BIO

Adam Nguyen is a 2nd year psychology major at FSU. His research interests include exploring feelings of isolation from one's culture, in addition to understanding the varying levels of childhood trauma. Aside from those topics, he tends to enjoy participating in activities surrounding theatre and singing. Currently he is a part of FSU’s Tenor-Bass Acapella Group, Reverb. All these passions have helped him understand the need for both creative and practical outlets when alleviating mental health issues. This is why he hopes to pursue a PHD in Clinical Psychology or a Master's Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling after completing his bachelors.

How Do Thinking Styles Relate To Our Trust In First Impressions?

Abstract

Do individuals have differing beliefs on the correctness of first impressions? Many studies have reviewed the behavioral and subconscious factors that contribute to the application of impressions in our daily lives. However, few studies have delved into people’s metacognitive thought processes regarding their first impressions. This study sought to answer the question: “Do our thinking processes influence our choice in trusting the validity of our first impressions?” We tested the relationship between the tendency to lean on analytical or intuitive thinking processes and the trust one has in their first impressions of others. Analytical thinking has been defined as a slow and conscious thinking process, whereas intuitive thinking is quicker and more habitual. We hypothesized that being more attuned to intuitive thinking would relate to a higher trust in first impressions, while the opposite should be true for analytical thinking. By using the Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT) measure, we examined 139 participants’ thinking processes –the extent to which they provided intuitive and analytical responses to math questions- in an online survey. We then tested the relationship between these responses and trust in first impressions as indicated by a self-reported scale we created. A positive correlation between trust and intuitive thinking, as well as a negative correlation between trust and analytical thinking supported our original hypotheses. In future research, we plan on investigating whether actively modifying one’s thinking processes can be effective in altering the trust in first impressions and its potential biasing impacts on decision-making.

Keywords: Metacognition, Dual Process Theories, and First Impressions