Lecture 6 - Impression formation Flashcards
What is the definition of impression formation?
The way in which we form impressions, often first impressions, of others and attribute specific characteristics to them.
we look at a person and immediately a certain impression of his character forms in us. a glance, a few spoken words are sufficient to tell us a story about a highly complex matter
What are the two theories of impression formation?
Configural Model - asch
Cognitive Algebra - anderson
What is the configural model?
Form a consistent impression overall - Gestalt approach - rather than a combination of individual traits
Central Traits determine the overall impression
Traits are not simplistically combined. Overall, holistic impressions are formed (rather than peicemeal), whereby the person is a unit of interacting traits - Gestalt approach.
Seek to form consistent impressions
What are central traits?
Warm cold traits - more influential on the overall impression compared to peripheral traits
What are peripheral traits?
Polite and blunt
What is the Primacy effect?
States that info such as traits presented to us in the sequence of traits then that will have a great impact on the impression we form on that individual - the info presented to us first
criticisms of asch - configural model
artificial: not sequential lists and clearly defined traits
focus on open ended written descriptions that were not systematically analysed
results were based on group averages
other information influences impressions eg clothing
HOWEVER, ASCH WAS THE FIRST EXPERIMENAL STUDY OF IMPRESSION FORMATIONS
etic approach mansz
What is cognitive algebra?
Anderson -
Impression formation is an evaluative process
-You assign a subjective value to each trait observed
Combine evaluations of individual traits to make an overall impression
How are evaluations combined?
- Summative -
- Averaging
- Weighted averaging
Most of the ps used averaging
What is the summative trait?
Powerful leader
Will to succeed
What is averaging?
A few strong traits can influence impressions more than a lot of mild traits
What is weighted averaging?
Certain traits are given greater weighting in certain contexts
eg if you are caring and if u are a nurse given more weight (+2) instead of initial +1 for being caring
What is cognitive algebra key assumption?
Traits are individually combined together to form the overall impression
How quickly do we form impressions?
Immediately as we look at a person and make a certain impression of his character forms itself in us.
100 ms
Of all judgements, what trait was most similar to judgements made with no time constraints?
Trustworthiness
Which trait has a greater impact on the impressions? Positive or negative
Negative traits
Dishonest (-5) + sociable (+5) = More negative impression
BC negative info is remembered more
What are negative traits more predictive of?
Voting behaviour than positive traits
What is physical appearance?
The first and most salient piece f information available to us
What are 3examples of aspects of physical appearance?
Attractiveness
Baby-faced faces
Non-verbal / non-facial
What is the Halo effect?
Generally attribute positive qualities to physically attractive people eg more sociable, competent, smarter, kind and healthy
Physically attractive people are approached and conversed with more
Attractive adults are more likely to be hired for jobs
Preference for attractive faces starts early
What confirms the Halo effect?
Attractive faces activate positive thoughts leading to faster categorisation of positive words
findings indicate the presence of implicit positive attitudes towards attractive faces
What are the physical features that baby faced faces have?
Larger eyes, higher eyebrows, rounder faces, smaller chin and thicker lips
They’re attributed with child-like characteristics and innocence or weakness
Persists throughout the life span eg baby faced babies to baby faced older adults
eg Kennedy baby perceived as less powerful
What are 2 non-facial physical appearance cues?
Walking style (gait) - more youthful gait rated as more powerful and more happy regardless of age
Clothing - smarter dressed adults were rated as more knowledgeable by 4-6 year olds
Is baby faces being rated as less dominant and Halo effect for attractiveness cross cultural?
Yes.
in US and Bolivia
Are court cases influenced by the trustworthiness of a defendant’s face?
For severe crimes, guilty verdicts were formed on less evidence if the defendant had an untrustworthy face compared to trustworthy face.
