David Kalist and Daniel Lee of Shippensburg (Pennsylvania) University compared the first names of juvenile offenders with others the same age. They gave a number rating to each name based on its popularity. For example, "Michael" is a 100, because it is the most commonly used name, David is a 50 because it is half as common as Michael, and Kareem is a 1.
The authors wrote that having an uncommon name does not force a person into crime, but is linked to factors such as a disadvantaged home environment, one-parent homes, and low socio-economic status. Juveniles with uncommon names may behave badly because their peers treat them differently, or because they simply dislike their own names.
Labels: juvenile delinquency, crimes
Posted By: Aspen Education Group