First Impression: Does It Matter?
by Do you believe that first impressions last? Do you think the first impression that you get of a person really matters? A research done by psychologists may provide some insights.
Researcher Bertram Gawronski’s profile page from the Social Psychology Network site.
There may be some truth to the saying that first impressions last. The results of a research by Bertram Gawronski, published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, seem to support the idea of persistence of first impressions. It seems that our brain is very good in storing the memory of our first experience of a stranger and that whatever emotions or thoughts that we have associated with that new acquaintance during that first encounter persist even when the person shows a different side in another context or situation.
According to Gawronski, the human brain would interpret the new experience of an acquaintance as an “exception to the rule” such that it will still bring to light its memory of the first encounter with the person. If for example, you meet someone at a party who was drunk and loud, you will definitely remember that person as “drunk and loud” even if on another occasion, like a business convention, the same person strikes you as sober, polite, and very proper. Gawronski says our brain will simply see the new perception of the acquaintance as an isolated case. In other words, you will still get the impression that the person is a drunkard and that the sober version observed at a later time is just an exception.
Gawronksi came up with the report after conducting an experiment in which he showed participants the images of different individuals together with either positive or negative information. After the first set, the participants were again showed the images, but with different information. This time, however, the experimenters showed the pictures with a different background from the previous used. After that, the images (taking the background into consideration) were shown again but without the data. The participants’ spontaneous reactions were then recorded. Gawronski found out that the new data used with a person’s image only provoked a significant reaction when the new background was used. The logical conclusion was that the first impression of someone will always come to mind unless the person concerned appears in a context where a different persona was observed.
What does this mean for us? Well, it means you should give an effort to appear good to new people you meet because what they think of you during that first time will stick with them even when they see another side of you on another occasion. If you work in an industry or move in a network where first impressions count a lot, then you should keep this mind.
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Post CommentLJ Spain
On January 21, 2011 at 11:12 am
Yes. The first impression matters to me, but after I get to know someone better and their personality changes one way or another, it makes me think back to the way they were when I first met them. It’s amazing sometimes in the difference.
s j tubrazy
On January 21, 2011 at 2:16 pm
highly deep researched post.
Val Mills
On January 22, 2011 at 12:31 am
I agree with you wholeheartedly.
V rank
On January 22, 2011 at 2:31 am
i think it does sometimes… thanks for sharing your thoughts…
papaleng
On January 22, 2011 at 6:11 am
In some little ways, I agree, But don’t forget the idiom, Don’t judge a book by its cover.
Brewed Coffee
On January 22, 2011 at 7:42 am
First impressions do leave lasting imprints. But I suppose, we should always give everyone the benefit of 2nd or more impressions
We really get to know the person through time. Sometimes, some people appear great on first meetings, but they turn out monsters later on. I think that’s even more scary.
alvinwriter
On January 22, 2011 at 9:06 am
We have to use our head and not be too hasty when it comes to our impressions of other people.
janesteban
On January 22, 2011 at 9:22 am
Great article! Thanks for sharing.
Judy Kaelin
On January 22, 2011 at 12:15 pm
Excellent!
novelist
On January 22, 2011 at 6:43 pm
I read this article with singular interest and I do agree with the conclusion. Thanks for sharing this particular point of view. A well-expressed, informative piece of work.
albert1jemi
On January 24, 2011 at 10:09 am
great share
T. S. GARP
On January 26, 2011 at 8:35 pm
Having a good first impression does matter and if not having that, than that makes it much more harder for the person to present a new, better, more positive impression later. Be as polite as can be otherwise lasting negative impressions don’t go away easy. Good article!