The Psychology behind First Impressions

The first time you meet someone, and within seconds, you form an opinion about them. Similarly, they form an opinion about you. Job interviews do just that. The question is, How do our brains judge someone without knowing them, and can you change bad first impressions? 

Why do we judge someone so fast?

The human brain is wired to judge fast, without humans even realizing it. According to a Princeton University study, we form an impression about something in 1/10 th of a second of seeing someone (“Psychology: First Impressions”). Mostly, this happens just by looking at their face, and once we have a judgement, it’s hard to change it. 

Our brain is wired to make a quick judgement for survival reasons (MA). Our ancestors were fighting off wild animals and enemy tribes in ancient times, resulting in the evolution of this instinct. They had to make a judgement about someone being a threat or a friend within seconds of meeting for survival, which is still instilled in our brains today. 

Other reasons our brains love quick judgements includes (Mohammed):

• Cognitive shortcuts → when our brains take mental “shortcuts” to quickly make a decision, it saves time and energy, which can be used for other important body functions

• Pattern recognition → our brains rely on past experiences and stored information to predict future outcomes. For example, if someone reminds us of a friend or an enemy, we assume they will act similarly. This helps promote quicker decision making of how we carry ourselves in front of particular people compared to others

• Social categorization → our brains categorically sorts people into tiny groups, which helps us decide how to act towards certain people. For example, we act differently towards elders than we do with someone our same age, or we act in a different way towards extroverts and in a different way towards introverts

How does our brain make the first impression?

Our brain analyzes a bunch of things in order to create a first impression. 

They are:

1. Facial expressions: a simple smile can make you think of someone differently compared to a cold and calculating expression

2. Eye contact: the amount of eye contact can differentiate between intense (too much eye contact) or nervous (too little eye contact)

3. Body language and posture: the comparison between standing tall and straight versus a slouched sitting position

4. Tone of voice: is it a warm enthusiastic tone or is it a monotone, closed-off tone?

The active parts of our brain while making a first impressions

Why are first impressions important?

Each of these combine to create a first impression, whether it’s good or bad. It is helpful to leave a good first impression especially at interviews (job or otherwise). Many times, your first impression can help you get a job or be accepted into a prestigious university. 

Along with more open opportunities, first impressions can change how we look at ourselves. For example, it can make us more confident during future interactions. 

It is important to note that first impressions are not always correct and accurate. Many factors play into effect such as:

• Stereotypes, whether they are intentional or unconscious

• Context, someone who seems rude might just be having a bad day

• Judging based on emotions, if someone is in a bad mood, they see others negatively

How to change a bad first impression?

• Acknowledge it

• Be consistent - show positive traits repeatedly to reshape someone’s perception of you

• Use small talk - engaging in conversations helps people warm up to you

• Be authentic - the more comfortable and genuine you are, the better the impression you make

How to make a good first impression?

• Smile genuinely - makes you seem approachable and friendly

• Maintain good posture - stand tall and confident

• Use open body language - avoid crossing your arms or looking distracted

• Make eye contact (but not too much) - a good balance shows confidence

• Listen actively - nod, ask questions, and show interest in the conversation

Final Notes

In conclusion, making a good first impression is important as it is the first thing people notice about you. A good first impression can make or fail a job or university interview. Also, it can help you make friends easily, despite being introverted or extroverted. First impressions are fast and hard to change, therefore, it is necessary to make a good one first.

Written By: Krisha L

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Sources

https://paw.princeton.edu/article/psychology-first-impressions 

https://www.mcknights.com/marketplace/wired-for-survival-uncovering-the-brains-influence-on-employee-engagement/#:~:text=The%20wiring%20of%20our%20brain,hyper%2Dvigilant%20to%20these%20vulnerabilities. 

https://shahmm.medium.com/why-we-judge-the-science-behind-our-innate-judgment-ada60154429d#:~:text=The%20Evolutionary%20Roots,foe%20and%20danger%20from%20safety.