When we meet another person for the first time, we are actually flooded with new information. Almost at once, we notice his appearance, style. of dress, and monner of speech. Furthermore, as we listen to what he has to say and observe the things he does, we begin to form. some ideas of what kind of person hisand what he intends to do. As you know from your own experience, though, we do not only gather these separate pieces of information. Instead, we go further and combine them into a unified picture. In short, we form. an overall im pression of each person we meet-an impression that can be favorable or unfavorable. But how precisely do we perform. this task? How do we combine so much different information into a clear first impression with such quick speed? A great deal of research has been performed on this question, and resulits point to the following answer: We perform. this task through a special type of averaging.

  Expressed very simply our impressions of others seem to represent a weighted average of all information that can be gathered about them. That is, they reflect a process in which all information we have about others is averaged to gether—but with some facts, or input receiving greater sense. For example, in forming an impression of a new boss you would probably be influedced to a much greater degree by how this person gives you orders ( whether respectfully or not ) than by the color of his or her eyes. The fact that not all information about other persons affects our impressions of them to the same degree, raises an important question: Just what kinds of input receive the greatest weight? Again research provides some revealing(发人深思) an-swers.

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