By Sarah Raines
When you meet someone, what do base your first impressions on? Most people say that they base their first impressions on their first conversation with the person. But studies show that only 5% of first impressions are actually made from the content of the conversation. So what are first impressions really based on? 55% of first impressions are actually based on appearance! But what does wearing Marshalls jeans or an Abercrombie and Fitch t-shirt say about your personality? Also, the other 40% of first impressions are based on the person’s speech quality. But just because you mumble or have a foreign accent doesn’t mean that you’re different. In addition to that, another question is: How long does it take you to make a first impression? Most people will say one conversation, or a day, or maybe a week.
A lot of people don’t realize that first impressions are made within the first 5-30 seconds of meeting someone; about 7 seconds is average. But 7 seconds in a conversation is only enough time just to say hi. How can 7 seconds tell you enough about a person for you to judge their character or personality. Next time you meet someone new, take a minute to get to know them before you write them off as a loser, a geek, or a popular wannabe.
