NCBI ROFL: What's in a name? Part II: Why Kevin Kouzmanoff strikes out so much.

Discoblog
By ncbi rofl
Aug 10, 2010 5:00 PMNov 20, 2019 5:22 AM
kk-300x244.jpg

Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
 

Moniker maladies: when names sabotage success. "In five studies, we found that people like their names enough to unconsciously pursue consciously avoided outcomes that resemble their names. Baseball players avoid strikeouts, but players whose names begin with the strikeout-signifying letter K strike out more than others (Study 1). All students want As, but students whose names begin with letters associated with poorer performance (C and D) achieve lower grade point averages (GPAs) than do students whose names begin with A and B (Study 2), especially if they like their initials (Study 3). Because lower GPAs lead to lesser graduate schools, students whose names begin with the letters C and D attend lower-ranked law schools than students whose names begin with A and B (Study 4). Finally, in an experimental study, we manipulated congruence between participants' initials and the labels of prizes and found that participants solve fewer anagrams when a consolation prize shares their first initial than when it does not (Study 5). These findings provide striking evidence that unconsciously desiring negative name-resembling performance outcomes can insidiously undermine the more conscious pursuit of positive outcomes."

Photo: flickr/SD Dirk

Related content: Discoblog: NCBI ROFL: What’s in a name? Part I: U.G.H. you’re going to D.I.E. Discoblog: NCBI ROFL: Impact of Yankee Stadium Bat Day on blunt trauma in northern New York City. Discoblog: NCBI ROFL: Study proves hot baseball players more likely to pummel you with their balls. WTF is NCBI ROFL? Read our FAQ!

1 free article left
Want More? Get unlimited access for as low as $1.99/month

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

1 free articleSubscribe
Discover Magazine Logo
Want more?

Keep reading for as low as $1.99!

Subscribe

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

More From Discover
Stay Curious
Join
Our List

Sign up for our weekly science updates.

 
Subscribe
To The Magazine

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

Copyright © 2025 LabX Media Group