Some believe that first impressions are last impressions; meaning that the impression people form the first time they meet someone becomes permanent or unshakable. While I don’t agree with that concept of first impressions, I do agree that there are many split-second assessments and judgements that we make about people the first time we meet them. We make assessments about people’s trustworthiness, intelligence, approachability, warmth etc. unconsciously; within seconds of meeting them. Obviously the reverse is true as well: we are judged on a host of parameters such as:
People with square faces tend to be perceived as aggressive, decisive and dominant. People with round faces tend to be seen as more affable and easygoing, more approachable. Those with heart-shaped faces are seen as extroverted and sociable. Women with facial features such as a prominent nose may be more outgoing and those with flatter noses and more defined jawlines may be seen as more introverted.
Those who make eye contact are seen as more sincere, conscientious and intelligent. We tend to view them as trustworthy. We believe people who make eye contact because avoiding eye contact is seen as a habit of furtive or secretive people. Lowering the eyes can signal submissiveness. Looking at things other than the person you're speaking to can signal boredom; and a lack of respect for the opposite person. Of course, too much eye contact can be creepy and uncomfortable-making. So there is definitely the right balance that needs to be maintained when it comes to eye contact if you want to convey the right impression.
The way we hold our bodies while sitting, standing etc. says a lot about us; and much of this is a result of social conditioning relating to gendered behaviour. An erect posture naturally denotes self-confidence whereas a slouching posture denotes lethargy or disinterest. Those who have their arms crossed come across as closed-off from others and convey a self-protective attitude; or an attitude that one is less willing to see another point of view.
We send out several subliminal clues about ourselves by the way that we walk. A fast paced walk conveys a sense of purposefulness. Researchers say that a quick walk conveys openness and conscientiousness; and lower levels of neuroticism. People who drag their feet may be seen as hesitant or sad or as lethargic and as less confident/comfortable around others. We may perceive those who think and walk as dreamy or imaginative, while we may see people with a leisurely walk as easy-going, approachable and non-intimidating.
It is easy to see now a well-groomed person will come across as contentious and having generally good body hygiene. One's hairstyle is also quite telling: those with free-flowing natural curls indicate a free-spirited personality, whereas someone with a more structured hair style will be seen as more careful and restrained. There are a lot of cultural factors and influence how we see hair styles. So for instance, short hair on an Indian woman is perceived as more modern whereas longer hair is seen having a more traditional outlook. Indian men with longer hair will be seen as artistic or radical.
We are likely to be judged as practical and sensible or as vain and self-absorbed based on our clothes. We will also make snap judgements how modern or progressive a person is based on their clothes. Inevitably we are judged on our level of prosperity and social status based on our clothes. In India, we also make rapid assessments about a person’s region of origin, religion and level of religiosity based on clothing choices. We also tend to make judgements based on whether a person is dressed in more Indian clothing or western-seeming clothing. Women, in particular, are judged based on their choice of clothing, footwear, makeup, head covering and signs of matrimony such as sindoor, jewellery. In fact, Indian clothing choices and their interpretation could be a whole other post!
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