First Impressions Can Be Misleading

Why Judging by Appearances is a Bad Idea

It seems many nowadays are quick to judge people by what they think they see. Here is a little food for thought regarding rushing to judgement based upon a first impression.

SCENARIO 1:

You are talking to your boss and notice he crosses his arms across his chest, and gets a very sour look on his face. What is going on?

1-He is a grouch and it is normal for him to be ornery just because
2-You must have said something wrong.
3- He has been wanting to fire you and here it comes!

In this story, he has back pain, and while sitting at his desk it got flared up. His body language did not have anything at all to do with you or his temperament.

SCENARIO 2:

You are talking to your boyfriend on the phone about your upcoming date, and he gets very quiet suddenly. Why?

1-He wants to break up with you, but doesn't know how to say it.
2-He has changed his mind about what you are planning and doesn't know how to say it
3-He is watching tv

In this story, he lost his job and the talk of the date plans reminded him he is low on cash. He is not sure how to talk to you about it since it means so much to you and he promised you. He doesn't want to let you down.

The Importance of a Making a Good First Impression

Research shows that within the first three seconds of any interaction, a person is being judged or assessed. Those three seconds can make or break a good first impression. However, those three seconds are not just about the person being judged. The person doing the judging plays a big role, as well. We all have our own perspectives and our own interpretations regarding what we think we see.