Halo Effect

Definition

Halo effects refer to the widespread human tendency in impression formation to assume that once a person possesses some positive or negative characteristic, other as yet unknown qualities will also be positive or negative, in other words, consistent with the existing impression. It seems as if known personal characteristics radiate a positive or negative halo (hence the name halo effect), influencing a person's expectations about other as yet unknown qualities. Halo effects reflect the apparent belief that positive and negative characteristics occur in consistent patterns. For example, if you have a positive impression of your colleague Sue because she is always clean and well groomed, and somebody asks you whether Sue would be the right person to organize the office party, you are more likely ...