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psychology
You subconsciously prefer the letters in your own name.
While Pelham et al. (2002) published findings suggesting implicit egotism, those results have been widely criticized for failing to account for major confounding variables.
Subsequent studies (e.g., Simonsohn, 2011) demonstrated that the 'Dennis/Dentist' and 'George/Georgia' correlations vanish when controlling for age, gender, and socioeconomic trends, indicating no robust psychological preference.
Your environment often reflects your own identity more than you realize.
Where this comes from
- Study
- Pelham, Mirenberg, and Jones, 2002, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
- What the check found
- The study exists, but the claimed effect has been largely debunked. Subsequent research showed the correlations were artifacts of confounding variables like age, birth year, and demographics rather than implicit egotism.
- Confidence
- Well replicated
Related
One of these every day, and every one names the study it came from. When a finding is contested, it says so.