Entry 6: Tendency To Judge
I once read that humans have a tendency to form an impression of another within the first 10-30 seconds of an initial interaction, which is called the first impression. Curiously, I thought of the numerous factors that are taken into consideration when forming a first impression: facial expression, posture, eye contact, hair-cut, attire, walking style, and a number of other variables.
While still in contemplation a piece of understanding of this behavioral theory entered my mind: these are all book cover factors that people look at without having an interaction. After vetting this piece of understanding and finding it to be reasonable I started to look for the other piece to put together a more developed understanding. I went beyond the book cover and found internal qualities: values, beliefs, interests, and a manner of speech that is based on the preceding.
Wow I thought! In this light the theory became more fleshed out unfortunately with a down side: this theory is a two prong theory, which means unless you have an interaction with a person to form your impression using both pieces, half the time we could be wrong about a person.
The question then came to mind: do you get a second chance at another impression? When years have gone by and those factors that were used to shape the first impression of you no longer suit your current character, how long will it take to form the second impression? If a second impression is formed upon you, how well grounded will it be and will the first impression still have any influence over the second impression?
These questions derived from the idea that because people can change it stands to reason that second chances at another impression after the person’s behavioral change and a lapse of time are not impossible. Although one will have to work hard to overcome the powerful influence of the first impression, which could last a life time in some minds, a second impression is not beyond our reach.
