"Updating first impressions based on text descriptions of moral behaviors"

Forming impressions of others is fundamental for the further development of a relationship. We addressed the question whether there is a second chance for first impressions with regard to the major dimensions of moral and unmoral behaviors, as well as, the closeness of the person judged. After reading a story describing a person that might be either close or distant to them, participants were asked to form impressions and to evaluate that person based on text descriptions of social behaviors. Social agents were associated either with three behaviors of the same-valence (moral or unmoral, congruent condition) or behaviors of a different-valence (two moral behaviors followed by an unmoral behavior or two unmoral behaviors followed by a moral behavior, incongruent condition). Results revealed that when participants knew they were judging a person they'll have to deal with personally, and the person was associated with three positive behaviors, they rated him as most trustworthy than a distant person. However, when moral behaviors were followed with an unmoral behaviors, participants ranked the close person as less trustworthy than the latter. Our results are consistent with previous research and implications for basic and applied research on first impressions update will be discussed.