Name-Letter Preferences for New Last Name and Abandoned Birth Name Initials in the Context of Name-Change via Marriage

Abstract

Although the name-letter task is one of the most frequently used measures of implicit self-esteem, no research has examined whether the name-letter effect emerges for new last name initials and abandoned birth name initials in the context of marriage. Additionally, no systematic investigation has examined the robustness of the name-letter effect across age cohorts. In a large heterogeneous sample (N = 1,380), reliable letter preferences were found for new last name initials and for abandoned birth name initials, even after 20 years of marriage. In addition, robust name-letter effects emerged across all assessed age cohorts. Implications for the implicit self-esteem literature regarding the robustness of the name-letter task for married and nonmarried individuals of all post-pubescent ages are discussed.