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First impressions matter, especially when it comes to a first date. They can either ruin the date or turn it into a memorable moment. And as they say, you don’t get a second chance to make a good first impression. But while we’re so swayed by first impressions, can we really rely on them to judge someone’s personality? According to researchers from Canada’s McGill University, the answer is a resounding yes, according to a study conducted by the university.
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Is the first impression the right impression?
Most singles only need one date to decide whether or not they want to see someone again. We trust that the first impression is right and make the decision to go for that second date based on that . But who says that first impression is right?
Previous research has shown that people are able to form accurate first impressions of the people they meet in friendly settings. But that’s a far cry from high-stakes situations like a job interview… or a first date. Are first impressions just as accurate on a first date?
To find the answer to this question, researchers from the university invited 372 participants to participate in a speed dating event in Montreal in 2017 and 2018. They participants were asked to complete a questionnaire to assess their personality and well-being. A close friend (or family member) of this person was also allowed to complete a questionnaire about the participant’s personality.
The participants then had a series of short first dates of three minutes each. After each date they rated the personality of their conversation partner – so based entirely on first impressions.
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The result
On average, participants had a fairly accurate picture of their conversation partners’ personalities, but some conversation partners were easier to read than others. How easy it is to read people largely determines how accurate first impressions are.
“Some people are an open book, and their distinctive personality traits can be accurately discerned in a brief interaction, while others are harder to read,” says co-author Lauren Gazzard Kerr of McGill University. “Interestingly, people who are happier, have higher self-esteem, and are more satisfied with their lives make the task [of assessing personality] easier,” she says.
How come these people are easier to read? The researchers think that these people behave more ‘like themselves’, in a way that is more in line with their personality – more authentic and true to themselves. This finding is not entirely new, because the same effect has been seen in previous studies of first impressions.
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