The halo effect is the tendency for an initial impression of a person to influence what we think of them overall. Also known as the “physical attractiveness stereotype” or the “what is beautiful is ‘good’ principle” we are either influenced by or use the halo to influence others almost every day.
For example:
- Thinking people who are good-looking are also smarter, kinder, and funnier than less attractive people
- Believing that products marketed by attractive people are also more valuable
- Thinking that a political candidate who is confident must also be intelligent and competent
One factor that may influence the halo effect is our tendency to want to be correct. If our initial impression of someone was positive, we want to look for proof that our assessment was accurate. It also helps people avoid experiencing cognitive dissonance, which involves holding contradictory beliefs.