Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

After a brief account of the importance, and neglect, of the psychological study of names, the role of familiarity in liking for names is investigated. Some empirical research on first names and surnames is set in the context of two opposing theories in experimental aesthetics: the “mere exposure” and “inverted-U” hypotheses. A preference-feedback hypothesis that enables us to resolve some apparently contradictory results from the experiments, and to account for the existence of cyclical vogues in first names and other cultural items, is proposed.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

ARTHAUD, R. L. , HOHNECK, A. N. , RAMSEY, C. H. , & PRATT, K. C. The relation of family name preferences to their frequency in the culture . Journal of Social Psychology, 1948, 28, 19-37 .

BERLYNE, D. E. (Ed.), Studies in the new experimental aesthetics: Steps toward an objective psychology of aesthetic appreciation. New York: Wiley , 1974.

BRUNING, J. L. , & ALBOTT, W. Funny, you don't look Cecil. In D. Krebs (Ed.), Readings in social psychology: Contemporary perspectives. New York: Harper & Row , 1976. (Originally published, 1974.)

COLMAN, A. M. , HARGREAVES, D. J. , & SLUCKIN, W. Preferences for Christian names as a function of their experienced familiarity . British Journal of Social Psychology, 1981, 20, 3-5 .

COLMAN, A. M. , SLUCKIN, W. , & HARGREAVES, D. J. The effect of familiarity on preferences for surnames . British Journal of Psychology, 1981, 72, 363-369 .

DUNKLING, L. First names first. London: J. M. Dent , 1977.

HARRISON, A. A. Mere exposure. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology. New York: Academic Press , 1977.

HUNTER, M. Reaction to conquest. London: Oxford University Press , 1961.

JAHODA, G. A note on Ashanti names and their relationship to personality . British Journal of Psychology, 1954, 45, 192-195 .

10.

LAWSON, E. D. Men's first names, nicknames, and short names: A semantic differential analysis . Names, 1973, 21, 22-27 .

11.

LAWSON, E. D. Women's first names: A semantic differential analysis . Names, 1974, 22, 52-58 .

12.

MORGAN, J. , O'NEILL, C. , & HARRÉ, R. Nicknames: Their origins and social consequences. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul , 1979.

13.

SLUCKIN, W. , HARGREAVES, D. J. , & COLMAN, A. M. Some experimental studies of familiarity and liking . Bulletin of the British Psychological Society, 1982, 35, 189-194 .

14.

WITHYCOMBE, E. G. The Oxford dictionary of English christian names (3rd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press , 1977.

15.

ZAJONC, R. B. Attitudinal effects of mere exposure . Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1968, 9 , Monograph Supplement 2, Part 2, 1-21 .

The Attractiveness of Names

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References