How the first impression is formed and why it is so important
Miscellaneous / / January 11, 2022
It is deceiving, but people still follow it.
What is a first impression
First impression is perceptionFirst Impression / American Psychological Association a person of others when meeting each other, when their appearance and inner world are assessed. It can be positive or negative. Most often based on information received at the first meeting, but sometimes it can be done in absentia. For example, by stories or by public image person.
The first impression is very strong. So much so that even new information sometimes cannot change it.
How quickly the first impression is formed
According to some studiesJ. Willis, A. Todorov. First Impressions: Making Up Your Mind After a 100 ‑ Ms Exposure to a Face / Psychological Science, just one tenth of a second is enough to form an opinion about the attractiveness, reliability, competence and aggressiveness of the interlocutor. And the longer we talk with someone, the more confident we are in our first impressions.
Such speed is due toA. C. Little, B. C. Jones, L. M. DeBruine. Facial attractiveness: evolutionary based research / Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society Bevolutionary past. Our distant ancestors had no time to conduct conversations with their suddenly appeared relatives: it was necessary to quickly understand whether it was a friend or foe in front of you.
What influences the first impression
Participates in its formationR. Gilron, A. H. Gutchess. Remembering first impressions: Effects of intentionality and diagnosticity on subsequent memory / Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience the prefrontal cortex, which is also largely responsible for the personality traits of people. Most important are 1. A. C. Little, B. C. Jones, L. M. DeBruine. Facial attractiveness: evolutionary based research / Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society
2. First Impressions / Psychology Today such external signs of another person: facial features, voice intonation, attractiveness, displayed emotions. In addition, we pay attention to the behavior, style of dress, posture that the interlocutor takes.
Often the first impression is affected byFirst Impressions / Psychology Today a hidden attitude that even not realized. This means that perception is influenced not only by the image and actions of the counterpart, but also by our own experience, perceptions and prejudices.
Why first impressions matter
Because on the basis of it we makeN. N. Oosterhof, A. Todorov. The functional basis of face evaluation / Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America conclusions about how we can trust to a new acquaintance, is he sympathetic to us, does he pose a threat, is he higher in status. AddictionJ. Willis, A. Todorov. First Impressions: Making Up Your Mind After a 100 ‑ Ms Exposure to a Face / Psychological Science aggression, competence, sexual orientationN. O. Rule, N. Ambady. Brief exposures: Male sexual orientation is accurately perceived at 50 ms / Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, intelligenceS. N. Talamas, K. I. Mavor, D. I. Perrett. Blinded by Beauty: Attractiveness Bias and Accurate Perceptions of Academic Performance / PLoS ONE - about all this and many other things, we also form an opinion in the first seconds of the meeting.
The implications of these findings can be very far-reaching. Because first impressions influenceB. W. Swider, T. B. Harris, Q. Gong. First impression effects in organizational psychology / Journal of Applied Psychology on the attitude towards a person both at the current moment and in the future.
For example, there isA. C. Little, B. C. Jones, L. M. DeBruine. Facial attractiveness: evolutionary based research / Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society the stereotype that beautiful is good. We tend to treat physically attractive people better, believing that they have many positive qualities, as opposed to those who, in our opinion, are "unsympathetic." It comes to the point that it is easier for handsome men to get a discount or a job, teachers are more lenient towards themS. N. Talamas, K. I. Mavor, D. I. Perrett. Blinded by Beauty: Attractiveness Bias and Accurate Perceptions of Academic Performance / PLoS ONE and even a judge.
Why first impressions can be deceiving
Because it takes shape too quickly and is basedN. N. Oosterhof, A. Todorov. The functional basis of face evaluation / Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America on excessive generalizations. For example, daffodils can 1. M. Giacomin, C. H. Jordan. Misperceiving grandiose narcissism as self-esteem: Why narcissists are well liked at zero acquaintance / Journal of Personality
2. M. D. Back, S. C. Schmukle, B. Egloff. Why are narcissists so charming at first sight? Decoding the narcissism – popularity link at zero acquaintance / Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
seem quite disposing people, and only then their behavior begins to repel. And if a person looks gloomy and uncommunicative, this does not mean at all that he cannot be good-natured and open.
Numerous experiments in which scientists simulate different human faces show 1. S. N. Talamas, K. I. Mavor, D. I. Perrett. Blinded by Beauty: Attractiveness Bias and Accurate Perceptions of Academic Performance / PLoS ONE
2. J. Willis, A. Todorov. First Impressions: Making Up Your Mind After a 100 ‑ Ms Exposure to a Face / Psychological Science
3. S ‑ M. Hüttner, M. Linden. Formation and "Personality" by Manipulating Outer Appearance / Psychopathology: Changing your appearance can create a deceptive opinion about yourself. For example, researchers used special software to tweak facial features in photographs of two students and ask other subjects to rate the result. These experiments have proven that likeable people seem to be more responsible. Judge for yourself:
The young people depicted on the left side were perceived by the participants in the experiment as prettier and more successful in their studies. Image: S. N. Talamas, K. I. Mavor, D. I. Perrett. Blinded by Beauty: Attractiveness Bias and Accurate Perceptions of Academic Performance / PLoS ONE
The young people depicted on the left side were perceived by the participants in the experiment as prettier and more successful in their studies. Image: S. N. Talamas, K. I. Mavor, D. I. Perrett. Blinded by Beauty: Attractiveness Bias and Accurate Perceptions of Academic Performance / PLoS ONE
Why is the first impression so strong
There are two points of view in psychology as to why this happens. According to the first one, people compare any new information with the first impression and reject it.First Impression / American Psychological Association those facts that contradict him. So, if someone seems to us good, then we will perceive all his unseemly actions as accident or an imperative need.
According to the second theory, people pass new information through the image composed by the first impression. That is, if we consider someone to be bad, then his good actions will seem like attempts to hide his true essence and lull our attention.
How to make a good first impression
People tend to underestimate themselves and consider 1. E. J. Boothby, G. Cooney, G. M. Sandstrom et al. The Liking Gap in Conversations: Do People Like Us More Than We Think? / Psychological Science
2. A. M. Mastroianni, G. Cooney, E. J. Boothby. The liking gap in groups and teams / Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processesthat the first meeting was worse than it actually was. However, a few tips on how to improve your experience can still be helpful.
1. Prepare for a meeting in advance
DoR. Knight. How to Make a Great First Impression / Harvard Business Review this, if the conversation is going to be difficult. This will show that you have shown real interest and are knowledgeable about the topic. For example, it is rather arrogant to go to an interview without at least familiarizing yourself with the requirements for the applicant and information about the employer.
If you need to prepare for a personal meeting, say, for a date, try to find out more about your potential partner. Try browsingM. Rowh. First impressions count / gradPSYCH his social networks and findR. Knight. How to Make a Great First Impression / Harvard Business Review common interests.
2. Take care of yourself and your appearance
Understand where you are going and lookM. Rowh. First impressions count / gradPSYCH appropriately. People are unlikely to appreciate your Hawaiian shirt and short shorts if the appointment was at the theater.
Also watch outFirst Impressions / Psychology Today behind what you say and write. Try to avoid mistakes, including on your social media profile.
It will not hurt to get enough sleep before a responsible event. Research showsT. Sundelin, M. Lekander, K. Sorjonen et al. Negative effects of restricted sleep on facial appearance and social appeal / Royal Society Open Sciencethat sleepiness diminishes your attractiveness to other people. This is another reason adjust regime of the day and rest.
3. Hold on with confidence
Still worthR. Knight. How to Make a Great First Impression / Harvard Business Review pay attention to your body language - it should talk about what you feel comfortable with. For example, before the meeting, you can demonstrate a "strong position": sit upright, take big steps, straighten your shoulders. Some researchers believeA. J. C. Cuddy, S. J. Schultz, N. E. Fosse. P ‑ Curving a More Comprehensive Body of Research on Postural Feedback Reveals Clear Evidential Value for Power ‑ Posing Effects: Reply to Simmons and Simonsohn / Psychological Sciencethat it helps to feel more confident.
4. Show your best qualities
TryR. Knight. How to Make a Great First Impression / Harvard Business Review use your strengths. Ask your friends what to count among them, or notice what you are most often complimented on. But be careful: loved ones can embellish your dignity, because they love, and others can be insincere, for example, currying favor with you.
5. Demonstrate that you are a good conversationalist.
ListenM. Rowh. First impressions count / gradPSYCH your counterpart, try to really delve into what he says, show genuine interest. Don't interrupt, let us know that you are passionate (for example, nod), do not seek to complete sentences. Not worth itFirst Impressions / Psychology Today also immediately try to tell too much about yourself or crush a person with deep knowledge.
And, of course, develop to be interesting and an attractive personality.
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