Oddly Wired
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perception

Your judgment of quality is anchored to recent experience.

The contrast effect is a established psychological phenomenon where perceptions are influenced by preceding, contrasting stimuli.

Kenrick and Gutierres (1980) demonstrated this effect in the specific context of ratings of human physical attractiveness, not in the appraisal of commercial products.

You rarely evaluate anything in total isolation.

Where this comes from

Study
Kenrick and Gutierres (1980)
What the check found
While the psychological 'contrast effect' is well-documented, Kenrick and Gutierres (1980) specifically tested human attractiveness, not product valuation.
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.