Mental imagery and harmful language

Abstract Research on pernicious language tends to focus on harmful beliefs and associations generated by such language. In this paper, I explore the idea that pernicious language often carries harmful mental imagery. Empirical studies suggest that mental imagery is a pervasive feature of language processing. Furthermore, mental imagery prompted by language can influence our memories and judgements in an insidious way. Focusing on language containing misinformation about witnessed events, as well as pernicious generics and metaphors about social groups, this paper argues for the importance of mental imagery for theorising harmful language and suggests ways to counter the influence of the harmful imagery that language generates.