The Effect of Associated Persons upon the Formation and Modifiability of First Impressions

This study demonstrates the powerful effect of associated persons on the formation and modifiability of first impressions. Initially 50 Ss were shown neutral photographs of 16 models and tested as to first impressions and the existence of an associated person. Subsequently, incongruous photographs were shown of selected models, and the results analyzed as to modifiability of impressions. Associated persons were reported in approximately half of all interpersonal perceptions. A stranger reminding the S of somebody else was perceived as similar to the associated person. The stronger the association, the greater the perceived similarity. Furthermore, the perceiver continued to feel toward the stranger as to the associated person, in spite of subsequent conflicting information, as long as the original strength of the association was maintained. However, once this association was even slightly weakened, first perceptions became as modifiable for association models as for models where no associated person was reported.