Why a first impression really is the last impression

Washington, Jan 19 (ANI): A new study has found out why first impressions are long lasting.

The research by a team of psychologists from Canada, Belgium, and the United States shows there is more than a literal truth to the saying that 'you never get a second chance to make a first impression'.

Their results indicate that new experiences that contradict a first impression become 'bound' to the context in which they were made, so the new experiences influence people's reactions only in that particular context, whereas first impressions still dominate in other contexts.

"Imagine you have a new colleague at work and your impression of that person is not very favourable. A few weeks later, you meet your colleague at a party and you realize he is actually a very nice guy," said Bertram Gawronski, Canada Research Chair at The University of Western Ontario.

"Although you know your first impression was wrong, your gut response to your new colleague will be influenced by your new experience only in contexts that are similar to the party. However, your first impression will still dominate in all other contexts."

Gawronski and his collaborators showed their study participants either positive or negative information about an unknown individual on a computer screen.

Later, the participants were presented with new information about the same individual, which was inconsistent with the initial information.

They found the new information influenced participants' reactions only when the person was presented against the background in which the new information had been learned.

"What is necessary is for the first impression to be challenged in multiple different contexts. In that case, new experiences become decontextualized and the first impression will slowly lose its power. But, as long as a first impression is challenged only within the same context, you can do whatever you want. The first impression will dominate regardless of how often it is contradicted by new experiences," said Gawronski.

He concluded, "If someone with phobic reactions to spiders is seeking help from a psychologist, the therapy will be much more successful if it occurs in multiple different contexts rather than just in the psychologist's office."

The research is published in the latest issue of the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. (ANI)