People-Watching for Authors - Pt.2

Part Two: First Impressions

The observed individual initially will convey an overall impression covering many aspects of his behavior. This impression is a judgment by the observer, who must thereafter proceed to confirm or modify his estimate by additional items of information.

The target may have good social presence and a great deal of interpersonal appeal, and this may be the result of physical attractiveness or natural warmth and friendliness. He may impress the observer as tense, ill-at-ease, and socially inept, as evident from such observational bits as rapid speech, inappropriate mirth, a physical tremor or constant distraction.

The target's references to sex or his use of profanity can be indications of hostility or aggression. While superficially this kind of behavior may be discounted as simple vulgarity, often it indicates extreme sensitivity and inherent conflict with the values and attitudes of the social group. These references should be reported in context. Combined with other data, they may indicate aspects of personality that eventually invalidate the initial impression of the target.

The observer should be alert to the common tendency to form strong impressions of others on short acquaintance and little information. The penalty for prejudging a person is subsequent bias that seriously interferes with objective assessment. A target may convey a strong early impression of egotism, which later turns out to be a superficial defense posture. Yet the untrained observer, having judged the man to be an egotist, will tend to notice only that behavior that substantiates his first impression.

First impressions must constantly be re-examined as information on the target accumulates. Above all, the observer must not permit his initial feelings about the target to override subsequent, contrary observations. He must constantly re-appraise and test his impressions, consciously seeking reliability and objectivity in his data collection. Where possible, he should take into account what others are reporting about the target.

Coming in Part Three: General Personality Traits