Strange

Teens with Unpopular Names Commit More Crimes

by Karenke4 | January 28, 2009 at 12:54 pm

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A new study published in Social Science Quarterly reveals that adolescents with unpopular names are more likely to commit crimes than teens with popular names, regardless of racial factors. Researchers analyzed first name data of juvenile delinquent males and normal juvenile males, and assigned a popularity index number to each name.

David E. Kalist and Daniel Y. Lee of Shippensburg University analyzed state data by comparing the first names of male juvenile delinquents to the first names of male juveniles in the population.

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.

The least popular names were associated with juvenile delinquency among both blacks and whites. While the names are likely not the cause of crime, 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.

The crime-committing juveniles may also suffer under the joking and bullying of their peers. They will often act out to assert themselves, perhaps turning to crime or aggression.

I've found that the students from my youth with unusual or unpopular names have in fact shown the opposite effect, leading interesting and unusual lives that measure up to their unique birth names. Perhaps these teens in this will do the same after moving past those difficult adolescent years.

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AnnaHalo

at 14:04 on January 28th, 2009

AnnaHalo has contributed a photo to this story.

harringtola

at 17:07 on January 28th, 2009

What an interesting study. I sometimes wonder about these study results. I would think sometimes unique names result in high achievers.

Marisa Olivia

at 07:07 on January 29th, 2009

Kind of depends on the unique name, I guess. Some of the more old-school names aren't as popular these days.

harringtola

at 10:46 on January 29th, 2009

I agree Marisa but what I was thinking was that there are some names that were never popular but the recipient of the name made quite a name for themselves in any case in a very positive way. I am thinking of folks like Dwight Eisenhower or Winston Churchill. Just the other side to the coin examined in the study.