Reading PeopleFirst Impressions

Judged in a Tenth of a Second

Your face is judged before you finish saying hello

How much can your mind decide about a stranger before hello, and what deserves your trust after that first flash?

You'll find out

  • A judgment in 100 milliseconds
  • More time, more confidence
  • What should earn your trust?

Why it matters

Catch your snap impression, then choose the evidence that deserves your time and trust.

About 3 min6 interactive slides · 5 questionsLesson 10 · Zone 2

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More in this zone

  1. 11Social PerceptionWarm or Competent?People notice both how you treat them and what you can do
  2. 12Impression FormationOne Word Changes EverythingSwap 'warm' for 'cold' in a list and people imagine a whole different person
  3. 13Thin SlicingThin SlicesStudents judged teachers from 30 silent seconds of video and predicted their final ratings
  4. 14Halo EffectBeautiful Means Good?A good-looking face can lend extra credit to qualities you have not checked
  5. 15PowerAct Like You BelongHow you carry yourself can shape a first impression
  6. 16Replication CrisisThe Power Pose MythThe hormone-boost promise did not hold up in larger studies
  7. 17AttentionSay Their NameYour own name can catch your attention, even in a noisy room
  8. 18Liking GapThey Liked You More Than You ThinkPeople often underestimate how much a new acquaintance liked them