Using word analysis to track the evolution of emotional well-being in nineteenth-century industrializing Britain. Issue 4 (17th November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lack, Pierre
• Is Part Of: Historical methods. Volume 54:Issue 4(2021)
• Page Start: 228
• Page End: 247
• Publication Date: 2021-11-17
• Subjects: Big data -- subjective well-being -- pamphlets -- sentiment -- analysis -- emotions; Social sciences -- Periodicals; Onderzoeksmethoden; Electronic journals; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 300.5
• DOI: 10.1080/01615440.2021.1952915
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0161-5440

Abstract

Abstract: Happiness economics theorizes that economic growth is only tenuously connected to happiness. This article tests this theory on historical evidence by quantifying the trend in emotional well-being (EWB) of British men during the period of rapid industrialization between 1800 and 1900, using a digitized corpus of 19, 682 pamphlets published in Britain during this period and held by JSTOR. EWB is measured between these years using a sentiment analysis method of quantifying the frequency over time of a set of positive-valence ("happy") word groups relative to negative-valence ("sad") word groups in the corpus, finding that it remains trendless throughout. This method thereby also provides insight into the quality of life of men during the Industrial Revolution.