What does the Primacy Effect refer to in impression formation?

The Primacy Effect is a psychological phenomenon that describes how the first information we receive about a person significantly shapes our overall impression of them. When we first encounter traits or characteristics of someone, these initial perceptions create a framework through which we interpret subsequent information. This early information tends to have a lasting impact, influencing our attitudes and evaluations, even when we learn contradictory traits later on.

In the context of impression formation, this means that if we first perceive someone as friendly, subsequent behaviors or traits may be viewed through that lens, leading us to interpret them more positively than we might if the first impression were negative or neutral. The essence of the Primacy Effect lies in its demonstration of how order of information affects our perceptions and judgments, underscoring the significant role that first impressions play in social cognition.