THE INFLUENCE OF ANTHROPONYMS (PERSPECTIVES FROM PSYCHIATRISTS AND PSYCHOLOGISTS IN THE LATE 19TH TO EARLY 20TH CENTURY)

Abstract

The aim of this scientific research is to analyze the contributions of psychiatrists and psychologists from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries who focused on cases of obsessive attraction or uncontrollable fear related to personal names. The study examines the emotional reactions caused by personal names and surnames, as well as the influence of names on the behavior of individuals. The research focuses on anthroponyms as fundamental components of the naming system, exploring their impact on various aspects of individuals’ lives based on the cases described in the scientific works of psychiatrists and psychologists from that time period. Through an analysis of the counseling practices of late nineteenth-century psychiatrists, anthroponyms were reevaluated as subjects of irrational passion (onomatomania) or fear (onomatophobia). Undesirable thoughts related to names were believed to significantly affect the daily lives of patients during that era, although contemporary colleagues express doubts regarding this potential influence of anthroponyms. Subsequent studies documented intriguing connections between personal names and the behavior of their bearers: some individuals emulated the qualities associated with their names, while others sought to erase their anthroponyms from memory entirely. The research explores topics such as intentional transformations of anthroponyms to solve professional or personal problems, motives of namers influencing their choices for baby names, and the mechanisms behind forgetting personal names. This new perspective highlights how certain names can evoke powerful associations that influence various aspects of an individual’s life and can be used as tools of manipulation in communication, conveying respect or disrespect for the bearer. Additionally, psychologists have attempted to address the question of a possible correlation between a person’s name and their personal characteristics. Based on cases of unconscious name influence on behavior, it was proposed three categories where such influence is most notable: general influence on character and behavior, professional sphere, and personal relationships.

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