Matthew Effect

A dynamic in which small initial advantages (in resources, recognition, visibility or position) causally increase the likelihood of disproportionately larger subsequent gains, producing cumulative disparities over time through mechanisms such as preferential attachment, reputational amplification, and unequal access to opportunity.

A social mechanism of cumulative advantage in which prior success, visibility, or eminence increases the probability of receiving further recognition, resources, or citations, producing a positive feedback loop that amplifies disparities in scientific reputation, funding, or attention.