First Impressions Matter: How to Make Your First Date a Memorable One

In case you didn’t already know, first impressions are essential. Probably more so now than they ever have been.

According to psychological research, our brains are wired to make judgments about people quickly, within the first few seconds of meeting them. This is known as the “thin-slicing” phenomenon, where we use small amounts of information to make judgments about someone’s character and personality. Brutal, I know. But you’re wired that way too. We all are.

One study conducted by psychologist Nalini Ambady found that participants were able to accurately judge a person’s sexual orientation, intelligence, and even their likelihood of getting divorced based on just a 10-second silent video clip of them. In fact, studies have shown that it takes just one-tenth of a second to form an impression of a stranger. So, basically, we’re all just a bunch of superficial, shallow wankers who can’t look past a person’s appearance and initial behavior. I have been telling you all this for months!

When it comes to first dates, first impressions are basically just us trying to decide if we’re attracted to someone or not.