关键词: 文化变迁, 个人主义, 独特性, 名字, 中国

Abstract: We propose that the emphasis on uniqueness, manifested both as a cultural value at the macro-level and as an individual need at the micro-level, may account for the widely observed increase in unique-naming practices. We tested our hypotheses in China. Study 1 found that the increasing cultural emphasis on uniqueness (rather than on independence or competition), as a Granger cause, explained the increasing name uniqueness. Study 2 revealed that the increasing individual need for uniqueness (rather than narcissism or self-esteem) explained the higher preference for unique baby names among younger than older generations. Study 3 showed that, in real naming practices, younger parents emphasized name uniqueness (rather than modernity, positivity, or other features) more than older cohorts. These findings convergently support our hypotheses, highlighting the importance of identifying mechanisms underlying specific social, cultural, and psychological changes rather than presuming the rising individualism as a general explanation.

Key words: cultural change, individualism, uniqueness, name, China