Symbolic significance of initials on longevity.
The longevities of deceased major league baseball players who died prior to 1950 (N=3835) and whose initials formed acronyms, words, or names with "positive" or "negative" affect, as rated a priori by two judges, were compared with those for a group of neutral controls matched for birth year and career length, using the Berkeley standardized mortality tables. Players (n=11) with positive initials, e.g., A.C.E., lived a mean of 13 years longer than players (n=30) with negative initials, e.g., D.E.D., or players with neutral initials (n=864). These results corroborated a previous study and suggest positive name symbols are associated with increased longevity in this sample.
Abel
Ernest L
EL
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, USA. eabel@wayne.edu
Kruger
Michael L
ML
D000124:Achievement; D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001484:Baseball / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D009275:Names; D012649:Self Concept; D012660:Semantics; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013561:Symbolism; D014473:Unconscious, Psychology