Professional Skills For First Impression

   A first impression is the event when one person first encounter another person and forms a mental image of that person. Impression accuracy varies depending on the observer and the target ( person, object scene etc) being observed. First impressions are based on a wide range of characteristics: age, race, culture, language, gender physical appearance, accent, posture, voice number of people present, economic status, and time allowed to process. It takes one-tenth of a second for people to judge someone and a first impression. Research finds that the more time participants are afforded to form the impression, the more confidence in impressions they report. Not only are people quick to form first impressions they are also fairly accurate when the target presents themself genuinely.

   One's first impression are affected by whether they're alone or with any number of people. Joint experiences are more globally processed as in collectivist cultures. Global processing emphasizes first impressions more because the collective first impression tends to remain stable over time. Solo experiences tend to facilitate local processing, causing the viewer to take a more critical look at the target.   

  Physical appearance gives clear clues as to a person's personality without them ever having to speak or move. Women tend to be better than men at judging nonverbal behavior. After viewing pictures of people in a neutral position and in a self-chosen posed position, observers were accurate at judging the target's levels of extraversion, emotional stability, openness, self-esteem, and religiosity.