Title: First ImpressionName:

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How do first impressions strike us?

The first impression is an effect of the first encounter with a person. The first time a person meets another or a group of people, they form a mental image depending on the situation which they meet. The first impression lasts for long and cannot be changed in the mind of a person. It is all a matter of seconds and a first impression is made. Over time from continuous interaction with people, impressions about them may change. Continuous interactions mean that we get to understand the individuals much more and know more about them; however, their first impression is unchangeable. First impressions are not only made when we meet new people, but also our first encounter with new commodities or services gives us first impressions.

First impressions strike us as a long lasting image that we use to make our next move towards a person, product or a service. We often use first impressions to form a basis for our future interactions with something that we encounter for the first time. Depending on the person making the observation and their past experiences, the image from the first impression may lead to a true or false conclusion. When a person makes a first impression from former experiences, their conclusion may be wrong. First impressions lead to judgment which may at times be incorrect.

First Impression of John after reading the first scenario

In the first scenario, I found John to be an outgoing person; he is at ease when talking to people around him. He enters a room full of people and begins interacting with them; he appears to be social and interactive. He begins talking to his acquaintance, probably to find out how the going is for him and talk about current issues as he waits to be noticed by the clerk. I found John to be patient; he engages in a conversation before it is his turn to get served, he did not go demanding to be served. He waits until the clerk notices him and that is when he gets served.

In this first scenario John comes out as a confident person; he is free with the people around him and seems okay in this room which is full of people. He takes every opportunity he gets to interact with the people around him; he does not pass anybody he comes into contact with. His confidence is also portrayed where he takes time to talk to girl he had just met the other night.

First impression of John after reading the second scenario

In the second scenario, John comes out as a loner. He leaves the office alone, painting the picture that he has no friends from his work place. While leaving work, people with friends from work come out together happy as they go to unwind after a long day at work. John portrays the image of someone who is completely withdrawn and living in his own small world. He walks on the shady side of the street, he avoids the sunshine. He comes out as a different person; he doesn’t seem to enjoy the things that make other people happy.

John is anti-social he doesn’t talk to new people in the bar; he does not interact with the people who are familiar to him at the bar. This paints an image of a person who is not proud of himself, a person with a low self-esteem. He sits alone at the corner of the table in the bar, drinks alone and leaves immediately he finishes his drink. John is not confident; while walking down the street, he sees a pretty girl he had meet but does not even say hi to her. He should have at least said hi to her and invited her to the bar for a drink.

After rereading the scenario in reverse order

John portrays the image of a shy person. He does not interact with people around him, I found him quiet. He does not appear to be interested in interacting with people, in the bar he sits alone and drinks by himself. He has probably had a long day at work and needs some time alone. He is probably ashamed of himself and has a bad reputation, he finds it hard to talk to people he knows at the bar. I find him afraid of interacting with people; he may be wondering what people will think of him when he talks to them and this puts him in a position where he does not want to start a conversation or be part of one.

John is fresh and energetic early in the day. He enjoys the sunshine and portrays a jovial character where he engages in conversations with the people at the store. He is confident and happy to have a new day at work. According to Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs he has achieved the self-esteem needs.

References

Demarais, A., & White, V. (2004). First impressions: what you don’t know about how others see you. New York: Bantam Books.

Maslow, A. H., Stephens, D. C., & Heil, G. (1998). Maslow on management. New York: John Wiley.

Roberts, N. (20061984). First impressions. New York: Silhouette Books.