Running head: MIDDLE INITIALS AND EVALUATIONS OF PERFORMANCE 1 The Impact of Middle Names: Middle Name Initials Enhance Evaluations of Intellectual Performance

Middle name initials often appear in formal contexts, especially when people refer to intellectual achievements. Based on this common link, the display of middle initials increases positive evaluations of people’s intellectual capacities and achievements. We document this effect in seven studies: Middle initials in authors’ names increased the evaluation of their writing performance (Study 1), and middle initials increased perceptions of status (Studies 2 & 4). Moreover, the middle initial effect was specific to intellectual performance (Studies 3 & 6), and it was mediated by perceived status (Studies 5, 6, & 7). Besides supporting our hypotheses, the results of the studies yield important implication for everyday life.