Lecture on First Impressions and Memory Biases

Importance of First Impressions

• First Impressions Count
  • First impression is crucial and impactful.
  • Three main attributes:
    1. Long-lasting: First impressions endure over time.
    2. Strong: Hard to change once formed.
    3. Easily built upon: Subsequent information is filtered to support the first impression.
    • Example: A person considered messy is judged more critically on any minor mess.
• Primacy Bias: First pieces of information hold more weight and importance.

Concept of Recency Bias

• Recent Performance Matters
  • Phrase: "You're only as good as your last ..."
  • Suggests recent actions/performance are heavily weighted in memory.
• Recency Bias: Last pieces of information or recent actions are given extra importance compared to past behaviors.

Retention and Memory Over Time

• Graph Explanation
  • Vertical Axis: Retention (Memory)
  • Horizontal Axis: Time
  • Depicts periods where information retention is high.
• Key Time Points in Retention:
  • Early Information: High retention due to primacy bias.
  • Recent Information: High retention due to recency bias.
  • Middle Period: Variable duration; less significant unless marked by an unusual or emotionally charged event.

Impact of Significant Events

• Middle Period Exceptions
  • Significant or emotionally powerful events can create "blips" in memory.
  • Example: Seeing a picture of a close family member among mundane items boosts memory.

Conclusion

• When forming impressions:
  1. Early impressions ( long, strong, easily built upon)
  2. Recent actions (recency bias)
• Importance of middle information is generally less unless notable.
• Debate persists on whether primacy or recency bias is stronger; varies by situation.