First impressions are everything, and we make them all the time. In fact, research suggests we size up everyone we meet in just a matter of seconds. But just how long does it take for us to form an opinion about someone? The answer may surprise you.

The Science of First Impressions

It’s no secret that first impressions matter. They set the tone for how we interact with others, and can even influence our long-term relationships. But why do we rely on them so heavily?.

According to psychologists, first impressions are a result of our evolutionary history. In the past, humans had to quickly assess new acquaintances to determine if they were safe or posed a threat.

This ability to make rapid judgments allowed us to survive in a dangerous world.

Today, we still rely on snap judgments to navigate our social environments. We make assumptions about others based on their appearance, behavior, and other cues. These initial assessments can be surprisingly accurate, but they can also be wrong.

That’s because first impressions are based on limited information, and we often fill in the gaps with our own biases and assumptions.

The 7-Second Rule

So, just how long does it take for us to form a first impression? The commonly cited answer is 7 seconds. This means that within just 7 seconds of meeting someone, we’ve already made up our minds about them.

The 7-second rule is based on a famous study from the 1970s, in which researchers found that people could accurately predict the outcomes of political elections just by looking at photos of the candidates for a few seconds.

The same researchers also found that people could accurately predict the outcomes of job interviews just by watching a few seconds of silent video footage of the candidates.

However, the 7-second rule has been somewhat debunked in recent years. While it’s true that we do make snap judgments about others, those judgments aren’t always lasting.

In some cases, we may change our opinions about someone as we get to know them better.

Risks of Rapid Judgments

While first impressions can be accurate, they can also lead to stereotypes and prejudicial thinking. If we’re not aware of our biases, we may form opinions about others that are based on outdated or untrue assumptions.

For example, research suggests that people tend to assume that taller individuals are more successful and competent than shorter individuals.

This assumption can lead to discrimination and unfair treatment in a variety of contexts, from the workplace to social situations.

Similarly, our beliefs about people’s race, gender, and other characteristics can also lead to biases and unfair treatment. Stereotypes based on these characteristics can influence how we interact with others, even if they’re not based on reality.

Impressions Beyond Appearance

While we do tend to rely on a person’s appearance when forming a first impression, there’s more to it than just looks. We also take into account things like their behavior, posture, and voice.

In fact, research suggests that we pay more attention to a person’s body language than we do to their words. Nonverbal cues like eye contact, facial expressions, and tone of voice can be just as important in shaping our opinions about others.

Additionally, context plays a role in how we perceive others. For example, we may form a different impression of someone based on where we meet them and what they’re doing at the time.

A person who seems standoffish in one context may seem friendly and approachable in another.

Changing Your First Impression

While first impressions may be durable, they’re not always set in stone. If we discover new information that contradicts our initial opinion about someone, we may change our minds.

Additionally, first impressions can be influenced by how others talk about someone.

For example, if we meet someone who seems negative and unfriendly, but later learn that they’re going through a difficult time, we may revise our opinion of them.

Likewise, if we hear from others that someone is kind and trustworthy, we may view them more positively even if our own interactions with them were limited.

In Conclusion

We may form a first impression of someone in just a matter of seconds, but that impression isn’t always accurate or lasting. While our snap judgments can be helpful in certain situations, they can also lead to prejudicial thinking and unfair treatment.

By being aware of our biases and considering context and new information, we can improve the accuracy of our first impressions and foster more positive relationships with others.