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​ = = =First Impressions=

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“First impression is the best impression.” -old proverb

Our human brain makes light-quick decisions on the people we meet, known or unknown, on its own without a conscious input through rapid cognition, used in forming first impressions, basic instincts, and simply the gut feelings. These first impressions tune us to others in a certain way, and become material to predict the future interactions, or lack of it. In 2005 Malcom Gladwell published his theory on this rapid cognition, which he called thin-slicing, in his book; “Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking” in which Mr. Gladwell fused together concepts from psychology and neuroscience. The thin-slicing or rapid cognition refers to the human unconscious to find patterns in behaviors and situations based on narrow slices of experience, an action that has a neurological base. The human unconscious does these thin-slicing operations of the world around constantly, absorbing huge amounts of information and analyzing it in splits of seconds, sifting through the stimuli and focusing on the important details. This ability is especially useful in situations of panic or chaos; when the conscious mind is clueless, the brain relies on these split-second decisions based on what has been unconsciously observed. Thus every person we meet, unknown or known, their facial expressions, behavior, and numerous other details are thin-sliced resulting in an often surprisingly accurate first impression. Interactions between humans that supply information for this thin-slicing process can occur in many ways; face-to-face, telephone discussions, on-line interactions, social websites, written documents such as a resumes, or even only its cover-letter. In an average length of time of 30 seconds, an often then tends to become a self-fulfilling prophecy. //I don't understand. Explain further.// // I love the book Blink! It really is a quick, good read and very interesting! //

Besides the use of our conscious minds, our daily living depends on these unconsciously formed first impressions both for interpersonal relationships and life situations confronted daily. Though the ability for thin-slicing for amazingly accurate first impressions is part of the natural functions of the unconscious mind and our brain, thin-slicing is a skill that can be learned and improved. Many occupations depend on these more accurate first impressions; salesmen, interrogators, interviewers, those involved in team sports and Martial Arts and so on. But since first impressions depend on our previous experiences, in our increasingly complex world one should keep an open mind when communicating with people from different backgrounds and cultures. First impression formation ability is not necessarily always neutral and positive. Since it is based on previous experience, this unconscious mechanism of first impressions can become a trap for stereotyping that should be consciously dealt with an avoided. //Good point! Though that's hard when it's often unconsious as you discuss.//



Neuroscientists have identified the neural systems involved in forming first impressions of others. The findings show how we encode social information and then evaluate it in making these initial judgments. The study sought to investigate the brain mechanisms that give rise to impressions formed immediately after meeting a new person. It was conducted in the laboratory of Elizabeth Phelps, an NYU professor of psychology and neuroscience and one of the co-authors. To explore the process of first impression formation, the researchers designed an experiment in which they examined the brain activity when these participants made initial evaluations of fictional individuals.

The participants were given written profiles of 20 individuals implying different personality traits. The profiles, presented along with pictures of these fictional individuals, included scenarios indicating both positive (e.g., intelligent) and negative (e.g., lazy) traits in their depictions. The neuroimaging results showed significant activity in two regions of the brain during the encoding of impression-relevant information. The first, the amygdala, is a small structure in the medial temporal lobe that previously has been linked to emotional learning about inanimate objects, as well as social evaluations based on trust or race group. The second, the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), has been linked to economic decision-making and assigning subjective value to rewards. In the study, these parts of the brain, which are implicated in value processing in a number of domains, showed increased activity when encoding information that was consistent with the impression.

NYU’s Schiller, the study’s lead author, concluded, “When encoding everyday social information during a social encounter, these regions sort information based on its personal and subjective significance, and summarize it into an ultimate score — a first impression.”


 * [[image:http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Society/Pix/pictures/2008/02/22/mriscan460x276.jpg width="476" height="302"]] ||
 * = MRI Brain Scan ||

** Face to Face with new contact **
When meeting someone new, such as going to an interview, people tend to get nervous but try their best to make a great first impression. Wondering what other people are thinking and if you are really qualified for the job is something that runs through everyones mind. CHET is a way to boost confidence and allow people to stop doubting themselves. C-leanliness, H-andshake, Eye-conact, and Talkativeness are good ways to get yourself through any interview. Start by just being yourself and everything else will go smoothly.

__Cleanliness__ The golden rule of a good first impression is to pay attention to how you look. Just accept the fact that appearances matter; it isn’t a product of an overly image-conscious society, it’s a product of biology. People notice what they can see before they notice anything else. Everything starts with good hygiene. Once you’ve rejoined the world of the showered masses, be sure to choose a tasteful outfit. Hopefully you already own at least one good suit or dress and one nice pair of shoes. If you manage to do nothing else, brush your teeth comb your hair and don't forget to put on a nice fragrance and some wrinkle free clothes.

​__Handshake__ Your handshake is like a physical manifestation of your business card, so a weak, weeny-like grip makes you look as if you are not confident that you are going to get the job. Even if you’ve managed to successfully dress yourself, you’ll be instantly written off if your grasp is so delicate that it feels like no one is there. The rules are to just grip firmly, shake twice, and let go.

__Eye Contact__ When you know you look good, you’re more likely to appear confident. However, if you’re still dealing with sweaty palms and a turning stomach even after "sprucifying" your image, then an easy way to fake confidence is to make – and hold – eye contact with your interviewer. //But not too much eye contact!//

media type="youtube" key="2YoPK8JLXUg" height="385" width="640" The above video is a funny take on a job interview. Notice how the interview is going well until the speaker starts ranting about “Daleks.” This video shows the contrast of both what to do and what not to do at a job interview. You want to be charismatic, but you also don't want to be odd or off-putting. The speaker also has great eye contact. However, because of the oddity of the speaker's rants, it is doubtful he will make a good first impression. It is also doubtful that he will get the job.

__Talkativeness__

Speak loudly and clearly with no babbling. Try not to talk as much and just answer questions when necessary. Smile and give good body language. First impressions are important. Within the first five minutes of meeting someone, they will naturally form an opinion about you based on how you look, how you present yourself and what you say. These opinions will then determine how the person perceives you and can be the basis for many important decisions they make concerning you. Their opinion may not be right but it can be changed.

media type="youtube" key="BRf8A09BiNk" height="352" width="535"

// Funny. I have an uncle that says when he meets people,"So glad you could meet me!" // First impressions do not end with the first encounter. Sure, every other encounter after the first one won't be a //first// impression, but that isn't the point. First impressions are more powerful than most people give them credit for, and actually play a major role in determining the course of the newly formed relationship.

Take Ted for instance. Ted is obviously not making a good first impression on anyone. This means that later on, people might want to avoid Ted because they will remember how bad the first time they met was. With this in mind, it could take many more “good” meetings with Ted to overcome this obstacle.

According to Jerker Denrell, the associate professor of organizational behavior at Stanford Graduate School of Business, “what's key in dispelling negative images is making sure you get a second—and third and fourth—chance.” Denrell also has research that shows if a person makes a negative first impression on us, we are far less likely to seek out interactions with that person. However, this actually impedes the communication process. It disrupts the communication process by not allowing the people hurt by the negative first impression to further interact with this person, gather more information, and possibly change their impression of them altogether.

Furthermore, there was a study conducted by the University of Minnesota's professor of communications, Michael Sunnafrank (who was mentioned earlier on this page). In this study, first impressions were analyzed by taking 164 college students and pairing each student with another student of the same gender. The students were then asked to talk to the person for three, six, or ten minutes. After the students talked, they were asked to fill out an evaluation of whether or not they liked the other student, and how far they thought this new relationship would go.

For the next nine weeks, the class required the students to interact with each other in a way they saw fit. After the nine weeks had passed, Sunnafrank noticed that the students who rated each other positively had very strong friendships and that the students who rated each other negatively either had a poor relationship or just plain refused to talk to one another. Sunnafrank believes these results show that we predict the future of a relationship the moment we start communicating.

All of this research is evidence that a first impression is a building block for a good relationship. If the first impression is positive for both sides, it is likely that the relationship between those two people will be a fulfilling and close one. However, if a negative impression is perceived, the results can be devastating.

Therefore, when meeting someone new it is essential to try and create the best first impression possible in order to avoid potential complication in the relationship later. This is essential in all communication environments and can improve many aspects of a person's life.

First Impressions in Media
__**The Internet**__ Technology is an ever growing and expanding phenomenon in our everyday lives. Therefore, it is no surprise that the internet has become a medium for forging both business and personal relationships. However, even though these relationships can be somewhat different from face-to-face relationships, they still begin with a first impression.

First impressions are key in forming any kind of relationship in any forum. Scott Allen, author of //The Virtual Handshake//, states “while the emphasis is placed on different things in virtual interaction vs. face-to-face, your relationship can either receive a significant boost or get stalled immediately depending on the first impression you make.” This means that even on the internet, a first impression can make or break you. Here are some ways to make others' first impression of you on the web a good one:

__Be personable__ On things like social networking sites, e-mail profiles, and forums it is essential to make your profile seem very “casual.” Every user has to realize that most of these types of websites are not a virtual resume or an application for a driver's license. Therefore, it is important for users to make their profile “upbeat” and "engaging” in order to improve chances that people will want to talk to you. After all, this is potentially your way of introducing yourself to all of the other users. Therefore, the more “real” you sound the better the potential results.

__Upload Photos__ Photos are another important factor in internet first impressions. They can be very helpful to users if they are used properly. First of all, they let people know what you look like. While that may not seem important, it is actually crucial. When people meet face to face, part of the first impression process is to actually // look // at that person. Therefore, to have pictures of yourself helps to simulate a more conventional meeting. Photos also help people learn about you. If you take pictures of yourself doing things you either enjoy doing or are exceptionally good at, it helps people get a better glimpse at your personality and lifestyle. This can be essential in a web introduction as it helps users find people with whom they share common interests, ideas, or even business needs.

__Type Properly__ This one should go without saying, but nothing can destroy a first impression quite like bad typing. Therefore, to help people avoid bad typing habits, here are some things to avoid:
 * Caps Lock ** - Typing in all caps on a profile, instant messenger, or forum is bad news. Especially if what you are typing will influence a first impression. When you type in caps, it conveys yelling. Since most people don't like being yelled at, this will make a poor impression on people and can ruin a potential friendship, business deal, or even what could have become an intimate relationship.
 * Spelling ** - Spelling can be crucial on the internet, especially if running a business related site. Bad spelling can convey ignorance or a possible lack of education. A “real life” parallel would be if someone you have never met approaches you and begins speaking in very unintelligible slang. Not only would it be hard to understand this person, but it might also confuse you or make you want to turn away. Another example of how this can be bad is the following sentence: “I iz da smartist pursun hea!” Now, what that message is // supposed // to mean and what it conveys are two completely different things. Therefore, if a profile is filled with nothing but internet slang and poorly spelled words, it is likely that people will be turned away.
 * Use a Decent Font ** - A page that is typed in hot pink text with a lemon yellow background might not be the most appealing to new people (or people you know for that matter). Try to keep your text a readable color (black and dark blue are good examples) and keep backgrounds simple (no bright colors or flashing lights). Also, keep your font size around twelve as people typing in 32 point font are sometimes considered ruder than people using caps lock.

__Have a Blog__ A blog that is well kept and updated weekly can go a long way in meeting new people. Pending the blog maintains a level of professionalism (no offensive or erotic subjects; no foul language) and is void of spelling and grammar errors, it can be one of the most important first impression tools. The blog gives a potential friend, customer, or romantic interest a detailed gaze into your life or your business. It also helps people analyze your personality and can even be the deciding factor in whether a person would like to meet you face to face. Therefore, if a blog is done correctly it can be one of the best tools in making a good first impression.

(from Stephen Lumb.) When a person meets somebody they find attractive, and the attraction is mutual, generally both people will attempt to impress the other to win their affection. This is called flirting. Statistically it is said that it can take us between 90 seconds and four minutes to decide if we are attracted to somebody. In the first impression fifty five percent goes to body language, thirty eight percent is from tone, speed, and inflection of our voice and only seven percent comes from what is actually said. Humans judge constantly; before you are even allowed to let words come out of your mouth, more than eighty percent of a person’s first impression of you has been decided solely on the way you walk and carry yourself.



People tend to give off signs of attraction, especially during the flirting process. For instance, when we look at people we are not familiar with our eyes make a zig-zag motion looking from eye to eye and across the bridge of the nose. With friends the look expands into a triangle shape going first from eye to eye, but includes the nose and mouth. When you are flirting with somebody, the triangle gets bigger and more intense, such as spending more time looking into each other’s eyes, or gazing wantingly at the other person’s lips. This reaction is normally from the person imagining what it would be like to kiss those lips. Unconsciously when we meet someone that we’re attracted to our eyebrows rise and fall, and if the attraction is mutual the other person’s eyebrows will do the same in response. Also, when people like what they see their pupil size will increase as well as their blinking rate and on the same unconscious level if the person likes you they will mirror your eye movements to try and keep in sync with the moment. The theory behind the unconscious mirroring of another is that we like people who are similar to us. If what we are doing is being mirrored by the other, we feel that they’re on the same level as us and in the same mood as we are in.

=References=

Nauert, Rick. "[|Brain Response to First Impressions] ." //PsychCentra//l. 09 Mar. 2009. Web. 30 Apr. 2010.

Beebe, S.A., Beebe, S.J., Redmond, M.V., __Interpersonal Communication. Relating to Others__. 5th ed. Pearson Education, Inc, Boston, 2008. 69-70.

Dye, L. __Study: First Impressions Really Matter__. //ABC News/Technology.// Web. Sept. 22, 2004. []. 30 Apr. 2010.

Gladwell, M. __Blink; The Power of Thinking without Thinking__. Chicago: Little, Brown and Company, 2005. Web. []. 30 Apr. 2010.

Wright, C. __Blink: A Thin-Slicing Book Review__, //Serendip//. Web. []. 30 Apr. 2010.

Reitan, C.R. __First Impressions; study on first impressions__ by Michael Sunnafrank and Artemio Ramirez Jr. of Ohio State University. University of Minnesota Duluth. 4 Feb, 2005. Web. http://www.d.umn.edu/unirel/homepage/05/firstimpressions.html. 30 Apr, 2010..

Lawson, T. __Disarm: The Art of First Impressions.__ //The Mentor: An Academic Advising Journal//. http://www.psu.edu/dus/mentor/090722tl.htm. 30 Apr. 2010.

Stecher, K., Scott, C., __Thin Slices of Online Profile Attributes.__ Web__.__ http://research.microsoft.com/pubs/74309/ICWSM_ThinSlices.pdf. 30 Apr. 2010.

Allen, M.A., __The Cover Letter-Your Biggest Impression__. //Ezine Article//. Web. http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Cover-Letter---Your-Biggest-First-Impression&id=3607399. 30 Apr. 2010.

__First Impressions: Hello, Its Good to Meet Me__. YouTube. Web. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRf8A09BiNk&feature=related. 01 May 2010.

Allen, Scott. __Introducing Yourself Online- First Impressions Matte__r. Web. [] 01 May 2010.

__How to Make a Perfect First Impression__. //MadeMan// 10/07/2009: n. pag. Web. 2 May 2010. []. 02 May 2010.

__First Impression__. //http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&gbv=2&tbs=&sa=1&q=first+impressions&aq=f&aqi=g5g-m3&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&start=0//. Web. 2 May 2010. < - irritatedtulsan.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/f...>. 02 May 2010.

Rigoglioso, Margeurite. __When First Impressions Flop: The Power of Getting a Second Chance__. Stanford Graduate School of Business. June 2005. Web. 2 May 2010. []02 May 2010. Cox, Tracy. __Flirting and Body Language__. BBC. 4/27/2010 . 2 May 2010. D'Angelo, David. __Attraction Is Not A Choice__. Los Angeles: Ebook, 2001. http://www.vaxus.net/arcade/Dating/David%20DeAngelo%20-%20Double%20Your%20Dating%20-%20Attraction%20Isn%27t%20a%20Choice.pdf0. 2 May 2010.