Final answer:
First impressions are hard to change due to the fundamental attribution error, where we attribute others' behaviors to their dispositions rather than to situational factors, reinforced by actor-observer bias, which influences how we interpret our own versus others' actions.
Step-by-step explanation:
First impressions are difficult to change because we interpret others' behaviors through the lens of fundamental attribution error, which involves situational and dispositional influences on behavior. As observers, we are prone to attribute people's actions to their disposition, or internal character traits, rather than to external, situational factors. This is because we have less information about the context of their behavior and readily accessible cues about their apparent disposition. In contrast, when considering our own behavior, we often have more context and are therefore more likely to recognize the impact of situational factors.
The concept of actor-observer bias explains the tendency to attribute our own actions more to situations while attributing others' actions more to dispositional factors. This bias towards internal explanations for others' behaviors, which is core to the fundamental attribution error, makes it challenging to update our initial judgments when new, situational information arises.
Understanding these psychological processes can aid us in becoming more mindful of the potentially limited accuracy of our first impressions and in striving to be open to new information about others' situations that may warrant a revised view.