Which effect relates to the importance of the first impression over subsequent ones?

The concept of the primacy effect highlights the significance of first impressions in shaping perceptions and judgments about an individual. This effect refers to the tendency for information presented first to have a greater influence on one's overall impression than information introduced later. In social psychology, the primacy effect suggests that early encounters and the initial traits we observe are weighted more heavily in forming an evaluation, which can lead to a lasting impact on how we view a person or situation.

First impressions can be vital because they often set a framework through which additional information is interpreted. As later information is absorbed, it may be seen in light of that initial impression, which can either reinforce or challenge it but typically does not have the same weight in influencing our overall assessment of the person. This is particularly relevant in contexts such as job interviews, first dates, and social encounters, where the initial interaction sets the stage for subsequent behaviors and perceptions.

In contrast, other effects mentioned don’t focus on the primacy of initial impressions. The recency effect refers to the tendency to remember the most recent information more vividly than earlier information. The closure effect concerns the human psychological need to perceive incomplete stimuli as complete. Finally, the fundamental attribution error addresses the tendency to overemphasize dispositional factors (person