first impressions are nearly always wrong argumentative essay

Several Reasons Why First Impressions Aren’t Always Reliable

In real life, the ‘cover’ of people, what they wear, how they look, and their behavior can often misrepresent what they really are. Like the cover of a book, first impressions are not always right, it can be inaccurate, and not as true as what it really is. It is true that everyone often makes a wrong judgment on first impressions, people who are of a different nationality, race, and ethnicity, they can skew and invalidate first impression because they have different ways in how they meet someone new.

In addition, every race and ethnicity has their own type of body language, and the way they speak in daily life because people from different cultures may not share a similar understanding in their communication regarding the same symbols. People often consider their snap judgments as fact without getting to know someone who they have met better and deeply first. They make snap judgments continually throughout the day. They read expressions, check out body posture, watch gestures, assess clothing, and make a judgment right away & instantly. Snap judgment is not everything.

Furthermore, we, oftentimes, are lazy to make fair assessment to someone’s character. When we get more options to judge someone’s character, we tend to become more superficial about it. Without realizing it, we automatically have already made a wrong judgment because we just depend on first impressions rather than getting to know them first. We’re too lazy to find a way to make fair assessment to someone’s character. Eventually, it leads us to realize that it’s so hard to confront our flawed judgments so we usually just stuck in our snap judgments. Think about this: We often get a bad feeling about someone and then we never genuinely try to prove our hunch wrong or right. That’s a lot of hard work that most of us are frankly not willing to do. We never even think about proving our intuition wrong. 

Basically, time limits our ability to get to know someone at his/her core. Sure, we can get either a positive or negative vibe about a person when the first time we meet him/her. But, it can’t be our excuse to judge their personality just based on our quick meeting. Because, time limits our ability to get to know someone beyond a superficial level. Our present emotional state also can impact the way we act. And plus, a quick meeting with a short time undoubtedly limits our ability to get to know someone so that no wonder we can end up judging someone just based on their impressions.

Additionally, people aren’t easy to figure out. There are layers behind a persona and sometimes, in order to peel those layers back, time is an essential factor to do so. A 10 seconds meeting can’t help us to make a correct judgment about someone’s core. In the end, people can’t make a quick fair judgment on someone’s impressions. We surely can’t make a correct judgment in a short timeframe. So, that’s why we all have friends that, at first glance, we didn’t like very much but after we got to know each other better, then we started saying that apparently they’re good friends. See? Just be mindful towards people.

In sum, first impressions aren’t always accurate. Based off of first impressions and looking back on some people you’ve met, how often do you perceive the person you know now in a completely different light than the way you did when you initially met him or her? That picture you painted of this person in your mind may not have been spot on. That’s why we should walk in someone else’s shoes first before we make our own assessment. Do yourself a favor next time and don’t let your first impression be the final judgment call. 

View the discussion thread.

Related Stories

Guarding Our Communities: The Imperative of Immunization

SAVE & PLANT TREES! - Empowering Climate Activism and Environmental Awareness on a Global Scale

My 20's Journey: "Change Is Something That Comes From Within And Cannot Be Forced By Others "

C 2019 Voices of Youth. All Rights Reserved. 

To install StudyMoose App tap and then “Add to Home Screen”

First Impression is always not right

Save to my list

Remove from my list

First Impression is always not right. (2016, Aug 08). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/first-impression-is-always-not-right-essay

"First Impression is always not right." StudyMoose , 8 Aug 2016, https://studymoose.com/first-impression-is-always-not-right-essay

StudyMoose. (2016). First Impression is always not right . [Online]. Available at: https://studymoose.com/first-impression-is-always-not-right-essay [Accessed: 9 Oct. 2024]

"First Impression is always not right." StudyMoose, Aug 08, 2016. Accessed October 9, 2024. https://studymoose.com/first-impression-is-always-not-right-essay

"First Impression is always not right," StudyMoose , 08-Aug-2016. [Online]. Available: https://studymoose.com/first-impression-is-always-not-right-essay. [Accessed: 9-Oct-2024]

StudyMoose. (2016). First Impression is always not right . [Online]. Available at: https://studymoose.com/first-impression-is-always-not-right-essay [Accessed: 9-Oct-2024]

• Was It The Right Decision to Change Walmart’s Tagline Of “Always Low Prices, Always”? Pages: 5 (1407 words)
• Health first – It is always first! Pages: 2 (419 words)
• Making a Great First Impression Pages: 2 (474 words)
• The first impression of philosophy Pages: 6 (1519 words)
• Impression Formation: The Complex Nature of First Impressions Pages: 2 (528 words)
• Is punishment always the right solutions to stop crime? Pages: 8 (2311 words)
• The Customer Is Always Right Pages: 6 (1611 words)
• Customer is Always Right Pages: 4 (999 words)
• The Myth of 'The Customer is Always Right Pages: 4 (966 words)
• Life is Not Always Pretty Pages: 4 (999 words)

👋 Hi! I’m your smart assistant Amy!

Don’t know where to start? Type your requirements and I’ll connect you to an academic expert within 3 minutes.

Home — Essay Samples — Sociology — First Impression — On First Impressions: Unraveling the Power and Limitations

On First Impressions: Unraveling The Power and Limitations

• Categories: First Impression Nonverbal Communication

About this sample

Words: 624 |

Published: Sep 12, 2023

Words: 624 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

Table of contents

The power of first impressions, the psychological mechanisms, the limitations of first impressions, improving first impressions, 1. social interactions:, 2. professional success:, 3. dating and relationships:, 4. trust and credibility:, 1. halo effect:, 2. confirmation bias:, 3. primacy effect:, 4. stereotyping:, 1. superficiality:, 2. context matters:, 3. changing over time:, 4. cultural differences:, 1. self-awareness:, 2. empathy:, 3. active listening:, 4. authenticity:.

Cite this Essay

To export a reference to this article please select a referencing style below:

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Dr Jacklynne

Verified writer

• Expert in: Sociology

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

1 pages / 556 words

5 pages / 2460 words

7 pages / 3006 words

3 pages / 2265 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on First Impression

“Judging someone without knowing them” is a common problem in society today, which is discussed in this essay. It is a topic that has been debated for many years. People tend to form opinions based on first impressions, which [...]

“Why are you so shy?” and ironically: “Why are you so loud?”. I have been told both and to be honest, I am none of them in particular. Different persons make me react in a different way. And that is something I cannot really [...]

Whenever someone thinks of Jane Austen, it is no surprise that they may think of her best-selling novel Pride and Prejudice. When people ask me to suggest a book for good reading, I always choose this novel. However, many [...]

A well-told tale teaches us that we only get one chance to make a first impression. From personal relationships to casual encounters, we base our judgements on information gathered spontaneously from the appearance of those who [...]

Bishop Opera Luigi Locati children’s home is an organization whose aim is to educate, shelter and support the orphans and vulnerable children. This home was founded in 2005 by Bishop Locati Luigi and Mr. Riccardo Luigi. Mr. [...]

A negotiation is an outstanding approach to problem-solving. Taking the case of the informal conference with OSHA, negotiation is paramount to ensure that the interest of the company does not conflict the working ethics. [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

• Knowledge Base
• How to write an argumentative essay | Examples & tips

How to Write an Argumentative Essay | Examples & Tips

Published on July 24, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

An argumentative essay expresses an extended argument for a particular thesis statement . The author takes a clearly defined stance on their subject and builds up an evidence-based case for it.

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

Table of contents

When do you write an argumentative essay, approaches to argumentative essays, introducing your argument, the body: developing your argument, concluding your argument, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about argumentative essays.

You might be assigned an argumentative essay as a writing exercise in high school or in a composition class. The prompt will often ask you to argue for one of two positions, and may include terms like “argue” or “argument.” It will frequently take the form of a question.

The prompt may also be more open-ended in terms of the possible arguments you could make.

Argumentative writing at college level

At university, the vast majority of essays or papers you write will involve some form of argumentation. For example, both rhetorical analysis and literary analysis essays involve making arguments about texts.

In this context, you won’t necessarily be told to write an argumentative essay—but making an evidence-based argument is an essential goal of most academic writing, and this should be your default approach unless you’re told otherwise.

Examples of argumentative essay prompts

At a university level, all the prompts below imply an argumentative essay as the appropriate response.

Your research should lead you to develop a specific position on the topic. The essay then argues for that position and aims to convince the reader by presenting your evidence, evaluation and analysis.

• Don’t just list all the effects you can think of.
• Do develop a focused argument about the overall effect and why it matters, backed up by evidence from sources.
• Don’t just provide a selection of data on the measures’ effectiveness.
• Do build up your own argument about which kinds of measures have been most or least effective, and why.
• Don’t just analyze a random selection of doppelgänger characters.
• Do form an argument about specific texts, comparing and contrasting how they express their thematic concerns through doppelgänger characters.

Here's why students love Scribbr's proofreading services

Discover proofreading & editing

An argumentative essay should be objective in its approach; your arguments should rely on logic and evidence, not on exaggeration or appeals to emotion.

There are many possible approaches to argumentative essays, but there are two common models that can help you start outlining your arguments: The Toulmin model and the Rogerian model.

Toulmin arguments

The Toulmin model consists of four steps, which may be repeated as many times as necessary for the argument:

• Make a claim
• Provide the grounds (evidence) for the claim
• Explain the warrant (how the grounds support the claim)
• Discuss possible rebuttals to the claim, identifying the limits of the argument and showing that you have considered alternative perspectives

The Toulmin model is a common approach in academic essays. You don’t have to use these specific terms (grounds, warrants, rebuttals), but establishing a clear connection between your claims and the evidence supporting them is crucial in an argumentative essay.

Say you’re making an argument about the effectiveness of workplace anti-discrimination measures. You might:

• Claim that unconscious bias training does not have the desired results, and resources would be better spent on other approaches
• Cite data to support your claim
• Explain how the data indicates that the method is ineffective
• Anticipate objections to your claim based on other data, indicating whether these objections are valid, and if not, why not.

Rogerian arguments

The Rogerian model also consists of four steps you might repeat throughout your essay:

• Discuss what the opposing position gets right and why people might hold this position
• Highlight the problems with this position
• Present your own position , showing how it addresses these problems
• Suggest a possible compromise —what elements of your position would proponents of the opposing position benefit from adopting?

This model builds up a clear picture of both sides of an argument and seeks a compromise. It is particularly useful when people tend to disagree strongly on the issue discussed, allowing you to approach opposing arguments in good faith.

Say you want to argue that the internet has had a positive impact on education. You might:

• Acknowledge that students rely too much on websites like Wikipedia
• Argue that teachers view Wikipedia as more unreliable than it really is
• Suggest that Wikipedia’s system of citations can actually teach students about referencing
• Suggest critical engagement with Wikipedia as a possible assignment for teachers who are skeptical of its usefulness.

You don’t necessarily have to pick one of these models—you may even use elements of both in different parts of your essay—but it’s worth considering them if you struggle to structure your arguments.

Regardless of which approach you take, your essay should always be structured using an introduction , a body , and a conclusion .

Like other academic essays, an argumentative essay begins with an introduction . The introduction serves to capture the reader’s interest, provide background information, present your thesis statement , and (in longer essays) to summarize the structure of the body.

Hover over different parts of the example below to see how a typical introduction works.

The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts is on the rise, and its role in learning is hotly debated. For many teachers who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its critical benefits for students and educators—as a uniquely comprehensive and accessible information source; a means of exposure to and engagement with different perspectives; and a highly flexible learning environment.

The body of an argumentative essay is where you develop your arguments in detail. Here you’ll present evidence, analysis, and reasoning to convince the reader that your thesis statement is true.

In the standard five-paragraph format for short essays, the body takes up three of your five paragraphs. In longer essays, it will be more paragraphs, and might be divided into sections with headings.

Each paragraph covers its own topic, introduced with a topic sentence . Each of these topics must contribute to your overall argument; don’t include irrelevant information.

This example paragraph takes a Rogerian approach: It first acknowledges the merits of the opposing position and then highlights problems with that position.

Hover over different parts of the example to see how a body paragraph is constructed.

A common frustration for teachers is students’ use of Wikipedia as a source in their writing. Its prevalence among students is not exaggerated; a survey found that the vast majority of the students surveyed used Wikipedia (Head & Eisenberg, 2010). An article in The Guardian stresses a common objection to its use: “a reliance on Wikipedia can discourage students from engaging with genuine academic writing” (Coomer, 2013). Teachers are clearly not mistaken in viewing Wikipedia usage as ubiquitous among their students; but the claim that it discourages engagement with academic sources requires further investigation. This point is treated as self-evident by many teachers, but Wikipedia itself explicitly encourages students to look into other sources. Its articles often provide references to academic publications and include warning notes where citations are missing; the site’s own guidelines for research make clear that it should be used as a starting point, emphasizing that users should always “read the references and check whether they really do support what the article says” (“Wikipedia:Researching with Wikipedia,” 2020). Indeed, for many students, Wikipedia is their first encounter with the concepts of citation and referencing. The use of Wikipedia therefore has a positive side that merits deeper consideration than it often receives.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

An argumentative essay ends with a conclusion that summarizes and reflects on the arguments made in the body.

No new arguments or evidence appear here, but in longer essays you may discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your argument and suggest topics for future research. In all conclusions, you should stress the relevance and importance of your argument.

Hover over the following example to see the typical elements of a conclusion.

The internet has had a major positive impact on the world of education; occasional pitfalls aside, its value is evident in numerous applications. The future of teaching lies in the possibilities the internet opens up for communication, research, and interactivity. As the popularity of distance learning shows, students value the flexibility and accessibility offered by digital education, and educators should fully embrace these advantages. The internet’s dangers, real and imaginary, have been documented exhaustively by skeptics, but the internet is here to stay; it is time to focus seriously on its potential for good.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Ad hominem fallacy
• Post hoc fallacy
• Appeal to authority fallacy
• False cause fallacy
• Sunk cost fallacy

College essays

• Choosing Essay Topic
• Write a College Essay
• Write a Diversity Essay
• College Essay Format & Structure
• Comparing and Contrasting in an Essay

 (AI) Tools

• Grammar Checker
• Paraphrasing Tool
• Text Summarizer
• AI Detector
• Plagiarism Checker
• Citation Generator

An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.

An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesn’t have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.

At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).

Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.

The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

The majority of the essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Unless otherwise specified, you can assume that the goal of any essay you’re asked to write is argumentative: To convince the reader of your position using evidence and reasoning.

In composition classes you might be given assignments that specifically test your ability to write an argumentative essay. Look out for prompts including instructions like “argue,” “assess,” or “discuss” to see if this is the goal.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Caulfield, J. (2023, July 23). How to Write an Argumentative Essay | Examples & Tips. Scribbr. Retrieved October 15, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/argumentative-essay/

Is this article helpful?

Jack Caulfield

Other students also liked, how to write a thesis statement | 4 steps & examples, how to write topic sentences | 4 steps, examples & purpose, how to write an expository essay, get unlimited documents corrected.

✔ Free APA citation check included ✔ Unlimited document corrections ✔ Specialized in correcting academic texts

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Hidden Brain

Researchers examine whether first impressions are lasting.

Shankar Vedantam

When you look at a photograph of someone, researchers say it's remarkably difficult to dislodge that first impression — even after we have had a chance to meet the person we initially saw in a photo.

If you judge a person based simply on a picture and then later on have an interaction with that person, do you think you would revise your judgments? Thomas Barwick/Getty Images hide caption

If you judge a person based simply on a picture and then later on have an interaction with that person, do you think you would revise your judgments?

Copyright © 2016 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

Some people say that your first impressions when you meet someone are always right. To what extent do you agree with this statement?

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Writing9 with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Fully explain your ideas

To get an excellent score in the IELTS Task 2 writing section, one of the easiest and most effective tips is structuring your writing in the most solid format. A great argument essay structure may be divided to four paragraphs, in which comprises of four sentences (excluding the conclusion paragraph, which comprises of three sentences).

For we to consider an essay structure a great one, it should be looking like this:

• Paragraph 1 - Introduction
• Sentence 1 - Background statement
• Sentence 2 - Detailed background statement
• Sentence 3 - Thesis
• Sentence 4 - Outline sentence
• Paragraph 2 - First supporting paragraph
• Sentence 1 - Topic sentence
• Sentence 2 - Example
• Sentence 3 - Discussion
• Sentence 4 - Conclusion
• Paragraph 3 - Second supporting paragraph
• Paragraph 4 - Conclusion
• Sentence 1 - Summary
• Sentence 2 - Restatement of thesis
• Sentence 3 - Prediction or recommendation

Our recommended essay structure above comprises of fifteen (15) sentences, which will make your essay approximately 250 to 275 words.

Discover more tips in The Ultimate Guide to Get a Target Band Score of 7+ » — a book that's free for 🚀 Premium users.

• Check your IELTS essay »
• Find essays with the same topic
• View collections of IELTS Writing Samples
• Show IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics

In many countries , people are now living longer the ever before. Some people say an ageing population creates problems for the governments. Other people think there are benefits for society has more elderly people. To what extent the advantage of having ageing population outweigh the disadvantages.

Many manufactured food and drink products contain high levels of sugar, which causes many health problems. sugary products should be made more expensive to encourage people to consume less sugar. do you agree or disagree, discuss the impact of social media on creating opportunities and changing the nature of interactions among young people., some people think that advertising may have positive economic effects. others think it has negative social effects because advertising makes individuals less satisfied with what they are and have. discuss both views and give your own opinion., employers should give holidays of at least one month to employees to encourage them to perform better at workplace. to what extent do you agree or disagree.

Psychologies

Share this:

Can we trust first impressions.

In a split second, our brain judges whether someone is a friend or an enemy, loyal, attractive or neither. But can first impressions ever be correct? By Hélène Fresnel and Laurent Bègue

Marie, 36, had a loving husband and a baby, but was unhappy, and felt she didn’t really know who she was anymore. ‘I’d just given birth to my little girl,’ she says. ‘I felt disconnected from my body, which had changed so much during pregnancy, and was extremely insecure. So I signed up for a self-image workshop.’

There were 30 participants. The first day began with an exercise called ‘The crystal ball’. ‘Each person in turn had to stand silently in the middle of the room. The others, sitting down, had to give their first impressions of that person. When it was my turn, they all said that they felt I was hesitating between two stages – a chubby, awkward adolescent, and a young woman comfortable with her curves. I felt so completely transparent that I burst into tears.’

So is the impression we give always accurate? Can others ‘read’ us, even if we don’t want them to? And what about the way we see others – what does the image we get of them say about us? There are plenty of books that promise to decode people’s body language and personality, but they aren’t really worth reading, according to the psychiatrist Antoine Pelissolo. ‘No one can read minds, but any reasonably attentive individual can get a feel for another person,’ he says.

Psychotherapist Corinne Fischer regularly uses the crystal ball exercise in her therapy groups and is often struck by the insight it provides. ‘Our first impressions are informed by very astute, raw perceptions – smell, posture, tone of voice,’ she says. ‘So many factors come into play before we even exchange words.’ The ability to judge others is linked to our instinct for self-preservation, which tells us almost instantly whether someone is a friend or an enemy, a threat or an ally. Our brain makes a judgement in a tenth of a second when it sees a new face, according to a study led by the Princeton University psychologist and researcher Alex Todorov. Before there has been any time for reflection, we decide if the person is attractive or repulsive, friendly or hostile. Our opinion of them develops from the emotion that this meeting arouses, says Pelissolo. This judgement is ‘almost instant,’ he says. ‘We only need a few milliseconds. The brain makes it, even before it identifies the gender or the appearance of the other person.’

But can we trust these snap judgements? ‘Research has found that first impressions are surprisingly valid,’ says Daniel Kahneman, psychologist, Nobel laureate and author of Thinking, Fast And Slow . ‘You can predict very quickly whether you like a person and if others will.’ However, first impressions are not perfect, and making a quick decision about someone can have consequences.

‘If your first impression is a mistake, it can take a while to realise this, as your expectations tend to be self-fulfilling,’ says Kahneman. ‘When you expect a certain reaction you are likely to perceive it even if it isn’t there.’ That’s why it is important, when making these judgements, that we do not allow our assumptions to take over, says life coach Nina Grunfeld, founder of Life Clubs . ‘It is too easy to judge people on what you know, within your specific frame of reference,’ she says. We apply our own emotions to our perception as well.

Rosa, 40, clearly remembers the sadness that was radiating from Samuel when she first met him. ‘I realise now that this is what made him so irresistibly attractive to me at the time,’ she says. ‘I was also feeling lost and in a bad way, but I was hiding it better.’

Our feelings, neuroses and moods are all liable to influence our impressions of others. ‘When feeling depressed, we become quite indifferent to everything,’ says psychologist and psychoanalyst Vincent Estellon. ‘First impressions cease to exist. Everything becomes lacklustre.’

This means that we stop picking up on other people’s cues, because we’re marooned in melancholy. We can also be misled by the emotional context in which an encounter takes place. Two researchers at the University of Waterloo in Canada demonstrated this – in a happy atmosphere, we tend to judge a face with a negative expression positively; conversely, when we are immersed in a dismal atmosphere, a happy, lively face can provoke a negative reaction.

Of course, some people are also simply better judges than others. ‘I tend to trust everyone instantly, whereas others will keep their guard up for a long period of time,’ says Grunfeld. It is important to look at the whole body, rather than just the face, as body language – how someone walks, sits and holds themselves – can tell us a lot. ‘If I’m hiring people, I ask someone else, who has that ability to judge quickly what people are going to be good at, to join me in the interview,’ she says. When trying to make a good first impression, we can unintentionally be misleading. Very anxious and shy people develop defence mechanisms to mask their perceived frailties. Rather than reach out to others, they put up barriers to protect themselves from a potentially aggressive and dangerous world. The first impression they give is not necessarily false; it just reflects the small aspect that they are revealing about themselves. There’s no universal solution for making a good impression.

As Grunfeld notes, how you present yourself depends on who you are meeting. If you are going to meet your future mother-in-law you will want to give a completely different impression from the one you’d hope to make if you are going to pitch to Burberry. In work situations, prior research on the person you are meeting is important.

But in day-to-day situations, basic aspects such as how you look, how you present yourself and eye contact are what make a difference. ‘Apart from that, you must accept that you’ll never fully know how other people see you,’ says Grunfeld. ‘You can only hope that you’re putting yourself forward in a good light.’ Pelissolo agrees. ‘It is impossible to control the image that others have of us, as it is so subjective,’ he says. He recommends being as true to your emotions as possible. And Fischer goes further, saying, ‘To honour the initial relationship that you develop with people, you must be authentic. Listen to your gut instinct and act on what it is telling you.’ Of course if there are cues for showing trustworthiness and likeability, then they can be faked. But faking sincerity is not easy. ‘The decision to fake it in order to make a good impression is likely to be picked up as such,’ says Kahneman. Be confident in who you are and then be true to that. Be conscious of your feelings without necessarily having to spell them out. In fact, the best way to avoid misunderstandings is to stop worrying about making a good impression.

Related content

Healing after betrayal: 5 steps to reclaim your heart.

Healing from betrayal is a deeply personal journey. Whether you’re dealing with the aftermath of infidelity or emotional betrayal, Dating and Transformation Coach Manj Bahra offers 5 practical steps to help you heal from betrayal and rebuild your life. When the news broke about Dave Grohl fathering a child outside his marriage, many of us […]

Zoe Blaskey on modern motherhood, guilt, and setting boundaries

Podcaster and author Zoe Blaskey talks to Psychologies about modern motherhood, endless expectation, and why setting boundaries, not seeking balance, is the key. Words: Holly Treacy. Images: BobbyNewMan Studio, Rhiannon Duffin Mum guilt. It’s a relentless shadow that looms over the lives of countless mothers – myself included. In fact, it’s so prevalent it’s been […]

Anna Williamson: make or break your relationship this September

In her latest column, Anna Williamson explores how to evaluate your relationship and decide if it’s time to call it quits.

More from Relationships

How to navigate the transition to an empty nest

Have your children left for university or other ventures? As parenthood takes on a new guise, open yourself up to change and let your empty nest grief give way to opportunity, writes Yasmina Floyer. When I was sixteen, the swell of my life beginning to expand was palpable, the world opening up like a treasure […]

Louise Pentland: ‘Connection brings me back to calm’

She’s been called the ‘original influencer’, so what makes millions want to know what author and blogger Louise Pentland is thinking? Holly Treacy meets her to find out… If you have never come across Louise Pentland’s social media accounts, YouTube channel, or website, you’re probably in the minority. She’s been blogging since 2009 and has […]

How to deal with friendship problems

Friendships bring immense joy, but they also come with their own set of challenges. Here, Caroline Butterwick helps us deal with our differences and save our friendships (or let them go).

No thanks, I’m not interested!

First Impression Significance Essay

The first meeting of two people makes up the most importance in their relationship. On the first encounter between two or more people, each undoubtedly asks unconsciously whether the other person will be fit for them in terms of the objective of their meeting. First impressions are an evolutionary trait of humans to adapt adequately and participate in society interactions.

Additionally, first impressions depend on the observer and the person observed. Most empirical research on first impression shows that persons are most attracted to other persons who show a tendency to accept them, as they would like to. This paper describes how first impressions are made and why they are important to the functioning of any society.

We make first impressions as a preliminary mode of adaptation to the other person and therefore the impressions made are in no way definitive. As we get to interact more with the other person, our preliminary impressions undergo a modification. However, this does not imply that we completely overhaul our initial impression of the other person; instead, our initial impressions make the basis of our further scrutiny and refinement of subsequent impressions.

An experiment by the American psychologist, Solomon Asch demonstrates the above point in practice. In the experiment, the psychologist drafted six qualities of an individual and then gave the qualities to two groups of students and asked them to describe the individual in their own words. Each group received a different order of the same six qualities of the individual.

The first group received the six qualities in the order of the most positive to the least positive while the second group received an opposite arrangement, from the least positive quality to the most positive quality.

The experiment’s result showed that the first group interpreted the negative qualities of the individual in the view of the individual’s positive qualities thus indicating that the group had formed a positive preliminary perception of the individual. Contrariwise the second group viewed the individual positive qualities as minor qualities of the individual’s overall negative personality.

This result indicates that the second group relied on the sequence of delivery of qualities to form their initial perception. From the results of the experiment, it is clear that an individual form the preliminary perception of another person based on what attribute of the other person shows up first.

The degree of accuracy of first impressions depends significantly on the observer and the observed person. First impressions determine how we handle the next step of getting to know the other person as the example of psychologist Solomon Asch has demonstrated. The experiment only highlights first impressions in a controlled environment, however, the reality governing first impressions is much complex.

Humans use first impressions as an evolutionary instinct of survival. According to psychology, it only takes three seconds for a person to form a first impression of another person. The brief exposure to the other person’s behavior and characteristics is enough for individuals to form an opinion whether further interaction with the other person will be of any benefit. As an evolutionary trait, the interpretation of the brief exposure to the other person’s behavior serves as a shield in interpersonal relationships in an unknown societal setting.

In medieval times, people used first impressions to gauge the other person or group’s chances of inflicting harm or being beneficial. In the modern world, survival is different. Survival is in terms of meeting our goals, fulfilling our desires, finishing tasks, accurately predicting the future and avoiding danger whether physical or psychological.

Although the perceiver may honestly create a first impression, the perceived individual may only be pretending. A person’s way of interpreting the brief exposure of behavior during first encounters with other persons determines how they proceed in their relation to the stranger.

On the other hand, individuals expect others to form a first impression of their behaviors and therefore go to great lengths in ensuring that only what they desire to demonstrate is actually captured by their perceiver. Therefore, individuals do not rely on first impressions only in their formation of an opinion of a stranger’s character.

Similarity of the encounter with previous encounters significantly affects how an individual will perceive another. Secondly, the similarities of the stranger’s observable characteristics with those characteristics that the perceiver is examining also contribute to the final perception. Due to this fact, individuals tend to look for what is common between them and use their value of the common factor to perceive the other person.

So if the stranger’s only similarity is a depiction of a characteristic that is very mild in the perceiver’s awareness, then the overall judgment formed is skeptical and subject to further scrutiny. However when the opposite is the case, an individual forms a favorable perception of the stranger and further scrutiny happens to support the already formed perception. This attribute of first impressions is in tandem with the findings of psychologist Solomon Asch as explained earlier in this paper.

Despite the high probability of individuals in getting their first impressions wrong, society goes to great lengths to develop mechanisms intended for creating first impressions. In work relations and careers, resumes and interviews exist to help employers to perceive their potential employees. However, the same avenues also allow potential employees to falsify their actual behavior and competency to create a similarity with that of the potential employer.

In the medical field, physicians and nurses rely on the initial description of a condition by their patients as well as the observable traits of their patients to deduce the kind of medication and care appropriate for the patient. In interpersonal relationships, persons use the setting of their first encounter, their stereotypic view of the behavior demonstrated by the stranger and their intention for meeting to form a perception.

The formation of first impressions is fundamental to people’s social perception and social cognition. The individual’s evolution of understanding others in a setting that lacks a constant social hierarchy is heavily dependent on this attribute. As a result, the creation of first impressions is a dynamic process that constantly incorporates previously learnt and experienced aspects of perceiving other people’s suitability for association.

As the society becomes more aware of the importance of first impressions, some individuals strive to ensure that their behaviors, as depicted to others, are a reflection of who they want to be instead of their actual self. On the other hand, new forms appear together with the refinement of stereotypes to ensure that first impressions are accurate. The result is a constant formulation of new strategies and mechanisms of creating first impressions to reduce the tendency of making inaccurate perceptions.

• Cross-Cultural Study: Parenting and Psychological Disorders in Adolescents
• Changes of Sleep in the Course of One Night
• George Berkeley’s Philosophy
• Primary Effects On Impression Formation
• Wholeness Meeting to Deal With Stress in School
• First Impressions Significance - Psychology
• Biology and Human Emotions - Psychology
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - Psychology
• Managing Stress and Depression at Work Places - Psychology
• Job' Stress and Depression
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2020, April 24). First Impression Significance. https://ivypanda.com/essays/first-impressions-significance/

"First Impression Significance." IvyPanda , 24 Apr. 2020, ivypanda.com/essays/first-impressions-significance/.

IvyPanda . (2020) 'First Impression Significance'. 24 April.

IvyPanda . 2020. "First Impression Significance." April 24, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/first-impressions-significance/.

1. IvyPanda . "First Impression Significance." April 24, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/first-impressions-significance/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "First Impression Significance." April 24, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/first-impressions-significance/.

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:

• Basic site functions
• Ensuring secure, safe transactions
• Secure account login
• Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
• Remembering privacy and security settings
• Analyzing site traffic and usage
• Personalized search, content, and recommendations
• Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda

Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.

Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:

• Remembering general and regional preferences
• Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers

Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy .

To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.

Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy .