A BBC report claims that your names might cause just be a force to whether your life is at a advantage or handicap.
People walk around with stereotypes in their heads that can influence all sorts of decisions, yet don’t even realise it, says psychologist Richard Wiseman, who conducted the research.
A base test of 6,000 people were surveyed on which names they thought were successful, lucky, or/and attractive.
Aptly called The Name Experiment; results are:
Elizabeth and James are considered the most successful sounding first names,
Lucy and Jack the luckiest,
Sophie and Ryan the most attractive.
At the other end of the stick were…
Lisa and Brian being the least successful,
Helen and John being the least lucky,
Ann and George – least attractive.
“Past research has shown that such perceptions can become self-fulfilling prophesies, with teachers giving higher marks to children with attractive names and employers being more likely to promote those who sound successful,” says Dr Wiseman.
(I hope there’s no pun in his name – although it works I must say cos at least it’s not Dr Dumbman saying it)
“The real consequence is not in the actual name itself, but in the intentions behind it,” says Dr Martin Skinner, a social psychologist at Warwick University.
“Names usually reflect parental aspirations, so someone who wants their child to be taken seriously will give them a name that has weight and is not frivolous – whatever class they are.”
“For better or for worse, you make the most of what you’ve been given,” says Dr Skinner. “Your own efforts can overwhelm the impact of a name, in the end it’s just a small advantage or a small handicap.”
LOL. I really wonder what my name means. Hmm.
But seriously, I have been telling my friends since secondary school that names do play a part in a person’s life – just look around you, there MUST be friends with certain names that are rich, handsome, pretty, successful.
Nice Site layout for your blog. I am looking forward to reading more from you.
Tom Humes