Boys with Unpopular Names More Likely to Break Law, According to Report

[ouronlylight.livejournal.com]

"Boys with Unpopular Names More Likely to Break Law"
Yahoo! News, January 28, 2009

Boys 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.


Thoughts? I have an unusual name, and I did feel a bit alienated as a result when I was little, but, on the other hand, I feel like kids with super-popular names tend to hate their names, as well, and wish for a name not shared by 20% of their class. Still, it's an interesting read, and I'm curious as to what you guys think. :)

Comments

[allisondawn.livejournal.com]

But I have an irrational hatred of overly common names. Does this mean that my future children will all grow up to be bad people? O NOES. :(

[thejoysofjess.livejournal.com]

Seems wrong. At both of my high schools, most of the ~*~popular~*~ kids had pretty uncommon names or had chosen to go by their less common middle name. I don't think those kids felt alienated.

I think what is happening here is that there a population of this country that commits more crimes that also tends to have a less common names. We're getting a correlation to names when the issue is really SES and educational background.

[awoodnymph.livejournal.com]

I think what is happening here is that there a population of this country that commits more crimes that also tends to have a less common names. We're getting a correlation to names when the issue is really SES and educational background.

Agreed.

[lava-sharks.livejournal.com]

LOL. I know a Kareem that is a major druggie.

[cherryboomstick.livejournal.com]

I think this is just a coincidence, honestly. I know people with common and odd names and it seems all of the common-named people are the ones getting into trouble. o_O

[envyed.livejournal.com]

A name has nothing to do with someone commiting crimes. That's bullshit. I was the only person in my entire grade whose name was Danielle, every year until 6th grade & then after 6th grade I was the only one again. I'm not a crime starter. My cousin Michael has been locked up so many times for all kinds of things, but his name is common.

[envyed.livejournal.com]

And, that's like saying Barack Obama would have been a crime starter because his name is different than everyone elses.

[awoodnymph.livejournal.com]

The study just found that it's more likely, not that it's a rule.

[girlsteve.livejournal.com]

I think it's more that usual names and crime share certain common causes, rather than one causing the other.

For whatever reason, the names that are less common tend to also be used by families with low incomes or less education. I think that's far more likely to contibute.

Further, there is a difference between an uncommon name and an unusual one. I, for instance, only know one Myles and I've only ever heard of one, but I wouldn't have 'reacted' to him name, as I don't think it's weird, per se. I doubt having a name like Alec or Malcolm would alienate one from their peers, simply because who would meet an Alec and think 'you have a weird name'?

I also find it difficult to understand how this data can be accurately verified. Granted, the system used makes it fairer than simply judging like for like, but looking at it simply: there are likely to be more Michaels that don't commit crime than Michaels that do, because there are lots of michaels and thankfully there are more people who aren't criminals than those that are. However, If there is once kid in the whole state called Malcolm, and it so happens that he commits a crime, then it does look rather bad on that name. But even using the PNI doesn't counter the fact that you're working with different levels of access to information.

Finally, I'm a girl named Steve and my brother is called Che [as in Guavara]. Neither of us has so much as been involved in a scuffle in the playground. Just sayin'

[lovablemess.livejournal.com]

My father got a kick out of the article because he's got a very uncommon name. He said he'd happily take all of the names they mentioned 'cause they're really not so bad.

[laminy.livejournal.com]

I don't really think too much about it. I mean, these people did an actual study. All I know are the kids that I went to school with; all from the same area, all mainly from the same class. And not very many people with unusual names. So, for my experiences, I don't think that this is true, but that doesn't mean that it's not true overall, somewhere else.

[ouronlylight.livejournal.com]

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