Impression formation

Impression formation in social psychology refers to the processes by which different pieces of knowledge about another are combined into a global or summary impression. Social psychologist Solomon Asch is credited with the seminal research on impression formation and conducted research on how individuals integrate information about personality traits.^[1] 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. As an individual seeks to form a coherent and meaningful impression of another individual, previous impressions significantly influence the interpretation of subsequent information.^[2] In contrast to the Gestalt approach, the cognitive algebra approach asserts that individuals' experiences are combined with previous evaluations to form a constantly changing impression of a person.^[3] A related area to impression formation is the study of person perception, making dispositional attributions, and then adjusting those inferences based on the information available.^[4]

^ "Impression Formation, Theories Of". Elsevier's Dictionary of Psychological Theories. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
^ Hamilton, David L.; Sherman, Steven J. (1 January 1996). "Perceiving persons and groups". Psychological Review. 103 (2): 336–355. doi:10.1037/0033-295X.103.2.336. ISSN 1939-1471. PMID 8637962.
^ Himmelfarb, Samuel (1 January 1972). "Integration and attribution theories in personality impression formation". Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 23 (3): 309–313. doi:10.1037/h0033126. ISSN 1939-1315. PMID 5070314.
^ Gilbert, Daniel T.; Pelham, Brett W.; Krull, Douglas S. (1 January 1988). "On cognitive busyness: When person perceivers meet persons perceived". Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 54 (5): 733–740. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.54.5.733. ISSN 0022-3514.

[1] "Impression Formation, Theories Of". Elsevier's Dictionary of Psychological Theories. Retrieved 19 April 2012.

[HamiltonSherman1996-2] Hamilton, David L.; Sherman, Steven J. (1 January 1996). "Perceiving persons and groups". Psychological Review. 103 (2): 336–355. doi:10.1037/0033-295X.103.2.336. ISSN 1939-1471. PMID 8637962.

[Himmelfarb1972-3] Himmelfarb, Samuel (1 January 1972). "Integration and attribution theories in personality impression formation". Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 23 (3): 309–313. doi:10.1037/h0033126. ISSN 1939-1315. PMID 5070314.

[GilbertPelham1988-4] Gilbert, Daniel T.; Pelham, Brett W.; Krull, Douglas S. (1 January 1988). "On cognitive busyness: When person perceivers meet persons perceived". Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 54 (5): 733–740. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.54.5.733. ISSN 0022-3514.

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