What's in a name? The impact of mind salience on legal decision making

Haya AlAssaf and Lasana T. Harris

Chapter 6 in Research Handbook on Social Judgment, 2026, pp 91-108 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Names are more than identifiers; they shape social judgments, identity, cultural meaning, and decision making. This chapter explores the neurological mechanisms of name processing, showing how names evoke distinct brain activation patterns and support self-awareness and social cognition. From historical surnames to digital usernames, naming practices link individuals to heritage and shape identity. In legal contexts, names influence perceptions of responsibility and fairness. Central to this discussion is mind salience—the extent to which another's mind is brought to the forefront of attention—which is heightened by naming and affects attributions of agency and moral responsibility. Courtroom dynamics illustrate these effects, as juror perceptions of witnesses, defendants, and plaintiffs are shaped by naming conventions. Dehumanization is presented as a contrasting process, where anonymity or forced labeling strips humanness and enables harm. The chapter concludes with recommendations for promoting fairness in legal decision making through personalized naming, juror education, and reducing structural bias.

Keywords: Names; Identity; Mind Salience; Dehumanization; Social Judgment; Legal Decision Making (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035332533
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