 
First Impressions
How can you make a good first impression?
According to research, on meeting a new person it takes just three
seconds for us to form a judgement about them.
This may seem harsh, but we're all guilty of it. Let's face it,
three seconds is all it takes to notice how someone looks, acts,
speaks and moves. So the last time you met someone and felt that
you just "didn't click", you probably felt this almost instantly.
What's more, first impressions last, making it all the more vital
that you come across well straight away.
So there was a lot of pressure on our eight Teen Big Brother housemates
when they entered the House for the first time - never had they
been in a such a situation where ensuring those around them instantly
like them was more important. After all, they're stuck in there
for a week!
But who coped best with that pressure? Who exuded friendliness
without seeming desperate; confidence without appearing arrogant
and good-humour without seeming to try too hard?
Caroline had the advantage of being the first in, allowing her
to find her feet and take in her surroundings. This meant that she
was already getting used to the House by the time Hasan arrived.
She managed to convey this confidence successfully as Hasan exclaimed:
"Wow! Are you the first?" to which she replied: "Yeah, I've been
dancing round and everything."
This conveyed the sense that she felt at home in her surroundings,
but equally, he conveyed back to her a sense of excitement about
being there. Excitement, in low levels, is generally engaging on
a first meeting.
The first two then took a huge risk by jumping out and surprising
the next housemate, Jade as she descended the famous stairs. Playing
practical jokes too early on can fly back in a person's face. But
Jade took it in her stride, concealing her nervousness and deflecting
attention away from herself by commenting on the House itself: "It's
smaller than I thought," she offered.
While doing this, however, she neglected to engage in a personal
manner with either Caroline or Hasan. If someone plays a prank,
they want to be laughed at and when you meet someone for the first
time, being looked in the eye as they say, "Nice to meet you," goes
a long way.
Which was exactly what James did so well. "Nice to meet you all,"
he said politely. Sure, it's not the most memorable of entrances
but it won't make you any enemies.
Paul, Shaneen and Tracey probably gave the best first impressions.
They all employed the same tactic - endearing themselves to people
by admitting that they were scared, and therefore exposing vulnerability.
Tommy's entrance was borderline confident/arrogant, breezing in
with: "Yo! What's going on, guys?" Again, this could have easily
riled the more nervous among them.
But however well or badly a first impression is made, perceptions
can still do a U-turn at any moment…
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