Why We “Just Know”
The Truth About First Impressions
BY TAMMI PICKLE
ou see a person
across a room.
Before you even
know anything about them, what they do, or what their background is, you feel a sense of curiosity, interest, a connection… a spark. It happens fast, sometimes in less than three seconds.
That’s chemistry.
But what’s really going on when you feel that spark?
Science reveals that our initial impression of another person isn’t random. Rather, it’s a complex process rooted in our brain’s wiring.
Your Brain Decides Before You Do
Science confirms we form an impression of another person in an instant—long before we’re even consciously aware of it. Your brain is always on the lookout for signals, always evaluating. Within a few seconds, you’re picking up on:
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