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Boys With Unpopular Names More Likely to Break Law
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livescience.com 2 hrs 25 mins agoBoys in the United States with
common names like Michael and David are less likely to commit crimes
than those named Ernest or Ivan.
David E. Kalist and Daniel Y. Lee of Shippensburg University in
Pennsylvania compared the first names of male juvenile delinquents to
the first names of male juveniles in the population. The researchers
constructed a popularity-name index (PNI) for each name. For example,
the PNI for Michael is 100, the most frequently given name during the
period. The PNI for David is 50, a name given half as frequently as
Michael. The PNI is approximately 1 for names such as Alec, Ernest,
Ivan, Kareem, and Malcolm.
Results show that, regardless of race, juveniles with unpopular names
are more likely to engage in criminal activity. The least popular
names were associated with juvenile delinquency among both blacks and
whites.
The findings, announced today, are detailed in the journal Social
Science Quarterly.
While the names are likely not the cause of crime, the researchers
argue that "they are connected to factors that increase the tendency
to commit crime, such as a disadvantaged home environment, residence
in a county with low socioeconomic status, and households run by one
parent."
"Also, adolescents with unpopular names may be more prone to crime
because they are treated differently by their peers, making it more
difficult for them to form relationships," according to a statement
released by the journal's publisher. "Juveniles with unpopular names
may also act out because they consciously or unconsciously dislike
their names."
The findings could help officials " identify individuals at high risk
of committing or recommitting crime, leading to more effective and
targeted intervention programs," the authors conclude.
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Original Story: Boys With Unpopular Names More Likely to Break Law
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