First Impressions & Social Perception - The brain makes judgments about attractiveness and trustworthiness in just one-tenth of a second, which is four times faster than the blink of an eye [4] - The amygdala, a part of the brain, processes emotions and social cues, assigning emotional scores to people met within milliseconds [5] - Body language, including facial expressions, posture, and tone of voice, significantly impacts first encounters [7] - Confirmation bias causes the brain to cling to initial judgments, filtering subsequent information to fit that initial perception [9] - The primacy effect suggests that first impressions hold more weight than later interactions, potentially leading to missed opportunities for meaningful relationships [10] Improving Interpersonal Connections - Facial expressions, such as soft smiles and raised brows, communicate one's personality [11] - Upright posture enhances confidence and fosters trust [11] - Genuine smiles convey openness and willingness to connect [12] - Stillness, as opposed to fidgeting, projects focus, presence, and respect [13] - Engaging actively by nodding and leaning in during conversations builds connection more effectively than perfect sentences [13][14]