| First impressions – it’s so easy to get them | | | | So, are we always right in our first impressions of |
| wrong. | | | | other people? Not necessarily. Sometimes we do |
| | | | | change our minds about others, but it’s rare. For |
| When we meet somebody new, we size that person | | | | us to change our minds about people after we have |
| up in just a few seconds. | | | | met them, we have to believe that they have |
| | | | | somehow changed. We rarely think to ourselves that |
| A few seconds, that’s all it takes to decide | | | | our initial impression of somebody was wrong. |
| whether or not we like somebody, whether we trust | | | | |
| them, whether or not we want to get to know them | | | | Sometimes we get an odd feeling about somebody |
| better. We make snap judgments about others all | | | | and it turns out that we are right, that person really is a |
| the time based on our first impressions of them. And | | | | crook or a serial killer. |
| other people are constantly making snap judgments | | | | |
| about us too. | | | | Sometimes we get an odd feeling about somebody, |
| | | | | and we are wrong. That person is simply a bit |
| Once we make these snap judgments about other | | | | different, that’s all. In fact, we might really find that |
| people, we rarely change our minds later. | | | | person can become a treasured friend if we get to |
| | | | | know them better. |
| We rarely change our minds after a first impression | | | | |
| because humans are hard-wired to make snap | | | | Our tendency to make snap judgments about others |
| judgments. | | | | is sometimes right and sometimes wrong. |
| | | | | |
| Why is this? It could be because our ancestors | | | | Ask yourself if you are usually open to the people you |
| rarely had the luxury of taking weeks and weeks to | | | | meet, unless they prove that they are somehow |
| decide which situations were dangerous for them and | | | | untrustworthy? |
| which situations were safe. If our ancestors came | | | | |
| across a group of people while they were out hunting, | | | | Or, are you usually hostile and suspicious of others until |
| they would have to decide within seconds whether | | | | you get to know them better? |
| these new people were friends or enemies. | | | | |
| | | | | If you have a tendency to be suspicious of those you |
| If they judged wrong, they might not survive the | | | | meet until you know them better, you may be too |
| encounter. We seem to have inherited this kind of | | | | judgmental. By being too judgmental, you may be |
| brain, with its need to make snap judgments on others, | | | | cutting off the possibilities of good friendships and |
| based on first impressions. Our brains seem to have | | | | relationships. |
| a built-in mechanism for deciding rather quickly which | | | | |
| people we should trust, and which people we should | | | | On the other hand, if you are too trusting, you may end |
| avoid. | | | | up getting exploited by people who will manipulate you |
| | | | | for their own gain. |
| If a person seems a bit different to us, we may | | | | |
| become suspicious or even hostile. If he doesn’t | | | | So, what is the best way to approach new people? |
| look us in the eye, or if he says something the slightest | | | | Don’t make snap judgments before you get to |
| bit odd, we may instantly and forever decide that this | | | | know them. Enter into new relationships with an open |
| is a person we want nothing to do with. | | | | mind, and open eyes. |
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