First impression: perceptual errors

One of the important results of psychologicalstudies on the formation of the first impression was the identification of certain typical schemes on which to build the image of a person, and to which, to varying degrees, all people use. But the construction of a person's image in these schemes often leads to errors in perception.

Typical schemes for the formation of the first impression

First impression: factor of superiority

In order for the factor of superiority to act on us, we have previously evaluate the new interlocutor: appearance, facial expression, clothing, mannertalk and hold, etc. It is clear that in addition to these signs, we have nothing more to evaluate the personality. Automatically we refer a person to a particular social group, determining his level of intelligence and upbringing. But very often we make mistakes.

For example, according to polls, moreintellectuals are people with spectacles and neatly dressed, tall people instill more confidence, and wearers of long hair are perceived as more highly spiritual. Although, as you know, there is no connection among these indicators.

The superiority factor works, when we saw something not equal between the personus. One sign of inequality is sufficient, and this person is automatically considered to be a complete superiority in comparison with us. Or vice versa.

for example: a man saw a new dear friend of a dear expensive car. The factor of excellence is working, and the new acquaintance seems smarter, better, richer, happier, etc.

First impression: attractiveness factor

The mechanisms of the attractiveness factor and the factor of superiority are very similar. But here the focus is on the external appeal. The more a new acquaintance for us seems attractive, cute, the better for us in all respects. Those. beautiful - means smart, good, kind, sincere, etc.

The research shows that Cute little children are punished, they put higher grades in school and the surrounding people talk more kindly. Beautiful people have advantages in the overall evaluation of their qualities only because of their appearance.

First impression: the factor of attitude towards us

Surely everyone will agree that those people whothey treat us well, they seem much better to us than those who hate us (they do not treat us well). This is the manifestation of the action of the factor of attitude towards us. Depending on the positive or negative sign of this relationship, we also assess the quality of people.

American scientists R. Nisbet and T.Wilson conducted an experiment in which the same person was sent to two different audiences to students. In one - under the guise of a sociable and benevolent teacher, and in another - under the guise of a strict and cold teacher. The result was not surprising - the evaluation of the "first" teacher was much higher than that of the "second" teacher.

Hence we can conclude that a positive attitude towards us generates a strong tendency to attribute positive qualities</ strong> a new acquaintance and rejection of negative, and vice versa, a clear negative attitude towards us causes a persistent tendency to ignore the positive side of the interlocutor and expose the negative.

First impression: the effect of "halo"

In studies on the formation of the firstimpressions, all three types of the above factors are covered by the "halo effect". It manifests itself in the fact that at the first impression the general positive perception of a person leads to a reassessment of its qualities, and a negative one to an underestimation.

The first impression is very strong depends on the stereotypes imposed by society. For example, trade workers considerdeceivers, longshoremen - alcoholics, etc. A certain group of people are "hung" labels, unreasonably attributed to all of them specific qualities and traits. It is sometimes difficult to change one's mind.

Studies of people's knowledge of each other have convincingly demonstrated that the completeness and the reliability of the evaluation of another person depends very much on the qualities of the evaluator himself. It means a degree of self-confidence, goodwill, well-being, an emotional mood, the environment, etc.

for example: if a person is nervous, then perceive a stranger, he will be as restless and insecure in himself.

The perception of another person depends very much on their own internal state and on the desire to communicate. The first impression of a person is projection of your inner world.

Correct formation of the first impression ofa new person comes with life experience, with the ability to "join" the interlocutor, when one should not pay attention to settings and stereotypes, given all sorts of typical mistakes.