Wikipedia:Today's featured article/requests/nominative determinism

Nominative determinism

 * This is the archived discussion of the TFAR nomination for the article below. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as Wikipedia talk:Today's featured article/requests). Please do not modify this page. 

The result was: scheduled for Today's featured article/January 22, 2017 by Mike Christie (talk - contribs - library) 23:21, 8 January 2017 (UTC)



Nominative determinism is the hypothesis that people tend to gravitate towards areas of work that fit their name. The term was first used in the magazine New Scientist in 1994, after the magazine's humorous Feedback column noted several studies carried out by researchers with remarkably fitting surnames. These included a book on polar explorations by Daniel Snowman and an article on urology by researchers named Splatt and Weedon. These and other examples led to light-hearted speculation that some sort of psychological effect was at work. A few recent empirical studies have indicated that certain professions are disproportionately represented by people with appropriate surnames, though the methods of these studies have been challenged. One explanation for nominative determinism is implicit egotism, which states that humans have an unconscious preference for things they associate with themselves. An alternative explanation is genetic: a person might be named Smith because that was originally their occupation, and they would pass on their genes to their descendants, including an aptitude for activities involving strength.
 * Most recent similar article(s): nothing like it
 * Main editors: edwininlondon
 * Promoted: 22 December 2016
 * Reasons for nomination: good for diversity of TFAs
 * Support as nominator. Edwininlondon (talk) 12:14, 23 December 2016 (UTC)
 * Support. It would certainly be good for TFA's diversity if nothing similar has featured before; it is also an interesting read. Mojo0306 (talk) 17:10, 30 December 2016 (UTC)
 * Support to add diversity for the front page. Very interesting read. Aoba47 (talk) 18:20, 31 December 2016 (UTC)
 * Support change of pace. Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 10:22, 7 January 2017 (UTC)