Impression formation in social psychology refers to the process by which individual pieces of information about another person are integrated to form a global impression of the individual (i.e. how one person perceives another person). Underlying this entire process is the notion that an individual expects unity and coherence in the personalities of others. Consequently, an individual's impression of another should be similarly unified. Two major theories have been proposed to explain how this process of integration takes place. The Gestalt approach views the formation of a general impression as the sum of several interrelated impressions. Central to this theory is the idea that as an individual seeks to form a coherent and meaningful impression of another person, previous impressions significantly influence or color his or her interpretation of subsequent information. In contrast to the Gestalt approach, the cognitive algebra approach of information integration theory asserts that individual experiences are evaluated independently, and combined with previous evaluations to form a constantly changing impression of a person. An important and related area to impression formation is the study of person perception, which refers to the process of observing behavior, making dispositional attributions, and then adjusting those inferences based on the information available. Solomon Asch (1946) is credited with conducting the seminal research on impression formation.
Read more about Impression Formation: Methods, Impression-formation Processes in The US, Cross-cultural Studies
Famous quotes containing the words impression and/or formation:
“My impression about the Panama Canal is that the great revolution it is going to introduce in the trade of the world is in the trade between the east and the west coast of the United States.”
—William Howard Taft (1857–1930)
“I want you to consider this distinction as you go forward in life. Being male is not enough; being a man is a right to be earned and an honor to be cherished. I cannot tell you how to earn that right or deserve that honor. . . but I can tell you that the formation of your manhood must be a conscious act governed by the highest vision of the man you want to be.”
—Kent Nerburn (20th century)