It’s a known fact that first impression matters a lot, and just after five seconds of meeting someone, the brain already builds an impression about that person after observing certain variables.
Below are some researches that explain how people have certain first impressions.
1. LADY WITH A TATTOO
In many climes, donning a tattoo is seen as a sign of irresponsibility and juvenile delinquency.
According to a British research, women with visible tattoos are perceived as heavy drinkers and promiscuous than women without one.
2. SMARTNESS
A 2007 study conducted by Professor Nora A. Murphy of Loyola Marymount University, found that looking at someone in the eye while talking to them can give an impression of being smart.
She wrote that looking while speaking was a key behaviour that correlated with IQ.
3. STATUS
A Dutch study found that people wearing designer clothes or brand-name clothes were seen to have a higher status than someone wearing an ordinary cloth.
4. TRUSTWORTHY
Princeton researchers found that within ten seconds of looking at someone’s face, people can judge whether they perceive that person to be trustworthy or not.
The researchers gave one group of university students 100 milliseconds to rate the attractiveness, likeability, competence, aggressiveness and trustworthiness of a person. Another group were given as long as they wanted to judge this trait.
While the times spent on other traits were different, the time spent on judging one’s trustworthiness was the same.
5. SUCCESS
In a British-Turkish study, participants were shown photos of men in well-tailored suits and bogus suits, to judge who they believe is successful.
The men wearing tailored suit were perceived to be more successful.
6. DOMINANT
A University of Pennsylvania research found that men with bald head were seen as more confident. According to the study “men with shaved heads were rated as more dominant than similar men with full heads of hair”. The study also found that these men were perceived to be stronger, taller and more dominant.
Whoever said first impression doesn’t count?
Phil