This week's top research stories include a study that shows the first initial of a last name could foretell one's success or setback in life and research that finds that teens prone to drug experimentation don't necessarily become addicted.
First initial of last name could foretell one's success or setback in life
As the end of the school year approaches, the season of recognition鈥攚ith awards ceremonies, performances and graduations鈥攆lourishes for many.
But there might be more than just hard work to people's successes and fates. The coincidental detail of where one's last name falls in the alphabet can affect life outcomes, according to Professor Jeffrey Zax and graduate听student Alexander Cauley, both of the听Department of Economics. Those with names in the latter half of the alphabet are negatively impacted鈥攁n occurrence that can begin at an early age.
Teens prone to drug experimentation won鈥檛 necessarily become addicted
Adolescents who lack self-control, have attention deficits, or demonstrate poor 鈥渆xecutive function鈥� are more likely to experiment with a greater variety of drugs and alcohol. However, they are not more likely to become dependent as young adults, according to a new CU Boulder study of twins.
鈥淪ome people assume that if you try something in adolescence, you are on a path you are never going to come back from鈥攕ort of the gateway drug hypotheses,鈥� said first author Daniel Gustavson, who conducted the study as a graduate student at the听Institute of Behavioral Genetics. 鈥淥ur data do not support this and instead suggest it could just be about experimenting.鈥�