Love at first sight? In passion it is truly a beautiful moment, with the glances that meet, the heart that beats wildly, the classic butterflies in the stomach. But if in love it is a reality, in everyday life quick choices, made on the basis of a first impression, can turn out to be fallacious. And deceive us.
Practical advice. Before you make a decision, sleep on it. Sleep can really bring “advice” as the old proverb goes. Science reports this, through a publication on “Journal of Experimental Psychology: General” which reports a study by experts at Duke University coordinated by Allie Sinclair (now at the University of Pennsylvania) and Alison Adcock. Let’s remember then: you can’t judge a book by its cover.
How do we choose on impulse?
The research, carried out online, tried to define the behavior of participants subjected to a simple test. As reported in a note from the university, twenty different objects were placed in a box, some more valuable and others almost insignificant or in any case used and not very useful. In practice, some objects were real waste while others may have had value. Based on the choices they made, the test participants could collect money (real money) with rewards linked to the real value of the objects themselves. In each box, however, the arrangement of the objects changed. In some boxes, all the valuable items were on top, so when participants unpacked the box, they located those items first. In other boxes, valuables were grouped in the center or bottom, and in some boxes they were mixed up.
After the participants had opened the different boxes, the researchers asked them to estimate the value of each and choose their favorites. Some participants judged the boxes immediately, but others thought about it longer. Basically, they slept on it. And it is at this point that the most interesting results were seen.
In case of immediate decisionIn fact, those who chose favored the first impact by choosing the objects that were most visible, regardless of value. Instead others, “slept on it” and they decided after a night’s rest. In any case, those who chose quickly were led to attribute greater value, including economic value, to the “best” objects found at the top of the package. Which shows how first impressions influence us and can lead us to make choices that are perhaps not exactly convenient.
The prejudice of primacy
The choices we make, sometimes, are therefore not rational. But they are heavily influenced, with obvious differences from person to person, by the first impression. The psychological phenomenon that distinguishes this situation is defined “primacy prejudice”. It is a phenomenon that leads us to choose on impulse, based on the first information, and therefore to hold our opinion firm even if different data intervene that could change it. But if this aspect can help us understand whether we like a book by scrolling through the first pages or a TV series is destined to captivate us on the basis of the initial scenes, when we have to make reflections that impact on long-term choices it is worth reflecting. And good. And sleeping on it before selecting the path we want to take appears to be of great importance.
On the other hand, we know, the night brings advice. And it’s not just a popular saying. A good rest allows you to eliminate “garbage” that can accumulate in the brain throughout the day, in the form of thoughts and sensations. Thus, the next morning, and with a clear head, choices can be more careful and prudent. First impressions can sometimes be deceiving!
