Primacy effect
Memory effect
The first items in a list or sequence are remembered better than those in the middle, partly because they get more attention and mental rehearsal. Early information can also shape how we judge what follows.
In everyday life
After a waiter recites eight specials, the first two are the only ones you can still name when ordering.
After a long day of job interviews, the hiring panel can describe the opening candidate in detail, while everyone who came after, including the final one, blurs together.
Why your mind does this
We cannot hold every moment of an experience or every item in a list in mind. The brain keeps a few standout pieces, such as the most intense moment, the ending, or the first and last items, and lets them stand for the whole. This makes memories compact and quick to use.
Its family, in 30 seconds: Key elements
How to spot it
Ask whether you favor an option mainly because it was the first one you saw or heard.
What you can do
When comparing several options, go through them again in a different order before deciding.
Same family: Key elements
SourcesRundus (1971)·Wikipedia