As I continue to think about the impact of first impressions, I feel led to describe something researchers call, “The Halo Effect.” No, it doesn’t refer to a Microsoft video game. The Halo Effect is a term used to describe the fact that people tend to judge us based on their past impressions of us. For example, if we make a really good first impression, subsequent behavior will tend to be interpreted favorably. If, on the other hand, we make a bad first impression, people will tend to judge our subsequent behaviors in a negative light.
Let me give an example. My wife uses our DVR to record the daytime series, “General Hospital,” so that she can watch it in the evening. I have joined her to watch a few episodes myself. (Pure intellectual investigation, I might add! 
) In one episode, a female character named Maxie said and did some kind and caring things. I said, “Hey! I like this Maxie character!” My wife was horrified. “Maxie is evil. She’s just in it for herself,” she corrected me. My wife was applying the halo effect. Maxie’s in-the-moment actions were genuinely good, but my wife’s previous observations of her behavior colored everything dark. Maxie was wearing a dark halo.
This example isn’t real, but it is true to life in that people make those same kinds of judgements all the time. This is one of the reasons that making a good first impression is so important. A bad first impression isn’t a death sentence, but it can be quite a laborious task to overcome.
Posted by briancastelli 
