New research, conducted with college freshmen who met on the first day of class, found that snap judgments influenced what kind of relationships developed. While the power of first impressions has been well known, this research shows that the course of a relationship may be influenced much more quickly than was once thought. "Earlier research had assumed there was a cumulative effect that happens in the first few days of meeting that helps determine how the relationship will develop," Artemio Ramirez Jr., co-author of the study, said. "But we're finding that it all happens much sooner than that - it's literally within just minutes."
Ramirez conducted the study with Michael Sunnafrank of the University of Minnesota, Duluth. The findings were published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships.
The findings showed that how positively the participants rated a potential relationship with their new acquaintance on the first day of class was the best predictor of what kind of relationship actually did develop over the next nine weeks. People who rated the potential relationship more positively tended to sit closer to their partner during class, and communicate more with that person. How positively people rated a potential relationship was more important than how much the participants said they had in common, and how much they said they liked the person at first meeting, in determining their future relationship.
"People are making snap judgments about what kind of relationship they want with the person they just met," said Ramirez
"It's almost a self-fulfilling prophecy," Ramirez said. "We make a prediction about what kind of relationship we could have with a person, and that helps determine how much effort we are willing to put into developing a relationship. If I think we could become friends, I'll communicate more, tell you more about myself and do things that will help ensure a friendship does develop. If I have a more negative prediction about a future relationship, then I will restrict communication and make it harder for a friendship to develop."
One result is that the person with the most negative view of a possible relationship will have somewhat more influence, he said. "Simply put, if I do not want to talk with you or escalate our relationship, it will be somewhat harder for you to overcome my resistance," according to Ramirez.
"People want to quickly determine if a person they just met is someone they are going to want to hang out with, or date, or spend more time with in the future," he said. "We don't want to waste our time."
The study suggests that relationship-starters like speed dating may have real value. While some people have questioned whether you can really evaluate a potential date in just a few minutes, he said this study suggests people already do that.
"Romantic relationships probably are similar to what we found in this study - they begin with people making judgments very quickly," Ramirez said.
