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First Impressions: Route to Perception Why First Impressions are Difficult to Change: Study Rick Nauert

While many other sources repeated stated only how first impressions are difficult to change, Nauert actually explains in this article how they can change. As the study in this article suggests "first impressions are notoriously persistent," but with changes in location they can be altered. According to the author if the context in which the person is shown is changed and the person is shown in "multiple different contexts" the original impression can change. The "first impression will dominate" even if new experiences are created within the same context. At the same time there has be many different contexts not just one or two to change the impression. Nauert gives an example of how if you have a new colleague at work and your first impression of him was not favorable, even if you saw him at a party as a nice guy, you perception of him would still negative. You'll know that your first impression was not entirely accurate, but your gut feeling would be influenced by the original impression. So in order to change your gut feeling the number of contexts in which you see the new colleague would need to increase. Towards the end of the article, Nauert gives another example relating to the treatment of clinical disorders. He explains how of the findings of this study could help people with specifically phobias. The treatment would be more successful if therapy happened in many different contexts other than the therapist's office.

Nauert, Rick. “Why First Impressions are Difficult to Change: Study.” __LiveScience__ . 19 Jan, 2011. Purch. Web. 5 Jun, 2014. < http://www.livescience.com/10429-impressions-difficult-change-study.html.>