| Term Paper Title | The First Impression |
| # of Words | 709 |
| # of Pages (250 words per page double spaced) | 2.84 |
The First Impression
"Read my lips. No new taxes." The well groomed candidate shouted to his
audience. The crowd erupted in cheers and for many Americans, this was their
first long lasting impression of soon to be, President George Bush. He later
went on to sign a bill implementing the second largest tax hike in history. The
statement that won him one election lost him the next. The American public made
a long term judgment based on the first impression of this presidential
candidate. After the speech, the media took over, promoting Bush, and giving
those who did not hear the speech an impression of the candidate. As Americans
found out, trusting a first judgment is a dangerous practice, for it does not
allow for a clear long term judgment of the person in question. The first
impression is influenced by many factors, mainly the physical appearance, one's
own past experiences and other peoples judgments. Indeed, first impressions are
dangerous, but they are also inevitable, for it is a natural instinct that every
person is born with.
Take the classic cliché "You cannot judge a book by its cover." Not everything
is what it seems to be. A young man who was on a quest to find himself decided
to do a trek across the United States. When he reached the state of Arizona, he
met up with a man in ragged clothes, messy hair and in need of a bath. Still,
the young man started up a conversation and found this hobo to be very
intellectual and pleasant man despite his appearance. As night approached each
went and sought shelter for the night, but before they departed the hobo said
"You think I'm a bum, am I right?" Being truthful the young man replied "Yes."
"I am really a millionaire," the hobo confessed, "I dress and live this way
because I want to be taken for who I am and not my money." The hobo is a prime
example of how appearances can be deceiving.
While appearance is part of a first impression, so is a person's past.
Experiences form the past influence decisions and first impressions of the
future. Take for example the convenience store owner that had many problems
with teenage boys shoplifting merchandise. He has lost fait...Read entire document
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