am interested in the way in which our vocabulary reflects our attitude and behaviour and in this piece, this subject is 'shopping' and in particular, how men and women (in general !) use words to describe the activity.
A male will say 'I'm going to do the shopping' – it is essentially a hunter/gatherer role the prey being defined by a constructed list.
A female is much more likely to say 'I'm going shopping' a similar task but more loosely defined.
So to describe this variation with attached value judgements:
The first is focused (+ ve) or blinkered (-ve)
The second is flexible (+ve) or unplanned (-ve)
The first offers fast efficient use of time; the second being a more relaxed process which may- or may not – be more fruitful.
Of course, there is an additional element which has been described as the 'Momentary Pleasure of Acquisition'.
Now it would appear to me that for a female, the threshold for that moment may be triggered by a 'bargain' though heightened to orgasmic levels by an object with a designer label and a bargain price attached. Of course, men are not immune to MPA to the entry level is more likely to be triggered at a higher fiscal level by some high-tech gadgetry or high speed vehicle!
To me, the trigger level for MPA and the difference between genders explains why women may 'just go for a wander round the shops' whereas, in most instances, a male will find this an incomprehensible way to spend an afternoon, having no purpose or focus.
Of course, there is an obvious flaw in my logic which undermines the gender-based analysis completely, as I demonstrated unequivocally last October when my patient 'other half' read several substantial volumes on her Kindle, as I wandered happily through the guitar shops of New York in Nashville, Clarksdale and Memphis …….'just having a look'!
