Does the first impression genuinely dictate our perceptions—its formation mechanisms and the reasons behind its profound significance in social interactions?
Oliwia Kaczmarek
2026-03-21
7 min. read
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Returning to the scenario of a social event where new connections are formed, within the initial moments, we are able to definitively ascertain with whom we wish to maintain further interaction and whom we would prefer to avoid. This unequivocally highlights the formidable influence exerted by the first impression. However, we do not terminate our engagement with newly met individuals immediately upon introduction. Over the ensuing hours, we engage in conversations, scrutinize behaviors, and observe one another attentively. As a consequence, by the conclusion of the gathering, each attendee has amassed a comprehensive repository of insights regarding the other participants. Does this then suggest that the initially formed impression—whether favorable or unfavorable—might undergo alteration in light of the subsequently acquired information?
The angelic and satanic halo effect
So theoretically speaking, it's not easy, so the human being is a very complicated being, hence the great power of first impressions, but the information that we gather about the other person on the basis of their behavior, statements, nonverbal expressions is a multi-purpose rule. To be able to properly assess our conversations, we need to refine this phenomenon of ambiguity, to find a starting point that allows us to properly relate to the new person we know. Hence, the great strength of the first impression that we use at the beginning of the story in order to reveal the positive or negative effects of what we see in the first person, and all of this affects our first person.
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