The Matthew Effect Chapter 1

Kelvin Paez
Ms. Benjamin
3-4 A
2/18/16

               Based upon the book "Outliers: The Story of Success" by Malcom Gladwell, the Matthew effect is that there are loops in society in which the people that have an advantage will be able to use that advantage to gain even more of an edge to the others. Gladwell focuses on people who have been born on the earlier months specifically, January through March in which, will determine if a young hockey player in Canada can become an elite athlete due to their stronger physique during the same age. As a result, the player uses his physique to stand out to the other players allowing him, to get scouted to a a better team and eventually become an elite athlete. The Matthew effect is not based upon your raw talent but, the month you are born in will determine if you become successful or not.  I believe the Mathew effect applies to me somewhat.
                Primarily, the Matthew effect says that successful people are born within these range of months. Even though, my birthday is not in this range since it is at April 19, I believe I will become quite successful in the future of my life. This does not pertain to the fact of my birth month so, that part of the Mathew affect does not apply to me.
                Furthermore, the Matthew effect states that people who are born within these range of months happen to score generally better on standardized tests compared to the ones born on later months. The only actual standardized tests I actually took would be the NJ ASK from middle school, and my scores were good and better than most of my fellow students in my class. Meaning, I would pertain to this aspect of these theory.
              Ultimately, the Matthew effect is somewhat in my favor. Out of the 2 parts of this theory I stated, only one of them applied to me.

   

1. Explain the meaning of the passage from Matthew 25:29.
The passage from Matthew 25:29 means those who were given advantage, will be able to use that advantage even more so they can get more and vice versa, for the ones who do nothing will get nothing in return or perhaps things even taken away from them.

2. How is Canadian hockey a meritocracy? In what ways does Gladwell show his skepticism regarding the idea? Canadian hockey is a meritocracy because players are selected on the their ability rather than who they are or where they come from. Gladwell counters this by saying that elite are selected on their origin or their birth month that being between the months of January-March. They will be ones who will have a higher chance to be successful due to their bigger physique allowing them to get more attention thus, being able to play for different teams and have more playing time.

3. Which stories sound the most interesting to you (Gladwell outlines many of his chapters on the bottom of page 17 and the top of page 18)? The story that sounds most interesting to m e from these pages would be why Asians are so good math. This is because I have always questioned why Asians have been known to be good at math and I wonder if it just comes natural to them or not.

4. What does Gladwell say is the stereotypical story of the rise to the top? What examples does he cite? Gladwell says that the story is that successful people are so because they were born in modest circumstances by virtue of his own grit and through talent, they get to the top. One example includes, is from the bible in which Joseph was sold into slaver. Joseph eventually become the Pharaoh's right-hand man because of his brilliance and insight.

5. What is Gladwell’s counterpoint to the stereotypical explanation and origins of success? Gladwell's counterpoint to the stereotypical explanation would be that success does not come from hard work. In fact, he believe people do not form anything he says we owe something to parentage and patronage. People make it in life due to the opportunities presented to them.

6. How does his analogy of “the tallest oak” apply? His analogy of "the tallest oak" applies because the reason why it was able to prosper because it was not blocked by sunlight, not damaged by squirrels, and not cut down by a lumberjack. Gladwell is trying to say that the tallest tree was able to prosper because of a reason such as how successful people are so.

7. According to Gladwell, how is a 13 or 14 year old Canadian really better? According to Gladwell, a 13 or 14 year old Canadian is better because of the month of the month they were born , not their ability to do something well. This is so because of the cut off dates for age-class hockey in Jan. 1st, so someone born around that age would be more mature then one who is born in the later months such as, November.

8. Read the footnote at the bottom of page 25. Define, in your own words, the term “self- fulfilling prophecy.” A self-fulfilling prophecy is a false assumption or prediction that causes itself to become true as a result of the way it is treated over time.

9. How does Gladwell apply his theory to education? Gladwell theory does applies to education he says that people who have been born in the early months perform better compared to the students who were born in the later months based upon standardized tests scores.

10. What solutions does Gladwell propose (33)? Why does he say we don’t pursue these? Solutions that Gladwell propose that we should acknowledge the cut off dates. In addition, creating hockey leagues divided by the months of birth. Schools classes should be divided by their birth month range in which would, allow students to compete against other students share the same maturity level.