Common First Names as Cues for Inferences about Personality
- 1 December 1982
- journal article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
- Vol. 8 (4) , 712-718
- https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167282084018
Abstract
Two studies examined the hypothesis that different forms of common first names-formal (such as Robert), familiar (such as Bob), and adolescent (such as Bobby)-elicit differential inferences about the personalities of the name bearer. Experiment I showed that differentiation among these three name categories was a significant basis for subjects' free sorting of common names according to similar personality types. In Experiment 2 subjects displayed different patterns of trait inferences about persons identified by formal as opposed to familiar and adolescent names. Implications of these findings are discussed.Keywords
This publication has 7 references indexed in Scilit:
- Evaluating object set partitions: Free-sort analysis and some generalizationsJournal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 1976
- Liking for Common and Uncommon First NamesPersonality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 1976
- First-name stereotypes as a factor in self-concept and school achievement.Journal of Educational Psychology, 1976
- Name stereotypes and teachers' expectations.Journal of Educational Psychology, 1973
- Unique Personal Names as a Social Adjustment FactorThe Journal of Social Psychology, 1968
- Stereotyping of Names and Popularity in Grade-School ChildrenChild Development, 1966
- Toward an adequate taxonomy of personality attributes: Replicated factor structure in peer nomination personality ratings.The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 1963