Ted, Sharon, and Bob were a committee chosen to hire a salesperson for the company where they worked. Gary, who on paper looked to be a very strong applicant, started out his interview by making an inappropriate comment regarding Sharon's appearance. Despite the fact that the rest of the interview was outstanding, Ted, Sharon, and Bob could not re-direct their focus away from Gary's initial comment. Later, when discussing Gary's interview, no one could recall anything other than the opening statement. This might be an example of__________

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is an example of the primacy effect, which is the tendency to remember the first information presented in a series. Gary's inappropriate comment made a strong first impression on the committee members, and they could not recall much of the rest of his interview.

Ted, Sharon, and Bob Were a Committee Chosen to Hire