Self-associated letters, especially one’s initials, are implicitly preferred
Evidence
These results reveal a statistically significant (but weak) name letter effect and a considerably stronger initial letter effect, that is, enhanced liking for letters that constitute the initials of one’s name. Because initial letters are linked more strongly to self than are other name letters, M. M. S. Johnson’s finding strengthens the interpretation of the name letter effect as a manifestation of implicit self-esteem. — Anthony G. Greenwald and Mahzarin R. Banaji, Implicit Social Cognition, 146
Categorization
- XREF: Plausibly connects to implicit-cognition work on the self-reference effect and mere-ownership; also to the ‘name letter effect’ later used as a self-esteem IAT-adjacent measure.