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The '''Matthew effect''' or '''Matthew principle''' refers to the effect that ascending in any kind of [[dominance hierarchy|hierarchy]] (whether economic, artistic etc.) tends to imply even more status as one gains motivation and access to more resources and social connections etc. forming a feedback loop in ascension potential. Conversely, failure often implies even more failure and demotivation (downward spiral). This can explain why inequality is a human universal as it means there naturally exist strong feedback effects causing the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer.<ref>Malcom G. 2008. ''Outliers: The Story of Success'' [[https://archive.org/details/outliersstoryofs00glad Archive]]</ref><ref name=wsj>https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122671469296530435</ref> | The '''Matthew effect''' or '''Matthew principle''' refers to the effect that ascending in any kind of [[dominance hierarchy|hierarchy]] (whether economic, artistic etc.) tends to imply even more status as one gains motivation and access to more resources and social connections etc. forming a positive feedback loop in ascension potential. Conversely, failure often implies even more failure and demotivation (downward spiral). This can explain why inequality is a human universal as it means there naturally exist strong feedback effects causing the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer.<ref>Malcom G. 2008. ''Outliers: The Story of Success'' [[https://archive.org/details/outliersstoryofs00glad Archive]]</ref><ref name=wsj>https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122671469296530435</ref> | ||
The term was coined by sociologist Robert K. Merton in 1968<ref>Merton RK. 1968. ''The Matthew Effect in Science.'' [[http://www.garfield.library.upenn.edu/merton/matthew1.pdf FullText]] [[http://doi.org/10.1126/science.159.3810.56 Abstract]]</ref><ref>Merton RK. 1988. ''The Matthew Effect in Science, II: Cumulative advantage and the symbolism of intellectual property.'' [[http://garfield.library.upenn.edu/merton/matthewii.pdf FullText]] [[https://doi.org/10.1086/354848 Abstract]]</ref> and takes its name from the Parable of the talents or minas in the biblical Gospel of Matthew: | The term was coined by sociologist Robert K. Merton in 1968<ref>Merton RK. 1968. ''The Matthew Effect in Science.'' [[http://www.garfield.library.upenn.edu/merton/matthew1.pdf FullText]] [[http://doi.org/10.1126/science.159.3810.56 Abstract]]</ref><ref>Merton RK. 1988. ''The Matthew Effect in Science, II: Cumulative advantage and the symbolism of intellectual property.'' [[http://garfield.library.upenn.edu/merton/matthewii.pdf FullText]] [[https://doi.org/10.1086/354848 Abstract]]</ref> and takes its name from the Parable of the talents or minas in the biblical Gospel of Matthew: | ||