What your name says about you

There's a scientific explanation why Susie sells sea shells by the sea shore

So says a new video from PBS which looks at how your name affects your behaviour.

The film describes research carried out in America which found a degree of nominative determinism in the careers people choose. For example, Laurences, Laurens or Lauries are more likely to be lawyers and Denis or Denises are more likely to be dentists.

This phenomenon also exists in where people chose to live: There were many Virginias in Virginia Beach, Louises in St Louis and Phils in Philadelphia.

This is due to a trait known as "implicit egotism" - when people think positively about themselves, and therefore positively about things that are associated with them. You can find out more about the research mentioned in the video here.

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