The Importance of Your Name (A Psychological Standpoint)
Register

User Tag List

Results 1 to 19 of 19
  1. ISO #1

    The Importance of Your Name (A Psychological Standpoint)

    Mafia isn't completely a strategy game. It's a Psychological game as well. You're convincing the other person's conscious that you're innocent beyond a doubt and that you are an important member of the game, whether you are or not.

    But what about this whole "Select A Name" process? Sure, it's used for jokes and silly memes. "An Arrow To The Knee has moved into town!". But is it really that important? In short, yes.

    Your name is what other people in the game identify you as. Depending on your actions, that name gains a meaning and a reputation. Ever use the same name twice in a row? Do you find that other people recognize and Trust/Distrust you more because of your past actions? Your name can be a blessing and a curse and will build your character's reputation all throughout your Mafia career. That is, if you choose to use the same one.

    What Is The Power Of The Name?

    Your name is the first step to victory or death in Mafia. Have you ever seen the Serial Killer/Mafioso/Godfather target someone with a comedy driven name and leave a death note insulting and/or laughing at their name? It's a bit disappointing when that said person's role was Investigator or even the Sheriff.

    Name association is also a factor you need to take into account. If someone picks the name "Barack Obama" in game, then other players will associate the name with the person, and thus expect you to act the same as such. When other see that your behavior doesn't match the identity you've chosen, you'll find that you'll be distrusted more than once. However, if you keep a similar profile to the identity, you'll find that others are more trusting towards you because of their association. You're also more likely to get targeted by anyone.

    Why Your Color And Name Location Is Important

    Have you ever wondered where the whole "Red is always Mafia" meme started? Well, lets first take it to a simple level. If you're a driver, have you ever wondered why the color Red is applied to things that want to you stop? Like Traffic Lights, Stop Signs, and Yeild Signs? Red in your mind represents DANGER and makes you stop and think about your situation before you proceed.

    Why do you think Red represents Danger? Your bodily fluids, specifically your blood, is red of course! When you think blood, you should think pain. You won't bleed unless pain is inflicted upon you and we've all bled at some point in our lives. We recognized that it hurts and we've learned not to repeat the same action that caused it. Also, in your dreams the color Red usually appears only when bad actions are about to happen or death is around your immediate area. It's also the primary color that we use for "warning".

    How does this relate to Mafia? Well the color red is associated with Danger, you may not consciously think it, but sub consciously your mind it telling you that Red isn't to be taken lightly. So subconsciously, everyone is thinking Red is an Evil role. It's just that someone voiced that feeling and that's how the meme "Red is ALWAYS Mafia" started.

    Now why does this apply to you if you're not the color Red? Mostly because your color affects how people feel towards you. For example, the color black is associated with Power and Authority. In Mafia we have Dark Grey, which is technically a light shade of black. Ever notice how Black is usually alive towards the end of the game? Well it's because you become intimidated by the color, you feel that they have Power and it would not be smart to disturb them.

    Color can turn you off and on. An example of this is that the human eye is attracted mostly to the four colors (Green, Yellow, Red, And Blue). You find that the colors are easier to look at and make you feel good. Yellow is associated to be cheerful, Green is associated to be calm, and Blue is associated to be peaceful. (You'll find that people will choose Blue more than they choose Red, as Blue acts as a polar opposite psychologically as Red. You feel safer with the color Blue than you do with the "Danger" color, Red.)

    Those four colors are the most likely to be targeted by any role. Because psychologically you're like a bug to a light, you can't help it, and neither can I.
    (More useful facts about your color here)
    https://www.factmonster.com/spot/colors1.html

    Your Name's Location


    Why does it matter?

    In the terms of Photography and Filming (Stick with me here!) we have a thing called "The Rule of Thirds". Which separates the screen into, you guessed it, thirds. The human eye is attracted in a pattern from the top left of the screen to the bottom right in that order. That's how everyone views photos and such with ease.
    (Here's a great example)
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_thirds

    How does it affect you? Well every color has a location on the Mafia Interface. And names in the UPPER THIRD of the list are more susceptible to being targeted than those in the lower third. This is because, well, humans are lazy. Our minds don't want to do more work than we have to and they'll pick the easiest and most comfortable targets they can find.
    So if you find yourself in the upper-third of the Mafia Roles list, expect to be Investigated/Attacked/Healed/Converted/Anything.

    This is however, only applying to the start of the game (Day 1 - 3) as after the game gets moving, it's an entirely different psychological game.

    Naming Your Character Wisely

    Ever notice how certain names get picked off first? Short names like "Doc/Jeff/Ask/I" and other small names as such? Like I said earlier, people are lazy. If reading a name takes less time, we're more likely to target that person because we don't want to work. We're playing a game after all, aren't we?!

    To avoid getting targeted, regardless of your location or color, you have to choose the correct combination of words and phrases.

    Vocabulary Is Your Friend

    Using large words like "Inquisition/Devastation/Termination/Blizzard/Omnibus" and other words can deter other players from even looking at your name. Do you feel more comfortable reading "Antidisestablishmentarianism" or the word "Dog"? Clearly the word Dog takes less work and effort. It doesn't make you think too hard.

    Speaking of thinking too hard, using lesser known words to your advantage is key. If you use a lesser known word like "Inquisition", then people will have to think about the meaning of the word, eventually giving up and moving onto another target.

    Composition

    With no scientific data to back it up, I simply find that using two words instead of one as a name to be more deterring. "Dr Reynols" seems longer and more effort taking than "Reynols". So I personally, I suggest adding a pre-fix title. I personally use "Inquisitor Ravenor" which mostly works for me.

    Does It Work?

    In my experience and those of others, your name can add suspicion and even power to your identity. Your name is a buff towards victory or defeat and isn't to be taken lightly. I can't tell you how many times I've been healed because "You had a cool name" or "You just seemed innocent", just because of my Color/Location/Name.

    Try it yourself and I can almost guarantee you'll find yourself alive more often. Or, you can even use it so that you'll be targeted more often. Being a Jester/Veteran/Bodyguard can be much, much easier.

    And above all else, avoid offensive and meme-based names. This can anger or provoke other players. Also, your actions in-game can decide your fate much faster than your name. So be careful out there and play it safe!

    I hope this helps some of you on your adventures and I hope to see you in-game!

  2. ISO #2

    Re: The Importance of Your Name (A Psychological Standpoint)

    Some of this stuff is right, some things aren't.

    I think your lack of human stubbornness and anger added into this is the only fault. For example, with the short name thing. If one's name is a big word, people might get annoyed at someone for using a word they don't understand so they will target them.

    Also with names, you said humans are lazy, if a name is too short like I or A, people might skip over your name as they are too lazy to double check if there's someone there and just think it's a blank spot.

    Otherwise, this is quite insightful, good research
    FMIII: Citizen | FMIV: Vigilante | FMV: Bus Driver | FMVII: Godfather | FMVI: Sinner | FMVIII: Lookout | FM IX: Citizen/Proletariat | FMX: Veteran/Survivor/Framer | FMXI: Mafioso | FMXII: Coroner | FMXIII: Bus Driver | FMXIV: Vigilante | FMXV: Student

  3. ISO #3

    Re: The Importance of Your Name (A Psychological Standpoint)

    Quote Originally Posted by TheSage View Post
    Do you feel more comfortable reading "Antidisestablishmentarianism" or the word "Dog"? Clearly the word Dog takes less work and effort. It doesn't make you think too hard.
    Antidestablishmentarianism is easier for me tbh. How to pronounce "Dog"??

    Anyways all these psychological tricks mostly work on the public. (The dum- UHM I MEAN less-intelligent gifted people) I know this because whenever I choose names like "A Nigger Nazi" I die on n1. or Adolf Hitler, I die pretty early unless I'm lucky.

    I've also seen pony names which I dislike, so I always kill those if I see one and I'm a killing role.
    Choosing offensive names is part of Strategy if you there is a smart lookout/doctor that chooses the one that stands out the most.
    Spoiler : Forum Mafia :

    FM VI: Ash (Sinner) FM VII: Glen (Drug Dealer) FM VIII: Liane (Vigilante) FM IX: Andrei (Reserved Proletarian) FM X: fm Deathfire123 (Modkilled Blacksmith) FM XI: Corki (Citizen) FM XIII: Phoebe (Bodyguard) FM XIV: Helena (Grave Robber) FM XV: FM Pikachu (Mayor) FM XVI: FM Master Chef (Escort)

  4. ISO #4
    Yayap
    Guest

    Re: The Importance of Your Name (A Psychological Standpoint)

    Other that your location being the upper third. I approve most of this message.
    See here for understanding the location experiment.
    https://www.sc2mafia.com/forum/showth...ght=experiment

  5. ISO #5

    Re: The Importance of Your Name (A Psychological Standpoint)

    +1 for Inquisitor Ravenor xD

    Some decent points, I think a glaring omission under the Vocabulary/Composition headers is the ability to abbreviate; if I have the opportunity to kill (i.e. SK or Mafia) and I only have names to go on, I'll probably get rid of the person whom I can't really address in short hand. If it's a pain to type I won't want to have to keep typing it in day chat ^^

    As part of this, there's also the people that pick the same/similar names as others. Someone called 'Jester' and someone called 'Not Jester'... I'd probably kill 'Not Jester', because my natural instinct is to abbreviate to 'Jester' but that would apply to both and I'd feel weird having to call someone 'Not'
    Spoiler : Previous FM roles :
    FM - VI: Commoner | VII: (Lionel) Gunner, Shinra Inc. | VIII: Investigator | X: (HerrZynisch) Black Wizard | (Graves) Citizen | XII: (Ser Jorah) Armoursmith | XIII: Host (Roxy)!
    M-FM- I: Host | II: Framer | III: Host | IV: Exe | V: Devil Dog | VI: Exe | VIII: DD
    S-FM - I: Jailor | II: Vigilante | V: Sheriff | CI: Paranoid Cop | Torment: Citizen

  6. ISO #6

    Re: The Importance of Your Name (A Psychological Standpoint)

    Quote Originally Posted by Yayap View Post
    Other that your location being the upper third. I approve most of this message.
    See here for understanding the location experiment.
    https://www.sc2mafia.com/forum/showth...ght=experiment
    Actually, the main reason that people choose the bottom third is because they often suspect activity will occur in the top third. IE a GF might not want to attack in the top third because there may be a doctor or two whoring that section


  7. ISO #7

    Re: The Importance of Your Name (A Psychological Standpoint)

    It is true that names such as "NIGGERS SHOULD DIE" always die first, but that's usually just that they want the trolls gone for a better game. I think short names, at least in my case, are ignored, and I usually go for the longer names. I don't know, but it's something about people doing it to stand out that makes me want an ability to pour salt on them after they're dead.

    Just my two cents.

  8. ISO #8
    Nick
    Guest

    Re: The Importance of Your Name (A Psychological Standpoint)

    They work both ways.

  9. ISO #9

    Re: The Importance of Your Name (A Psychological Standpoint)

    Quote Originally Posted by Yayap View Post
    Other that your location being the upper third. I approve most of this message.
    See here for understanding the location experiment.
    https://www.sc2mafia.com/forum/showth...ght=experiment
    That experiment does show some considerable data. In my games, I usually experience the middle and upper thirds to targeted first. (I am a victim of never suspecting the lower thirds).

    However, when I play as Mafia, I eliminate the lower thirds and make my way up in a zig-zag pattern because of this. I do the same as an Investigator. It usually works very well for me, but I assume it's just luck. ^^

    Quote Originally Posted by Luna View Post
    +1 for Inquisitor Ravenor xD
    AHH! Warhammer 40k Fan! If only there was a Brain-In-a-Floating-Chair character model. Haha.

    Quote Originally Posted by Rocshi View Post
    It is true that names such as "NIGGERS SHOULD DIE" always die first, but that's usually just that they want the trolls gone for a better game. I think short names, at least in my case, are ignored, and I usually go for the longer names. I don't know, but it's something about people doing it to stand out that makes me want an ability to pour salt on them after they're dead.

    Just my two cents.
    This is true as well. Names that attract attention, like yours suggested, always die in the first few nights. I personally go out of my way to kill Trolls, even if they're a great scape-goat. I just feel that they ruin the game.

    Also, I'd like to remind everyone that everything I've posted is just a general consensus of Public Games. (I've never actually played a Private game of Mafia? Friends base is too low! ). So some of these aspects might not fit you at all. Just a few tips on tricks on how to better manage Public Games for your benefit.

    Happy Framing!
    Last edited by TheSage; December 13th, 2011 at 08:51 PM.

  10. ISO #10
    Sookie
    Guest

    Re: The Importance of Your Name (A Psychological Standpoint)

    i noticed the name thing quite some time ago. while i haven't giving it nearly as much thought as you have i do know this much. names like Chuck Norris, Dragonborn, Batman, <insert other badass or good guy here> are very likely to be attacked the first or 2nd night. i've seen it so much i often heal, guard or watch names like this.

    also from my experience names that stick out are often targeted more frequently. jimmy vs The Mad Scientist, the later sticks out more and is often clicked before the prior.

    i used to use alot of random names, but since i started using "Sookie" i noticed my deaths in night 1-3 have gone down tremendously. tho in contrast i get alot of illiterate morons screaming "Kill Snookie! Herpa derp derp!" and often try and blame me at random during the day. i found this quite interesting.
    Last edited by ; December 13th, 2011 at 11:20 PM.

  11. ISO #11

    Re: The Importance of Your Name (A Psychological Standpoint)

    People who name themselves Admiral usually die fairly quickly. I've only seen one win a game once. He was named "Admiral is awesome"

    Edit: I can live forever with a name like Whiterun Guard or Thane of Whiterun.
    Last edited by Admiral; December 14th, 2011 at 03:49 AM.

  12. ISO #12

    Re: The Importance of Your Name (A Psychological Standpoint)

    I've found that when I use the name Left Shoe ingame, it sometimes will spawn an entire clan (right shoe, middle shoe, upper shoe lower shoe, hat shoe, etc.) who will inherently trust me. This is especially funny when I roll mafia or SK. Sometimes when I use my colored name another player will choose the uncolored Left Shoe. This usually gets one of us killed n1. (And yes, I have had games where the mafia consisted of Left Shoe(me) Right Shoe and Middle Shoe, at least 3 seperate games)

  13. ISO #13
    Sookie
    Guest

    Re: The Importance of Your Name (A Psychological Standpoint)

    If I'm a killing role and there's someone with a name of a person or a character ect. and they stay in character to that person i will generally leave them alone.(unless given a reason to need to kill them) simply for the comedic factor of keeping them around to see what they will do or say.

  14. ISO #14

    Re: The Importance of Your Name (A Psychological Standpoint)

    My two favourite 'name' moments were

    a) I picked the name 'Kaylee'. Someone else picked the name 'Simon Tam'. Our flirtatious affair kept us alive most of the game, as I was SK and he was GF yet people love Firefly xD

    b) I picked the name 'Tona Criid'. Someone picked 'Colm Corbec'. He kept asking how my kids were, and how was Caff? I laughed a lot.
    Spoiler : Previous FM roles :
    FM - VI: Commoner | VII: (Lionel) Gunner, Shinra Inc. | VIII: Investigator | X: (HerrZynisch) Black Wizard | (Graves) Citizen | XII: (Ser Jorah) Armoursmith | XIII: Host (Roxy)!
    M-FM- I: Host | II: Framer | III: Host | IV: Exe | V: Devil Dog | VI: Exe | VIII: DD
    S-FM - I: Jailor | II: Vigilante | V: Sheriff | CI: Paranoid Cop | Torment: Citizen

  15. ISO #15

  16. ISO #16

    Re: The Importance of Your Name (A Psychological Standpoint)

    thats too bad i kill roleplayers first because they annoy me ^^

    roleplay is anti town anyway. Why do i have to look twice to analyse that shiat? rp is scummy!
    Spoiler : fm history :
    FM 6: Commoner/Legionare(roman)/Legionare(Sin) FM8: Stan Investigator FM9:Yakov German(Sapper) FM10: Fm Rumpel Vigilante FM11: Renekton: Serial Killer FM12: Sandor: citizen = scum FM13: Wicket : Devourer FM14: Torynn: Andrew Ryan (GF)

  17. ISO #17

    Re: The Importance of Your Name (A Psychological Standpoint)

    "Red is always Mafia"

    I suspect is more about its location then colour.
    The fact that its up the top means that its a prime target for lazy players or newbies.
    Its been shown in elections that people who's names start with a, b, or c generally place better then expected, the reason belived to be they are at the top of the list.

    The fact that it's red i don't think any any real part.


    As for name length, i find that when i pick my targets, i want to make the list easier to read, by removing those who's names are offensive or annoying. Length doesn't really come into play.

    On the order of my kill list
    Offensive names > stupid names > random names > nice names

    Its worth noting that my primary ID online is "Nod"
    This name serves me well, i'm very rarely killed first day, and often go unchecked for much of the game, sometimes the entire game no one will visit me.

    I believe that's because its a nice name, its even subliminilty a word people like, people want to have people agree with them, and i'm giving them the nod, and its easy to read.
    I expect if i changed my name to "A long name to type" i'd die night 2-5. and be checked pretty quickly.


    So my advice when picking a name, Capitalize your first letter, make it short, preferably 1 word, and make it something nice to read.

  18. ISO #18

    Re: The Importance of Your Name (A Psychological Standpoint)

    Bazar, I've actually played a game with you (or well Nod) and realize how true your words rang. New name: Agree. And I've survived for 3 games straight. As doc, survivor and investigator.

    Edit: died in fourth game, but I took 2 mafia with me. I think he's onto something though.
    Last edited by Peter Bell; December 14th, 2011 at 02:44 PM.

  19. ISO #19

    Re: The Importance of Your Name (A Psychological Standpoint)

    Quote Originally Posted by CmG View Post
    thats too bad i kill roleplayers first because they annoy me ^^

    roleplay is anti town anyway. Why do i have to look twice to analyse that shiat? rp is scummy!
    I think a small amount of roleplaying makes the game much more interesting...but there have been some over dramatic times...

    Quote Originally Posted by SuperJack View Post
    Look what you have caused. Seems like everyone who posted is now confused about their own gender and are venting their frustration into opinions.

 

 

Similar Threads

  1. M-FM: Psychological Wars
    By Rocshi in forum Setup Workshop
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: January 16th, 2012, 01:21 PM
  2. M-FM: Psychological Wars
    By Rocshi in forum Forum Mafia Discussion
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: January 8th, 2012, 01:35 AM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •