Exploration of basic human values in 38 million obituaries over 30 years [pdf] (moralitylab.bc.edu)

In a groundbreaking study, researchers analyzed 38 million obituaries from the United States over 30 years to explore how societal values are reflected in personal legacies. This research reveals significant trends, indicating that values such as tradition and benevolence are commonly celebrated, while concepts like power and stimulation are less frequently acknowledged. The study also found that major cultural events, including the September 11 attacks, the 2008 financial crisis, and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, influenced how these values were expressed in obituaries, with notable declines in mentions of security and benevolence following these crises. This exploration is significant for the AI/ML community as it highlights the potential of natural language processing and text analysis in extracting meaningful insights from large datasets. By using Schwartz’s theory of basic human values, the researchers could map societal sentiment and shifts in collective memory, illustrating how language reflects psychological states over time. The findings serve as a valuable resource for understanding how obituaries act as cultural time capsules, capturing not only individual legacies but also broader societal values and changes, thus demonstrating the interplay between linguistics, psychology, and cultural evolution.