What facts do we know about first impressions?

Let’s define what a first impression is according to Wikipedia.

“First impression is the event one person first encounters another person and forms a mental image of that person.”

Nowhere does it say first impressions  is about a conversation or an interaction, it could be line of sight.

As I review this definition it reminds me that we listen more with our eyes than our ears.

Wikipedia goes on to say “Impression accuracy varies depending on the observer and the target. First impressions are based on a wide range of characteristics; age, race, culture, language, gender, physical appearance, accent, posture, voice, number of people present, and the time allowed to process.”

Wikipedia completes the overview by saying the “first impressions individuals give to others could greatly influence how the are treated and viewed in many contexts of everyday life.”

So if I asked you what kind of first impression you make, how could you respond? Remember people are making decisions about you before you ever get a chance to speak to them.