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Description: Uncertainty is an inherent aspect of human existence, manifesting across the unpredictable nature of individual life paths and the dynamic state of global affairs. Psychology is concerned with the empirical study of human cognition, emotion, and behavior and has vested considerable interest in investigating uncertainty. This research encompasses the examination of how individuals differ in their responses to indeterminacy (Furnham & Marks, 2013; Grenier et al., 2005; Kossowska et al., 2020; Shuper et al., 2004; Webster & Kruglanski, 1994). Within this scope, individuals are often categorized along a continuum reflecting their orientation toward uncertainty, with some perceiving it as a positive challenge while others regard it as a source of distress (Minkov & Hofstede, 2014; Shuper et al., 2004; Webster & Kruglanski, 1994). A particular focus has been placed on dichotomous thinking—the propensity to view situations in a binary fashion, disregarding the continuum between extremes (Bonfá-Araujo et al., 2021; Oshio, 2009). This cognitive style is considered a significant marker of one's tolerance for uncertainty (Hillen et al., 2017; Roets & Van Hiel, 2007; Webster & Kruglanski, 1994). Despite various methodological approaches to measuring this construct, analyzing the use of dichotomous language in natural discourse has emerged as a particularly valid method (Al-Mosawi, 2018). Our current study is designed to scrutinize textual corpora from 1850 to 2016 to discern patterns in dichotomous thinking and to investigate whether periods of heightened societal uncertainty, such as those during wars or economic downturns, are associated with a surge in binary cognitive processing.