First Impression Measure

A First Impression Measure is an personal impression measure for when a person first encounters another entity.

• Context:
  • output: First Impression Score (e.g. positive first impression, neutral first impression, negative first impression).
  • It can include judgments on Trustworthiness, Competence, and Likability.
  • It can be influenced by factors such as race, gender, culture, language, accent, posture, and voice.
  • It can produce a First Impression Score (e.g., positive first impression, neutral first impression, negative first impression) as its output.
  • It can be applied in various contexts, such as professional settings, social interactions, and brand perceptions.
  • It can have lasting effects due to the stability of first impressions and their influence on subsequent interactions.
  • It can be improved by:
    • Preparing talking points to convey one's personal strengths effectively.
    • Exhibiting confident and comfortable body language to enhance likability.
    • Engaging in small talk to uncover common interests and build rapport.
    • Asking thoughtful questions to draw out the other person and make them feel valued.
    • Presenting evidence of one's expertise and experience to demonstrate competence.
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • A Job Interview First Impression Measure assessing a candidate's initial impact on interviewers.
  • A First Date Impression Measure evaluating the initial chemistry between two individuals.
  • A Company Brand First Impression Measure measuring consumer reactions to a new brand.
  • An Autonomous Car First Impression Measure gauging user trust in self-driving vehicles.
  • A City First Impression Measure capturing tourists' immediate perceptions of a new city.
  • a Mother-in-Law First Impression Measure.
  • a Robot First Impression Measure.
  • an Airport First Impression Measure.
  • a Culture First Impression Measure.
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • A Lasting Impression Measure, focusing on long-term perceptions formed after extended interaction.
  • A Performance Evaluation Measure that assesses sustained performance over time.
• See: Nonverbal Communication, Culture, Language, Gender, Physical Appearance, Accent (Sociolinguistics), Posture (Psychology), Voice.

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References

2024

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_impression_(psychology) Retrieved: 2024-9-11.
  • NOTES:
    • Definition of First Impressions: It is described as the event when one person first encounters another and forms a mental image based on numerous characteristics such as race, gender, physical appearance, and more.
    • Speed and Accuracy: It is highlighted that first impressions are formed quickly, sometimes within a tenth of a second. Although people are generally good at forming accurate impressions when others present themselves genuinely, it’s difficult to detect deception or feigned emotions.
    • Cultural and Contextual Influences: The article discusses how collectivism versus individualism and group dynamics influence the stability and formation of first impressions. People are more critical when alone and more influenced by collective perceptions when in groups.
    • Physical appearance and Nonverbal Behavior: The content emphasizes that physical appearance and nonverbal cues like body posture, facial expression, and clothing can provide accurate insights into someone's personality. There is also a focus on the "halo effect," where attractive people are perceived more positively across various traits.
    • Cross-Cultural and Evolutionary Perspectives: It explores how evolutionary needs, such as detecting trustworthiness and attractiveness, shape quick judgments. Additionally, cross-cultural studies suggest that certain first impression traits, such as attractiveness, are universal.
    • Stability of First Impressions: Once formed, first impressions tend to remain stable over time, even after further interactions. This stability could contribute to self-fulfilling prophecies and the halo effect, where initial perceptions guide subsequent interactions.
    • Influence of media, alcohol, and speech: The article further notes the role of media richness, alcohol consumption, and accents in shaping first impressions. Richer media such as videos help reduce cross-cultural biases, while alcohol or even the perception of it can alter emotional perception.
    • Specific Contexts: The article applies the concept of first impressions to different settings such as dating, professional contexts, and online interactions. It highlights the importance of non-verbal behaviors in professional settings and the consistency of first impressions formed in online and in-person contexts.
    • Neuroscience of First Impressions: Brain mechanisms such as the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex and the amygdala are involved in forming and processing first impressions. The research shows how these brain areas are activated in response to different emotional stimuli and previous biases.

2016

• (Wikipedia, 2016) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_impression_(psychology) Retrieved:2016-9-13.
  • In psychology, a first impression is the event when one person first encounters another person and forms a mental image of that person. Impression accuracy varies depending on the observer and the target (person, object, scene, etc.) being observed.

    First impressions are based on a wide range of characteristics: age, race, culture, language, gender, physical appearance, accent, posture, voice, number of people present, and time allowed to process. The first impressions individuals give to others could greatly influence how they are treated and viewed in many contexts of everyday life.

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