The Matthew Effect
The term Matthew Effect was coined by sociologist Robert K. Merton in 1968, in the paper The Matthew Effect in Science. Merton named it after a passage in the Gospel of Matthew that says:
“To everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” – The Bible, Matthew 25:29
The Matthew Effect refers to the tendency for individuals to accrue social or economic success in proportion to their initial level of popularity, friends, and wealth. In other words, those who are already successful are more likely to become even more successful, while those who are less successful are more likely to become even less successful.
Examples
This phenomenon can be seen in many different areas of life, including science, education, and business. For example, a paper by Keith Stanovich (1986) found that children who are early readers are more likely to become successful readers in the future. This is because they have a head start on learning the skills they need to read well. In contrast, children who struggle to learn to read in early childhood are more likely to have lifelong problems with reading.
Another example of the Matthew Effect can be seen in the world of science. A study by Harriet Zuckerman found that Nobel Prize winners are more likely to have their work cited by other scientists than scientists who have not won a Nobel Prize. This is because Nobel Prize winners are already well-respected in the scientific community, so their work is more likely to be read and cited by others.
Some additional examples
- In business, well-known brands are more likely to be successful than new brands. This is because they already have a reputation and a customer base.
- In politics, incumbents are more likely to be re-elected than challengers. This is because they have the advantage of name recognition and incumbency.
- In sports, star athletes are more likely to get better contracts and more playing time than less-known athletes. This is because they have already proven themselves to be successful.
Impact
The Matthew Effect can have a significant impact on people’s lives. It can lead to a widening gap between the rich and the poor, and it can make it more difficult for people from disadvantaged backgrounds to achieve success. However, it is important to remember that the Matthew Effect is not a deterministic force. There are many examples of people who have overcome initial disadvantages to achieve great things.
The Matthew Effect is a complex phenomenon with far-reaching implications. Among other things it means that in order to succeed one should start early, in order to gain compounding effects of efforts put in. It is important to understand and be aware of it, in order to take appropriate action early to leverage its consequences and to mitigate its negative effects.
Video version of this article explaining the Matthew Effect
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