The Primacy Effect: Why Are First Impressions So Important?

Have you ever heard of the saying, “First impressions are the strongest”? When you meet someone for the first time, you can usually remember your first thoughts and perceptions about that person. Why do these impressions significantly impact how you view that person? This can be attributed to something known as the primacy effect. (Fun fact: in social contexts, this can often be known as the first impression bias as well)

The Primacy Effect

The primacy effect (also known as the primacy bias) is a cognitive bias that results in a person remembering earlier information presented to them more quickly than information presented later.

Below are some more examples of how the primacy effect is in action: 

• Studying for a test 

• When revising the topics that would come out for the test, the first few topics that were revised would usually be remembered more clearly

• Remembering a list of items (e.g. a shopping list)

• When trying to memorize a list of items, it is usually easier to recall the first few items in the list as compared to the later few items in said list

• Listening to a presentation 

• You will tend to remember the first few points that the speaker has made in the presentation as compared to the points raised later on

Why does the Primacy Effect occur?

There are some reasons why the primacy effect occurs:

Limited attention span  

• As we have a limited attention span, we tend to absorb information more easily when we are most alert, which happens in the beginning. This can cause the primacy effect since our brain will remember the first information it receives. 

Memory limitations 

• As we have limited memory space, to save energy and effort in remembering every piece of information we receive, remembering only the first few pieces of information that enter our brains is easier.

Repeating information over and over 

• Sometimes, we will repeat a list of items over and over to memorize the list. If we memorize the list in order, this causes our brain to remember the first few items since those items were placed first.

In addition, according to a study conducted by Glanzer and Cunitz in 1966, it is found that information presented to us first is more likely to be stored in long-term memory, allowing us to remember the information for a more extended period and recall it more easily. 

The significant impact of first impressions

We tend to remember our first impressions of another person more quickly than how they present themselves later since we are more alert to how the person presents themselves at first. This also allows us to form our opinions on another person quickly and let that opinion influence our thoughts toward that person. 

For instance, if the person gave us a negative first impression, we would typically remember that bad impression due to the primacy effect. Hence, we will be influenced and unwilling to spend more time with that person. On the other hand, if someone gave us an excellent first impression, this would leave us with a lasting effect of wanting to spend more time with the other person. 

Not to be confused with…

Another similar effect is the recency effect. Unlike the primacy effect, the recency effect is the tendency to remember the last few items in the list. 

The recency effect may seem to contradict the primacy effect. Still, in some cases, the two effects can exist with each other to form the serial position effect. Watch THIS VIDEO to learn more about it!

Conclusion

In summary, the primacy effect is the tendency of your brain to recall the first few pieces of information that enter your brain more easily than information that enters later. 

As such, the next time you meet someone for the first time, remember to leave a positive first impression so that the other person will more likely remember you as a pleasant person rather than an unpleasant one. 

Works Cited 

admin (2022). The power of first impressions. [online] Nudging Financial Behaviour. Available at: https://www.nudgingfinancialbehaviour.com/primacy-and-recency-effects/  

Cuncic, A. (2023). How the Primacy Effect Can Help You in Your Life. [online] Verywell Mind. Available at: https://www.verywellmind.com/understanding-the-primacy-effect-4685243.

Nikolopoulou, K. (2023). What Is Primacy Bias? | Definition & Example. [online] Scribbr. Available at: https://www.scribbr.com/research-bias/primacy-bias/.  

Practical Psychology (2019). Serial Position Effect (Primacy + Recency Examples). [online] www.youtube.com. Available at: https://youtu.be/jEUoQVN80Jw?si=-hkFKVCF9B44oZM1