Grace Ong

Dr. Nelson

Honors Research & Writing

28 April 2016

A Psychosocial Analysis of How First Impressions are Overcome as seen in

Austens Pride and Prejudice and Contemporary Situations

Abstract

An initial impression influences interpersonal relationships and the interpretation of later information,

and thus making first impressions practically impossible to undo. Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice

was originally intended to be titled First Impressions because of this prevalent theme greatly

influencing the relationships within the characters of the story. This study first introduces the

psychology of a first impression and analyzes the role of impressions within the societies of Pride and

Prejudice and modern humanity. It then goes on to compare positive and negative changes in first

impressions and how the two societies have demonstrated the overcoming of first impressions through

three elements: surprise, a pivot in character, and time. Overcoming first impressions through the

element of surprise functions as a method of preparation for an individual to effectively deal with a

sudden occurrence and the consequence of an event. Overcoming first impressions through a pivot in

ones character is simply demonstrating a different side of ones usual character. Finally, overcoming

first impressions through the effect of time takes into account the gradual changes that eventually lead

to a change in impression. This paper shares examples of these three ideas exhibited in the midst of a

modern day setting as well as the society of Pride and Prejudice. Overall, this psychosocial analysis

seeks to understand the effects of first impressions in the two societies and how its potentially lasting

effects have been and can be overcome.

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A Psychosocial Analysis of How First Impressions are Overcome as seen in

Austens Pride and Prejudice and Contemporary Situations

INTRODUCTION

Forming a first impression is judging a book by its cover, and humans do a very good

job at that. Within a tenth of a second of looking at a strangers face, measures of

attractiveness, likeability, trustworthiness, competence, and aggressiveness are judged and

impressions are formed (Gregoire). These initial impressions influence interpersonal

relationships and the interpretation of later information thus making first impressions

important and difficult to undo (Tetlock 285).

There is a significant range of possibilities in which a person can encounter another

person for the first time and form an impression. Such possibilities include the workplace,

school, a cafe, a party, and social media. School and the workplace are perhaps the most

natural form of meeting new people. For impressions to form, real-life interaction is not a

necessary requisite. As the use of social media continues to rise, the majority of first

impressions today are simply made over an electronic screen. Whether it is through

face-to-face conversation or via cyberspace, impressions are incredibly powerful; they can

make or break an individual. A job interviewer's decision can be made the minute the

interviewee steps into the room. Web sites such as Tinder, Match, and eHarmony, allow

people to connect with or even meet their future spouse without face-to-face interaction. This

all begins through the judging of a photograph or profile page.

Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice, on the other hand, involves a very different

approach to getting to know other people. Set in the early eighteen hundreds, the novel

suggests various means in which it was common at that time for people to meet each other
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(Sheehan). Some of these include walking around the neighborhood, going to town, dancing

at a ball, or meeting through family acquaintances. The novel was originally intended to be

titled First Impressions because of this prevalent theme asserting a huge influence on the

relationships within the characters of the story (Walters).

"From the very beginning--from the first moment, I may say--of my acquaintance

with you, your manners, impressing me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your

conceit, and your selfish disdain of the feelings of others, were such as to form the

groundwork of disapprobation on which succeeding events have built so immovable a

dislike; and I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in

the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry" (Austen 99).

This famous quote from the novel is the representation of the protagonists impression of

another character. The two characters first meet at a ball, but later get more acquainted as

their paths somehow frequently cross. The protagonists initial impression shapes the manner

of the two characters future interactions. By examining the dynamics between the two

characters, the initial negative impression causes subsequent interactions to be colder and less

amiable. Yet, through persevering circumstances, the impression is eventually changed. This

is only one out of many examples of how the theme of first impressions and overcoming

them is prevalent in the book. Pride and Prejudice explores many other scenarios which will

be discussed later on.

Despite its enduring effects, a first impression is mouldable; a second impression can

compensate for the first. Furthermore, a good opinion gone sour can be recovered, and the

same goes for the reverse. The society of Pride and Prejudice, as well as modern situations,

demonstrate the overcoming of these first impressions, yet it is not so easily done. Although

first impressions are impossible to redo, they can certainly be overcome through the element
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of surprise, by a pivot in character, or simply over the course of time, as shown in Jane

Austens Pride and Prejudice as well as in modern psychological research.

FIRSTIMPRESSIONS

An impression is the virtual instant creation of ones beliefs and evaluations of other people.

It is made in 100 milliseconds of viewing a persons face. From there, one may judge the

individuals character and likability, trustworthiness and aggressiveness, and attractiveness

and competence (Gregoire).

The Psychology. In social psychology, person perception is an important process related to

impression formation. It refers to the different mental processes used to form impressions of

other people which include selection, organization, and interpretation (Cherry).

The first step of the perception process is selection which is simply the selection of

stimuli in the environment. It involves the focusing on certain incoming sensory information

which is most often unconscious but can be intentional. Selected information is based on

salience, what is most noticeable or important in the given context. People tend to focus

attention on things that are salient, and the attractive subject can be abstract, like a concept, or

concrete, like an object. In addition, the selected information could be a familiar stimulus or

something new (Boundless and Communication and Perception). An example of a familiar

stimulus would be the sound of a friends voice in a room or the smell of a family members

perfume. Being attracted to a new stimulus would be like noticing a really nice pair of shoes

you wish to buy at the mall.

Once a stimulus in the environment is selected, a series of reactions are set off in the

human brain which takes on the second step of the perception processorganizing

information based on innate and learned cognitive patterns (Communication and Perception).
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The organization starts with the activation of sensory receptors which are ones touch, taste,

smell, sight, and hearing. These receptors then send messages to the brain where a percept, a

mental representation of the stimulus, is constructed (Boundless). This finally allows the

brain to sort the perceived information into patterns mainly by proximity, similarity, and

difference (Communication and Perception). The brain tends to group items based on these

three structures.

Organization by proximity suggests that things closer together go together. For

example, say a man and a woman were standing together in a video interview. Although

nothing is known about them, viewers may make the assumption that the two are a married

couple. These viewers used a basic perceptual organizing cue to group the man and the

woman together simply because of their close physical proximity to each other.

People also group things together based on similaritythings that look or act similar

belong together. This could mean that if two people shared the same physical appearance, not

necessarily facial structure, people may assume the two are related. An example of this would

be a situation where three girls of similar skin color have similar hairstyles and all wear

glasses, some may assume they are all siblings. Simply by the fact that three girls look

similar, a judgement is made that they are related.

In terms of difference, people tend to think the opposite from similarity where what

looks or acts differently from the rest does not belong together with the group. At times,

making assumptions based on differences can be embarrassing, if not offensive. Such

circumstances could be based on racial or cultural stereotypes.

Compared to selection and organization, the interpretation step is much more

deliberate and conscious. Once the brain has received and organized the information, it then

assigns meaning to these experiences (Boundless). The information is being interpreted in a

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way that makes sense through mental structures known as schemata. These schemata function

as databases of stored, related information which are used to interpret new experiences.

Additionally, they are used to interpret the behavior of others and form impressions of their

character. People have schemata about individual, groups, places, and things, and they filter

perceptions made before, during, and after interactions. Simply put, schemata help with the

interpretation of the world as they are being retrieved and executed (Communication and

Perception).

During initial interactions, theorists argue that humans form a perception of the future

relationship with the other person and decide how costly or rewarding it would be. This

occurs as the initial conversation is carried out, and a positive or negative judgement about

forming a potential relationship is made. If positive judgements are formed, then more

communication will be initiated and more information is sought. Conversely, if a negative

judgement is formed, future communication will most likely be restricted (Horan). This can

be a contributing factor to the primacy effect which demonstrates that the information

presented early in a sequence has more influence on final judgements than information

presented late in the sequence (Tetlock 286). The primacy effect gives suggestions on why

first impressions are so significant and lasting. A good first impression initiates more

communication. By seeking more information, one may get to know the other better and

result in a positive friendship. On the other hand, a bad first impression restricts any desire

for further interaction or information thus causing a relationship to remain distant or negative.

Evidently, first impressions matter. They have the ability to shape future interactions and

relationships and prove the primacy effect to be true.

In terms of impression bias, according to a study at the University of British

Columbia analyzing the positivity and accuracy of impression formation based on an

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individuals physical appearance, people do judge a book by its cover, and more physically

attractive people are seen more positively and more accurately. Many other studies have

shown that what humans consider more beautiful, we also see as more attractive. However,

the accuracy comes from the fact that humans tend to pay more attention to those who are

more attractive. This leads to the more beautiful people being more accurately perceived.

In conclusion, impressions are based on schemata, the database of stored experiences.

These stored experiences can be either positive or negative. Future interactions between the

two individuals can be influenced by the initial positive or negative impression. However, as

humans continue to encounter new people as well as already known acquaintances, their

perceptions of these people can change. Such happenings are common throughout society.

Pride and Prejudice. The famous novel by Jane Austen focuses on a plot that largely involves

the roles of impressions and biases. The title itself gives a hint. However, this novel was

originally titled First Impressions which further demonstrates the significance of

impressions within the story.

Pride and Prejudice is well known for its dynamic characters. Many different

impressions are formed between these characters and act as a basis for their relationships.

Through the novels characters, Jane Austen illustrates the possible consequence of

relationships depending largely on their first impressionmisjudgement. In the novel, she

also shows that it is possible for an individual's true personality to be overtly revealed in a

first impression. The significant relationships involving misjudgement occur between Mr.

Darcy and Lizzy Bennet, Lizzy Bennet and Mr. Wickham, as well as Mr. Darcy and Jane

Bennett. These three relationships are based on an inaccurate first impression. The most
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significant relationship based on an accurate first impression is the one between Mr. Bingley

and Jane Bennet.

The plot of Pride and Prejudice revolves around a family of five sistersJane

Bennet, Lizzy (Elizabeth) Bennet, Kitty Bennet, Mary Bennet, Lydia Bennetliving in

VIctorian England with their mother who is in a hurry to marry them off.

The first introduction in the novel is Mr. Bingleys. The story begins with the family

receiving news of a new gentleman in town. This new gentleman, Mr. Bingley, is known to

be a very pleasant man of great fortune: good-looking and gentlemanlike; he had a pleasant

countenance, and easy unaffected manners (Austen 6). Upon his arrival, a ball is thrown to

have him acquainted with the community. Mrs. Bennet seizes this opportunity to hopefully

have one of her five daughters married to Mr. Bingley. Consequently, between Mr. Bingley

and Jane Bennet, it is said to be love at first sight. She is the most beautiful creature I ever

beheld!, declares Mr. Bingley at the ball (Austen 7). He dances with Jane twice; an act like

this is considered a true honor as it suggests that he finds her attractive. It is evident that the

relationship between Jane Bennet and Mr. Bingley is one that begins with a positive first

impression. Their relationship is also based on an accurate first impression. All that Mr.

Bingley is known for and appears to be a sensible pleasant man is really true. He is just what

a young man ought to be, Jane expresses to Lizzy about just how much she admires Mr.

Bingley, sensible, good-humoured, lively; and I never saw such happy manner!so much

ease, with such perfect good breeding! (Austen 8). This clearly builds romance between the

two characters and their relationship becomes one of the plots main driving forces.

Mr. Darcys first introduction occurs at the ball as he enters as Mr. Bingleys good

friend. Although a fine looking man, known to be tall, handsome, and having ten thousand a
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year, the crowd is quick to overlook his outer appearance and financial position as he

possesses a great personality defect (Austen 6).

The gentlemen pronounced him to be a fine figure of a man, the ladies declared he

was much handsomer than Mr. Bingley, and he was looked at with great admiration

for about half the evening, till his manners gave a disgust which turned the tide of his

popularity; for he was discovered to be proud; to be above his company, and above

being pleased; and not all his large estate in Derbyshire could then save him from

having a most forbidding, disagreeable countenance, and being unworthy to be

compared with his friend (Austen 6).

Proud and disagreeable, this is the impression that Lizzy Bennet initially takes on Mr. Darcy

owing to the fact that her first encounter with Mr. Darcy is not the most pleasant. At the ball,

she overhears a conversation between Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy. When Mr. Bingley

suggests to Mr. Darcy that he should dance with Lizzysitting down just behind you, who

is very pretty, and I dare say very agreeableMr. Darcys prejudice against those with less

money or of a lower class prompts him to refute saying, she is tolerable; but not handsome

enough to tempt me (Austen 7). Mr. Darcys remarks about Lizzy immensely hurt her pride

and leads her to declare that Darcy is the most disagreeable, horrid man, not at all worth

pleasing. I quite detest the man, she adds (Austen 8). Clearly, Mr. Darcy made a bad first

impression on Lizzy. Their mutual bad first impressions result from their own prejudice and

pride that greatly influences a near destruction in their friendship. However, Lizzy Bennet

and Mr. Darcys relationship is one based on misjudgement where later on in the story the

two realize their first impression was completely inaccurate. Their misunderstandings are not

intentional though, their true personalities are not concealed on purpose, and therefore their

relationship becomes one of the storys leading predicaments.

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As Lizzy and Mr. Darcy model a relationship based on unintentional misjudgement,

Mr. Wickhams character purposefully makes a misleading impression. His deception hides

his actual wicked character but exhibits one that seems kind and mannerly. At first, Lizzys

impression of him is favorable and is greatly attracted to him because she thinks he is as far

beyond [the other officers] in person, countenance, air, and walk, as they were superior to the

broad-faced, stuffy uncle Philips, breathing port wine, who followed them into the room

(Austen 40). Her initial positive impression almost blinds her to immediately trust everything

Mr. Wickham says. Whickham even prompts Lizzy to believe that he was unjustly treated by

Mr. Darcy spurring further hatred within Lizzy towards Mr. Darcy. Mr. Wickhams

poisonous character goes on to not only harm Lizzy and Mr. Darcys relationship but also to

cause tremendous distress within the Bennet family. He is one of the most important

antagonists within the story.

This common theme of misjudgement is again exhibited in Mr. Darcys impression of

Jane upon observing her behavior with Mr. Bingley.

"Her look and manners were open, cheerful, and engaging as ever, but without any

symptom of peculiar regard the serenity of [Janes] countenance and air was such

as might have given the most acute observer a conviction that, however amiable her

temper, her heart was not likely to be easily touched (Austen 101).

In other words, Mr. Darcy believes Jane is not showing enough particular interest towards

Mr. Bingley and therefore concludes that the two should not develop further romance. His

assumption is the primary cause of Jane and Mr. Bingleys momentary break in relationship.

In all, these characters are all greatly affected by first impressions whether they be

positive or negative. Additionally, these impressions can be accurate to ones true personality

but, more commonly, can also be a misjudgement of character. Either way, such first
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impressions have the ability to greatly impact the relationships between characters and to

drive the plot as well.

Modern Situations. Although Pride and Prejudice is a work of fiction dated to the mid-1800s,

the same themes of good or bad and accurate or inaccurate impressions are carried out in real

modern-day situations.

In the world today, we face very different ways of meeting people for the first time

compared to Jane Austens era. Instead of attending balls and dancing, forming an impression

of someone in modern situations greatly involves the use of computer-mediated

communication, especially social networking sites. The popularity of such sites has grow

exponentially in the two decadesfrom Myspace to Friendster, and now Instagram and

Snapchat. According to the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, it has become

increasingly likely for single adults to maintain a profile on a dating website and for

employers to search personal profiles when evaluating potential employees. First impressions

play a large role in todays society, and making good impressions is crucial in the modern

world. Furthermore, as the use of virtual communication continues to spread, many important

real world social activities are now occurring on the internet (Weisbuch, Ivcevic, and

Ambady). With just an internet connection, ones person can be judged based solely on his or

her online persona.

In their examination of correspondence between web-based and interaction-based or

real world social perception, Weisbuch and others concluded that despite conscious

impression management being more likely on personal websites, people generally exhibit

consistency across all channels of communication. Therefore, an interaction-based

impression and a web-based impression share important social analogies in spite of the fact
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that people can spend hours deliberately constructing an online profile while face-to-face

interaction occurs in real time and requires spontaneous behavior. On top of that, their studies

show that first impressions formed from personal web pages not only correspond with

impressions formed face-to-face, but they also provide perceivers with valid information

about the web page authors spontaneous likability in real life (Weisbuch, Ivcevic, and

Ambady). In other words, web-based impressions can serve as a tool to select favorable

dates, friends, and employees because there is not a significant difference between real-time

social interaction and the online social world.

OVERCOMINGFIRSTIMPRESSIONS

First impressions are difficult to overcome because of the primacy effectthe perceptual

tendency to place more value on the first information received on a subject (Perceiving

Others). They can set up an expectation with the ability to influence the interpretation of later

information. However, the society of Pride and Prejudice gives proof that first impressions

are not everything. Likewise, modern humanity has demonstrated the ability to overcome first

impressions through psychological research as well as personal testimonies. The two

societies, both fictional and realistic, overcome first impressions by means of these three

elements: surprise, a pivot in character, and time.

The Element of Surprise. Since the brain is optimized to conserve energy, the brain will not

re-evaluate something if there is no reason to. Therefore, a way for an impression to change is

to have the element of surprise. One cannot expect to overturn an impression simply by subtle

gestures (Clark). Surprise functions as a method of preparation for an individual to effectively

deal with a sudden occurrence and the consequence of the event. It can perhaps be compared

to an alarm clock that suddenly shifts one from being asleep to being awake, the device that
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stops the sleeping stage and transfers the individual into waking up. Surprise is the immediate

moment that shifts an individuals first impression into another opinion. It causes the

individual to momentarily assume a blank state of mind (Izard 177). The element of surprise

is encountered in many contexts of society including the fictional setting of Pride and

Prejudice. Examples are Mr. Darcys unexpected marriage proposal or the alarming news of

Wickhams elopement with Lydia in Jane Austens novel. As a result of these surprising

events, specific characters in the story are led to a change in impression. Overcoming an

impression is also demonstrated in present-day reality in the form of a surprise.

Within the story of Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Darcys sudden marriage proposal to

Lizzy in Chapter 34 carries the plot to its peak. After Mr. Darcy confesses his feelings to

Lizzy, delivering one of his most famous lines in the storyYou must allow me to tell you

how ardently I admire and love you,Lizzys reaction is illustrated: Elizabeths

astonishment was beyond expression. She stared, coloured, doubted, and was silent (Austen

97). At that moment, everything she used to believe about Mr. Darcys feelings towards her is

rendered thoroughly false. She is appalled to learn that Mr. Darcy does not hate her, but in

fact is in love with her. She exclaims, Why with so evident a desire of offending and

insulting me, you chose to tell me that you like me against your will, against your reason, and

even against your character?(Austen 98). However, not only is Lizzy completely caught by

surprise by such a confession, Mr. Darcy is also taken aback as he has no expectation of

being rejected, as Austen writes, [Mr. Darcy] had no doubt of a favorable answer. He spoke

of apprehension and anxiety, but his countenance expressed real security (98). However,

Lizzys spiteful reply gives Mr. Darcy a different idea altogether: You are mistaken, Mr.

Darcy, [...] You could not have made the offer of your hand in any possible way that would

have tempted me to accept it, she said as Mr. Darcy looked on with an expression of
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mingled incredulity and mortification (Austen 99). Here, with two characters experiencing a

moment of surprise, impressions of each other are actively changing within them; one being

when Lizzy so surprisingly learns that Mr. Darcy is in love with her. This discovery ignites a

thought within Lizzy that perhaps whatever judgement she made about Mr. Darcy could be

utterly erroneous. Another change of impression occurs as Mr. Darcy realizes Lizzys

feelings towards him due to her unreserved discourse. His learning perhaps sheds light on

how he has not been acting appropriately but rather with too much pride and conceit.

The turn of events when Mr. Darcy presents Lizzy a letter giving an explanation to

Lizzys accusations that followed the proposal and confession of his feelings is one of the

most significant reasons towards a shift in impression in Pride and Prejudice. Lizzys

reaction towards the contents of Mr. Darcys letter was nothing short of surprised. Austen

writes, If Elizabeth, when Mr. Darcy gave her the letter, did not expect it to contain a

renewal of his offers, she had formed no expectation at all of its contents. But such as they

were, it may well be supposed how eagerly she went through them, and what a contrariety of

emotion they excited (104). As Lizzy reads the letter, she is overwhelmed by its contents.

The letter explains in full the two offenses of a very different nature, and by no means of

equal magnitude Lizzy charged to Mr. Darcy the night before (Austen 101). Mr. Darcys

letter ignites the first idea that he may not be the arrogant and disagreeable man he is

assumed to be. Lizzys eventual change of opinion towards Mr. Darcy is the key element that

makes the story. In addition, as the letter clarifies the reasons behind Mr. Darcys sour

relationship with Mr. Wickham, it leads Lizzys opinion of Mr. Wickham to shift as she is

now struck with the impropriety of such communications to a stranger, and she sees the

indelicacy of putting himself forward as he had done, and the inconsistency of his professions

with his conduct (Austen 106). Furthermore, she remembers that he had boasted of having
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no fear of seeing Mr. Darcythat Mr. Darcy might leave the country, but that he should

stand his ground; yet he had avoided the Netherfield ball the very next week (Austen 106).

As a result of Mr. Darcys unexpected letter, Lizzy not only realizes the misunderstandings

between her and Darcy but also begins to think differently of him as well as Mr. Wickham.

Further evidence involving a change in impression due to surprise is when Lizzy

receives alarming news that Wickham has eloped with her sister, Lydia. This occurs very

shortly after the letter from Mr. Darcy. The letter evoked in Lizzy a change of opinion

towards Wickham, but as a result of Wickhams unexpected execrable behavior with Lydia,

Lizzys initial admiration for Wickham is completely extinguished. Upon receiving the news,

her surprise is evident as she sits down, unable to support herself from her trembling knees

(Austen 139). Lizzys attraction to Wickham upon first impression is gone. Her idea of

attraction on a first interview with its object, and even before two words have been

exchanged has ill success (Austen 140). The ill success in her idea of attraction

indicates that her initial good impression of Wickham is no longer true.

The previous examples demonstrate both a positive and a negative change of

impression brought about by the element of surprise. Lizzys opinion of Mr. Darcy changes

from negative to positive whereas her opinion of Mr. Wickham changes from positive to

negative. In the context of modern society, it is also possible for both a positive and negative

change. An example of a negative cause of surprise that would change an impression of

someone would be the act of betrayal. Discovering an unfaithful marriage partner is a

situation demonstrating a surprising betrayal. Finding out that a friend acts differently around

others can also be surprising and leading to a change in impression in the sense that it alters

the original opinion held of the friend. It is seeing this friend in a different light. Depending

on the context, this can lead to either a positive or negative change. An example of a positive
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change would be when a normally shy person shows off a talent that changes your

perspective of them. It causes the realization that this person may have more qualities to

him/her than originally assumed. In sum, as a result of the element of surprise, impressions

are capable of changing for the better or worse.

A Pivot in Character. Overcoming first impressions through a pivot in ones character is

simply displaying a different side of ones usual character. In the context of Pride and

Prejudice, for example, Mr. Darcy begins to show kindness towards Lizzy instead of his

usual aloof personality. An example in a present-day setting would be when an individual

exhibits a more favorable character when on a first date but after a few dates changes in

character for certain reasons.

The main pivot in character observed in Pride and Prejudice is Mr. Darcys. As was

discussed earlier, during Mr. Darcys introduction in the novel, he is believed to be proud and

condescending (Austen 6). He regards Lizzys family as a lower class and looks down on

those not on his level. However, Mr. Darcy has a change of character further along in the

story as he realizes he has not been acting as gentlemanly as he should have. Lizzys

comment, had you behaved in a more gentlemanlike manner, serves as a wake-up call to

him, and he is greatly humbled by it (Austen 99). Subsequently, Mr. Darcy begins to act

differently, much nicer, friendlier, and more respectful. This happens when Lizzy goes to

visit Pemberley, Mr. Darcys home. She presumes he is out of town, but unexpectedly meets

him there. Mr. Darcys housekeeper reveals that he has always been a respectful man, that he

is never ill-tempered, and that he always treats everyone well. I have never known a cross

word from him in my life, the housekeeper says, and refers to him as the

sweetest-tempered, most generous-hearted boy in the world (Austen 125). However, Mr.
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Darcys shy personality causes him to take on a different character when he is in public, thus

giving off the wrong impression that he is a disagreeable man. His pivot in character causes

Lizzy to change her thoughts about him. She begins to want to spend more time with him.

Before that, she detested him and wanted to stay as far away from him as possible.

Another character that demonstrates a pivot in personality in the novel is Charlotte

Lucas, Lizzys best friend. She is known to be intelligent, practical, and patient which is why

her decision to marry Mr. Collins who is, in Lizzys words, a conceited, pompous,

narrow-minded, silly man, is so out of her character (Austen 71). When the news of

Charlottes marriage arrives, Mrs. Bennett is in disbelief, Mr. Bennett who originally thinks

Charlotte to be sensible is now as foolish as his wife, and more foolish than his daughter

(67). Lizzy can only think of how she is disgracing herself: she has sacrificed every better

feeling to worldly advantage (Austen 66). Charlotte the wife of Mr. Collins was a most

humiliating picture! Lizzy exclaims as she continues to reflect on the situation, believing

that it is impossible for Charlotte to be happy (Austen 66). Charlottes pivot of character to

Lizzy is the cause of Lizzy to not only think of Charlotte differently, but is also the push for

Lizzy to rethink what she has been doing, to understand better those people who have not

acted as she expected they would (317), as the critic Stuart Tave describes in his essay on

Austen called Limitations and Definitions. Regarding Lizzys change in character after

Charlottes marriage, he writes,

There was a time when she would not, for the sake of one individual, change the

meaning of principle and integrity or blur the line between selfishness and prudence

in matrimonial affairs. Now she is asking cynically what the difference is between the

mercenary and the prudent motive, and where does discretion end and avarice begin.
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Evidently, a pivot in character contributes to the changing of impressions within certain

characters in Pride and Prejudice (317).

A pivot in character can certainly aid in a good second impression. However, human

brains work in a way that cause first impressions to be very stubborn. In the article, A Social

Psychologist Explains how to Recover From Making a Horrible First Impression, Smith

writes, our brains are very good at ignoring information that contradicts what we already

believe, and at reinterpreting information so it fits with the belief you have." Therefore, one

pivot may not be enough to win someone over, especially when it comes to fixing a bad

impression. In fact, studies have shown that people apparently need to commit just a few

bad actions to appear substantively changed for the worse, but need to commit many good

actions to appear substantively changed for the better (Klein et al. 161). In other words, it is

easier to become a sinner than a saint (Klein et al. 156).

One experiment conducted by Klein and OBrein illustrates this claim. Participants of

the experiment were to decide how long it took for their perception of a subject named

Barbara to change. At her workplace, Barbara started off neutrally, but would occasionally

carry out positive or negative actionspositive being her giving compliments or holding

doors for people and the negative being her cutting in line and spreading gossip. The study

concludes that in order for Barbara to be regarded as a good person, she has to do nice things

for more consecutive weeks than the number of weeks she has to do bad things to become

bad (Klein et al. 152). All in all, making a good second impression takes persistence and

accountability. Showing a different side to ones own character for several months will be the

way to cause that shift in opinion. To make a bad second impression, on the other hand, is an

easier and faster process. However, no matter the circumstance, whether good or bad, long or

short, a pivot in character can lead to a change in impression.

 Ong 18

Time. Overcoming first impressions over time is the gradual shift that eventually leads to a

change in impression. This is perhaps the most basic method of overcoming an impression as

it is widely known that impressions are quick to form but slow to change. Consequently,

since it takes time to truly get to know someone, an impression can change over time if the

initial one is false. Additionally, impressions can change over time even without any forceful

effort.

Time can overcome the potentially lasting effects of first impressions in the societies

of both Pride and Prejudice and modern day. In the novel, as was mentioned earlier,

Charlotte Lucas is known to be intelligent, practical, and patient. However, her seeming pivot

in character as she decides to marry Mr. Collins causes Lizzy to think of her as foolish. Yet,

in the scheme of things, Lizzy learns that Charlottes pivot in character was not a pivot

after all. In fact, Charlottes decision is the result of her being too practical and intelligent.

She says so herself, Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance (Austen 12). Since

people tend to grow apart eventually, she reasons, it is best to know as little as possible about

the faults of the person you are thinking of marrying (Austen 12). Lizzy simply struggles to

take Charlotte seriously and to believe Charlotte when she acts on her own principles. Lizzy

reacts to Charlotte saying, You know it is not sound, and that you would never act in this

way yourself (Austen 12). Yet, Charlottes strong pragmatism overrides any desires of

happiness as she places priority in living comfortably as a married woman. Austen illustrates

Charlottes reasoning saying, Mr. Collins, to be sure, was neither sensible nor agreeable; his

society was irksome, and his attachment to her must be imaginary. But still he would be her

husband. Without thinking highly either of men or matrimony, marriage had always been her

object (65). By marrying Mr. Collins, she escapes becoming an old maid and is able to live
 Ong 19

decently as she believes marriage is the only provision for well-educated young women of

small fortune (Austen 65). Charlotte explains herself to Lizzy saying I am not romantic,

you know; I never was. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collinss

character, connection, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness is as

fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state (Austen 66). Only after

considering all of Charlottes reasons and visiting Charlottes new home after the wedding

does Lizzy finally understand and accept Charlottes decision. As Lizzy leaves Charlottes

home, she is happy to see Charlotte living well. She eventually understands that Charlotte

had chosen [this lifestyle] with her eyes open (Austen 110). In conclusion, Charlottes

character actually goes through two changes of impressions, one being caused by a pivot in

character, and the other is a shift back to the initial impression which is remedied over time.

Mr. Darcys difference in opinion of Jane in the beginning and the end of Pride and

Prejudice is another example of how time can lead a person to have a change in opinion of a

character. In the story, Mr. Darcy intentionally removes Mr. Bingley from interacting with

the Bennetts despite Jane and Mr. Bingley being supposedly in love. Mr. Darcy is aware of

Mr. Bingleys attraction to Jane as he states in his letter to Lizzy: I had not been long in

Hertfordshire before I saw, in common with others, that Bingley preferred your eldest sister

to any other young woman in the country. But it was not till the evening of the dance at

Netherfield that I had any apprehension of his feeling a serious attachment(Austen 101).

However, Mr. Darcy does not consider Jane in love. According to him, she is too kind and

smiles too much (Austen 10). This is why Mr. Darcy speculates she is being insincere

because her good nature is the same to Bingley as everyone else:

Her look and manners were open, cheerful, and engaging as ever, but without any

symptom of peculiar regard, and I remained convinced from the evening's scrutiny,
 Ong 20

that though she received his attentions with pleasure, she did not invite them by any

participation of sentiment.[...]However amiable her temper, her heart was not likely to

be easily touched (Austen 101).

In efforts to protect his friend, Mr. Darcy keeps Bingley far away from Jane in order to, in his

words, preserve my friend from what I esteemed a most unhappy connexion (Austen 102).

However, after some time of getting to know Jane, and hearing more about her true character

from Lizzy, Darcy realizes that he was wrong about Janethat she is actually too polite to

express her feelings. In this situation, Jane does not intentionally act in a way that portrays

disinterest, yet she is still misunderstood. However, it is the good effect of time that allows

Mr. Darcy to get to know Jane better and correct his impression of her.

In modern society, Dorie Clark exemplifies a change in impression over time through

her experience of meeting a woman at a conference. In a Harvard Business Review article

4 Ways to Overcome a Bad First Impressionshe writes, A slightly cynical New Yorker,

she thought I seemed too positiveand therefore somewhat fake. Clark goes on to explain

that, upon their first meeting, Dorie did not do anything to purposely make the woman think

of her as fake, but it was the woman who projected her past experiences onto Dorie. As a

result, an incorrect impression was formed. It was only after knowing me for several years

that she determined it wasnt a faade; thats actually how I was, Dorie concludes.

Unfortunately, a first impression can always have the potential of being false. It takes

time to know someone, and even after decades, most cannot even say they truly know

someone. Time, however, has the power to transform even the most stubborn of opinions.

CONCLUSION
 Ong 21

Without a doubt, first impressions are quick to form and impossible to undo. In a split

second, practically everything about a persons character is already assumed, such as their

trustworthiness, competence, and aggressiveness. Furthermore, in the quick event of forming

an impression, the perception process involves three steps the brain undergoes to form an

impression: selection, organization, and interpretation. At the end of the process, the brain

assigns meaning to the new information received and stores it in a form of the brains

database. By having this database of stored experiences, humans can constantly refer back to

it and filter perceptions made before, during, and after interactions in order to better interpret

the world. This is essentially how impressions function.

There are many opportunities for the forming of a first impression. Whether it is

meeting someone for the first time at a ball or making an acquaintance at a workplace, the

first impression will certainly influence the nature of future interactions. A positive first

impression can set the relationship up for more pleasant encounters. A negative first

impression can cause disinterest which potentially leads to an uncomfortable relationship or

may not even lead to a relationship at all. Yet, despite first impressions possessing such

enduring effects, they are not immune to revision by reason. These reasons can be observed

in the form of surprise, a pivot in character, and time. The society of Jane Austens Pride and

Prejudice, exemplifies the overcoming of impressions through such means. The relationships

between Mr. Darcy and Lizzy Bennet, Lizzy Bennet and Mr. Wickham, as well as Mr.

Bingley and Jane Bennett are all demonstrations of this ability to overcome. Modern

situations also propose similar circumstances of overcoming impressions through

psychological research as well as through personal accounts such as Dorie Clarks.

From this discussion, it is possible to expand and explore areas that this study leads

to. One exploration to propose is concerning the characters within Pride and Prejudice and
 Ong 22

how they not only leave impressions on other characters in the story, but also on the readers

themselves. Questions to ask could be, What roles do impressions play between the fictional

characters and the readers? and At what instances in the story might readers experience a

change in impression for themselves?. Surely the readers will agree that, despite the

potentially lasting effects of first impressions, they have been and can still be overcome as a

result of a surprise, a pivot in character, or simply over time.

 Ong 23

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