The Matthew Effect

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

"'For unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance. But from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.' It is those who are successful, in other words, who are most likely to be given the kinds of special opportunities that lead to further success" (Gladwell, pg. 30).

The socialogist Robert Merton came up with this theory called the "Matthew Effect." A Canadian psychologist Roger Barnsley has analyzed the rosters of hockey teams and discovered that the players born between January to March were typically the most successful. Merton based his theory on this idea that some people are just born to be successful.

I found that Merton's theory also applies to my life. Friends of mine who are born earlier in the year are often better physically, academically and socially than those who are born later in the year. They may not be more talented than those born in December, but they are given more opportunities to help them advance. In that way, our society perhaps makes them seem more talented.

This doesn't seem fair, because I was born in October and did not get these chances. If I had been born in January, I might have gotten some special opportunities that led to my success.