AN INTERACTIONIST APPRAISAL OF IMPRESSION FORMATION: The "Central Trait" Hypothesis Revisited

Abstract

This article examines the nature of first impressions from the interactionist perspective. A modified H. H. Kelley design (1950) of student-teacher interaction was employed with a sample of 195 college students. The fi ndi ngs demonstrate the overall complexi ty of the impressi on-form ing process as we II as i IIustrate the Ii mitations of the warm-cold variable in predicting actual behcvior , Several central traits are observed to be operative in impression formation. These traits are observed to be a function both of preinformation and response alternatives in the odjecrive checklist, Symbolic and observational presentation is found to be more influencial in forming impressions with behavioral implications than those formed solely by observational exposure. Both consideration of the context of interaction and central trait identification appear necessary to specify the behavioral component of impressions.