Continuum model of impression formation
When you meet someone new, you start forming an impression of them based on what you see, hear, and learn about them. This is called impression formation.
The continuum model of impression formation is a way to think about how you form impressions of people. It says that there are different levels of information you use to form impressions, and that these levels form a continuum or a spectrum.
At one end of the continuum is thin-slicing. This means that you form an impression of someone very quickly, based on very little information. For example, if you see someone dressed in business attire, you might assume they are professional and successful.
At the other end of the continuum is getting to know the person over time. This means that you form an impression of someone after spending a lot of time with them and getting to know them well. This could take weeks, months, or even years.
In between these two extremes are other levels of information that you use to form impressions. For example, you might form an impression based on a person's body language, their tone of voice, or their facial expressions. Or you might form an impression based on what other people say about them, or what you learn about their background or interests.
The continuum model of impression formation reminds us that there are many different factors that contribute to our impressions of other people, and that these factors can vary in importance depending on the situation. It also suggests that our impressions are not fixed, and can change over time as we learn more about the person.
The continuum model of impression formation is a way to think about how you form impressions of people. It says that there are different levels of information you use to form impressions, and that these levels form a continuum or a spectrum.
At one end of the continuum is thin-slicing. This means that you form an impression of someone very quickly, based on very little information. For example, if you see someone dressed in business attire, you might assume they are professional and successful.
At the other end of the continuum is getting to know the person over time. This means that you form an impression of someone after spending a lot of time with them and getting to know them well. This could take weeks, months, or even years.
In between these two extremes are other levels of information that you use to form impressions. For example, you might form an impression based on a person's body language, their tone of voice, or their facial expressions. Or you might form an impression based on what other people say about them, or what you learn about their background or interests.
The continuum model of impression formation reminds us that there are many different factors that contribute to our impressions of other people, and that these factors can vary in importance depending on the situation. It also suggests that our impressions are not fixed, and can change over time as we learn more about the person.