First Impressions

Thin Slices of Behavior

Thin slices of behavior was coined by Nalini Ambady and Robert Rosenthal to describe brief excerpts of expressive behavior sampled from the behavioral stream that contain dynamic information and are less than 5 minutes long. Thin slices are an excellent way to examine first impressions, and the slices can be sampled from any available [Page 686]channel of communication, including the face, the body, speech, the voice, transcripts, or combinations of these. Hence, static images (e.g., photographs) and larger chunks of dynamic behaviors would not qualify as a thin slice.

The type of judgment being made affects accuracy. Thin-slice judgments are predictive and accurate only to the extent that relevant variables are observable from the thin slice sampled. Using the analogy of an onion, some characteristics, similar to the more visible, transparent outer layers of the onion, are easily observed and judged from thin slices. But other characteristics are hidden, similar to the inner layers of the onion, and are less easily judged from thin slices of behavior. Variables that are more observable and that are revealed through demeanor and behavior, such as extraversion, warmth, and likeability, are more easily and accurately judged from thin slices. In contrast, less observable variables, such as perseverance, are not easily or accurately judged from thin slices. This is because information regarding perseverance is more likely revealed through actions and behaviors that unfold over a relatively long period. Such information is less likely to be gleaned from thin slices of behavior.

Research on thin-slice judgments has had an impact across social, applied, and cognitive psychology and economics and has penetrated the popular literature as well. Thin-slice judgments are particularly useful in examining interpersonal relationships. For instance, judgments based on thin slices have been shown to accurately predict aspects of the doctor-patient relationship, including patient satisfaction and adherence to treatment, the relationship status of opposite-sex pairs interacting, judgments of rapport between two persons, and courtroom judges' expectations of a defendant's guilt.

Judging Relationships

Even nonhuman primates show an ability to quickly scan the social environment and recognize relationship patterns among others. These relationship patterns include those of kinship and status. During evolution, being able to make quick and accurate assessments of others' relationship patterns is important for survival of the species.

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