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memory
You only remember the very first impression you formed.
Information presented at the beginning of a sequence is retained better than information in the middle.
In a 1946 study, subjects were given a list of adjectives to describe a person. Those who read 'intelligent, industrious' before 'impulsive, critical' rated the person much more favorably than those who read the list in reverse order. You lock in your judgment early and ignore later evidence.
Your entire perception is built on a foundation of the first thing you saw.
Where this comes from
- Study
- Asch, 1946
- What the check found
- The core finding is accurate, though it describes judgment bias, not memory retention. The provided reference material incorrectly details Adrienne Asch instead of the psychologist Solomon Asch.
- Confidence
- Solid, with limits
Related
One of these every day, and every one names the study it came from. When a finding is contested, it says so.