​​People judge you within seconds, say psychologists- here’s what they notice first​

First impressions are formed faster than people think. According to psychologists, humans instinctively make fast social assessments when they meet new people within just a few moments before having a conversation. Impressions like this can have an effect on friendship, business relations, hiring processes, and many other types of interaction. Though not completely correct, scientists say there are particular behaviors and styles of communication that greatly influence the initial perception. Moreover, people do not judge others based on their appearance but mostly rely on their emotions, such as confidence, attentiveness, and body language. Here are five aspects psychologists say people pay special attention to when they get to know someone for the first time.

Experts believe that posture, eye contact, facial expression, and movements significantly influence first impressions and often make up people's perceptions before the conversation starts. Open body position, relaxed shoulders, and natural eye contact show confidence, openness, and friendliness, while averting the look and feeling uneasy may make people think one feels nervous and uninterested. Scientists say body language acts as an efficient nonverbal means of communication because people subconsciously recognise emotional signals incredibly fast.

Experts say that tone of voice has a similar power as a message. The way someone says something affects his or her emotional state and overall perception in terms of confidence. Speaking at a calm pace and showing emotional balance often makes people trustful because it gives them the impression of a professional and competent individual. On the contrary, talking too fast or showing aggression may have the opposite effect. Subconsciously, people analyze vocal patterns of others quickly enough in most cases.

According to experts, emotional state affects social behaviour because humans respond to each other's emotions almost instantaneously and naturally. If someone demonstrates calmness, attentiveness, and balance, he or she will likely create a pleasant environment rather than irritate others. Moreover, experts claim emotional energy spreads among humans through social interactions. For example, people may find themselves remembering how another person influenced their mood much better than what was said during the conversation.

Many people put a lot of effort into speaking skills, but good listening ability creates a much stronger impression. People easily realise when someone listens to them with interest, patience, and enthusiasm. Constant interruptions, looking at one's phone, and being absent-minded all leave the impression of disrespectful behavior and show that people are not attentive. Experts say good listening means high emotional intelligence and the ability to be socially responsive, which both play a key role in friendships and professional contacts.

Authenticity has become a hot topic nowadays because experts note that people prefer sincere and natural behavior rather than forced perfectionism. Showing great efforts to impress other people might not give the right impression. Instead, people tend to pay attention to sincere attitude, comfort, and naturalness when getting to know somebody for the first time. Experts claim that people usually understand authenticity, which is why it increases feelings of trustfulness combined with confidence.