A Reflection on Our Habit of Quick Judgments
Ahmed Sameer
In our daily lives, we often hear the saying: “First impressions are not the last impressions.” Yet, in practice, we behave as if the opposite is true. We judge quickly, conclude firmly, and rarely revisit our initial perceptions.
In a society like ours—where reputation travels faster than truth—the first image formed about a person, a community, or even an institution often becomes permanent.
Our Mental Shortcuts
Human beings prefer simplicity. We do not always have the patience to examine every layer of a personality or situation. We rely on quick mental shortcuts. Psychologists call it the “primacy effect,” a concept studied by social psychologist Solomon Asch, which explains how the first information we receive influences our overall judgment disproportionately.
In simpler terms, what we hear first tends to stay first in our minds.
Once a label is attached—“capable,” “difficult,” “reserved,” “inefficient”—every future action is interpreted through that lens. Rarely do we pause and ask: Was my initial understanding complete?
A Personal Realisation
I once experienced this tendency within myself. While going through an official report highlighting infrastructural problems in certain regions of the country, I came across data describing poverty and underdevelopment in a particular area. Without much reflection, I began associating those highlighted problems with the entire region. In my mind, that place became uniformly poor and backward.
It did not occur to me immediately that within the same region there could be developed pockets, economically stable households, and progressive communities. My first impression—shaped by selective reporting—quietly became my final judgment.
Only later did I realise that I had taken a short mental route. I had concluded before fully understanding. That moment forced me to confront how easily we stereotype—not out of malice, but out of mental convenience.
When Observation Distorts Reality
There is another dimension to this issue. When individuals are interviewed, evaluated, or publicly assessed, their natural behaviour often changes. The famous studies conducted at the Western Electric Company—known as the Hawthorne Studies—demonstrated that people modify their behaviour simply because they know they are being observed.
In our own context—be it job interviews, administrative reviews, or even social gatherings—people often become self-conscious. They wonder:
If I speak too boldly, will it offend?
If I stay quiet, will I be misunderstood?
If I disagree, will I be labelled problematic?
In such moments, behaviour is not always authentic. Yet those very moments become the basis for lasting judgments.
The Cost of Premature Framing
The danger of first impressions becoming final impressions is that they rarely offer a complete picture. Some individuals require time to express their potential. Some communities require deeper engagement to be understood. Some institutions evolve beyond initial criticism.
Incremental understanding—observing consistently and patiently—is often more just than a one-time evaluation.
In a place like Kashmir, where narratives are frequently constructed from limited exposure, the cost of quick judgments can be heavy. Stereotyping regions, professions, or individuals only deepens misunderstanding.
The Other Side of the Argument
However, there are situations where first impressions do carry weight. In high-stakes environments—courtrooms, hospitals, administrative offices—initial behaviour signals preparedness and seriousness. In matters of safety and trust, quick judgment may protect us.
Sometimes, the first impression proves accurate because it aligns with consistent future conduct.
The issue, therefore, is not whether first impressions matter—they certainly do. The issue is whether we treat them as final verdicts.
A Call for Caution
First impressions are powerful because they simplify complexity. But human beings are not simple.
It is possible to change first impressions—but it requires:
• Consistent conduct over time
• Strong counter-evidence
• Emotional re-engagement
• Patience from both sides
Perhaps the wiser approach is humility—recognising that our first judgment may not be the full truth.
Before we finalise our perception of a person or a place, we must ask ourselves: Have we truly understood, or have we merely concluded?
