An Analysis of the Forms and Meaning of Psychological Jargon in the Dialogues of Inside Out 2

Abstract

    Abstract This study analyzes the forms and meanings of psychological jargon found in the dialogues of the animated film Inside Out 2 (Pixar, 2024). Psychological jargon — technical terms originating from the field of psychology — has become increasingly visible in popular media, yet its linguistic dimension remains underexplored. This study addresses that gap by applying a dual-level jargon analysis: examining the linguistic forms and the contextual meanings of psychological terms as they appear in the film’s spoken dialogue. The study employs a qualitative descriptive method with a content analysis approach. Data were collected from the film’s official transcript and analyzed using a data sheet instrument guided by explicit classification parameters derived from sociolinguistic and semantic theories. A total of 18 psychological jargon items were identified, consisting of single words and phrases formed predominantly through borrowing and compounding. The findings show that the film’s use of psychological jargon falls into three semantic patterns: alignment with accepted technical meaning, partial simplification of technical meaning, and creative popularization of psychological concepts for a mass audience.