Concept Creep: Understanding Harm Inflation

Nicholas Haslam

Abstract: I will present an overview of my research program on "concept creep", the tendency for harm-related concepts to broaden their meanings over time. This program includes studies of historical semantic change that apply natural language processing methods to large text corpora, as well as correlational and experimental studies of the implications of holding expansive harm concepts. Paying special attention to evolving concepts of mental illness, I will argue that concept creep reflects an important cultural shift that contributes to the current mental health crisis. This work raises interesting questions about how conceptual change can create changes in personal identity and social reality.