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The Importance of First Impressions

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The Importance of First Impressions
The Importance of First Impressions

Sydney Tripp
University of Kentucky

Abstract Research has been conducted in the past two years that focuses on the impact first impressions have on interpersonal relationships. The results of the majority of the studies that have been recently conducted point to the importance of first impressions and how they are not easily reversed. Meaning that individual’s cling to first impressions that have been established. This paper discusses the importance of first impressions and how first impressions relate to perception in interpersonal communications. The research points to the vital role that first impressions play in the perception of two strangers.

Keywords: relationship, iniatiating, interactions

The Importance of First Impressions
From a young age we are told to make a good first impression. Are first impressions that important or this just a good way for parents to get their children to act appropriately when out in public? First impressions are vital in interactions with strangers and if first impressions are made accurately they can be useful in deciding how to interact with people (Adler & Proctor, 2011). Being liked by people is something that most people strive for and from this most people make every effort to make good first impressions from the beginning of interpersonal relationships. Knowing that it is most people’s goal to be liked is what leads to the statement that first impressions are the most important part of a stranger’s perception of another stranger. Through this study one will begin to understand that first impressions are vital in interpersonal communication through understanding first impression’s affects on perception, relationships between two people and the importance of first impressions in the workplace.
First impressions heavily rely on perception. When two strangers meet one of them could be making a great effort to make a good first impression. Even though this is



References: Adler, R.B., & Proctor, R.F., (2011). Looking in, looking out. Mason, OH: Cengage Learning. 3rd Ed. Beauchamp, M., Dunlop, W., Downey, S., & Estabrooks, P. (2012). First impressions count: Perceptions of surface-level and deep-level similarity within postnatal exercise classes and implications for program adherence. Journal Of Health Psychology, 17(1), 68-76. doi:10.1177/1359105311408156 Chan, M., Rogers, K. H., Parisotto, K. L., & Biesanz, J. C. (2011). Forming first impressions: The role of gender and normative accuracy in personality perception. Journal Of Research In Personality, 45(1), 117-120. doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2010.11.001 Forgas, J. P. (2011). Can negative affect eliminate the power of first impressions? Affective influences on primacy and recency effects in impression formation. Journal Of Experimental Social Psychology, 47(2), 425-429. doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2010.11.005 Human, L. J., & Biesanz, J. C. (2012). Accuracy and assumed similarity in first impressions of personality: Differing associations at different levels of analysis. Journal Of Research In Personality, 46(1), 106-110. doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2011.10.002 Laws, E. L., Apperson, J. M., Buchert, S., & Bregman, N. J. (2010). Student evaluations of instruction: When are enduring first impressions formed?. North American Journal Of Psychology, 12(1), 81-91.

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