Question -
Answer -
Impression formation is a process by which impression about others is converting into more or less induring cognitions or thoughts about them.In short, impression formation is a process through which we draw quick conclusion/ inferences regarding others.
Factors facilitating Impression Formation:
тАвNature of the phenomena (familiar or unfamiliar).
тАвPersonality traits of the perceiver.
тАвSocial schemas stored in the mind of perceiver.
тАвSituational factors.
The process of impression formation consists of the following three sub-processes:
тАвSelection: We take into account only some bits of information about the target person.
тАвOrganization: the selected information is combined in a systematic way.
тАвInference: We draw a conclusion about what kind of person the target is.
Some specific qualities, that influence impression formation, are:
тАвThe information presented first has a stronger effect than the information presented at the end. This is called the primacy effect.
тАвWe have a tendency to think that a target person who has one set of positive qualities must also be having other specific positives that are associated with first set. This is known as halo effect, e.g., if we think that a person is тАШtidyтАЩ then we are likely to think that this person must also be hard/working.
тАвWhatever information comes at the end may have a stronger influence on impression formation. This is known as the recency effect.