The rule of First Impression states that humans make a formative judgment about a situation, person, or product in a very short time – often only a split second. This first impression significantly influences further perception and evaluation, even if additional information is added later.

A large number of studies have found that first impressions correlate strongly with later judgments, but it is unclear why this is the case. In one study examining this stability, participants were asked to formulate their impressions based on photos only, and after interacting with the person a month later, they did not judge the people in the photos significantly differently.

One possible reason for this stability is that first impressions serve as a basis for further action, e.g., which questions are asked and how the evaluators approach the assessments. Further research on the stability of first impressions is needed to fully understand how first impressions influence further assessments, self-fulfilling prophecies and the Halo effect.

Origin

This phenomenon is rooted in both social psychology and cognitive science; initial work on this topic dates back to the early 20th century, in particular to psychologists such as Solomon Asch, who examined first impressions and their far-reaching consequences on later judgments.

  • Asch, S. E. (1946). Forming Impressions of Personality. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 41(3), 258–290.

Application in UX and UI design

In UX and UI design, the rule of first impressions is particularly relevant because users decide whether they find an application trustworthy, appealing or complicated after just a few seconds. A clear home screen and a clear visual guidance system are therefore essential to create a positive impression and lower the inhibition threshold for further use.

Impact on the User Experience

medium

Further information