Coined by psychologist Edward Thorndike in 1920, “The Halo Effect” helps us explain how a strong first impression or perceived relation among characteristics leads us to view other individuals as more perfect than they may be. Similarly, the “horns effect” works inversely, allowing for one negative characteristic to sour an overall impression of someone. Together, these terms help explain how biases form, whether influenced by past experience or cultural traditions. While we are all victims of our circumstances, we can always make an active attempt at finding ways to reduce our bias in many contexts including education, the workplace, relationship, and business. Developing objective ways of measuring one’s behavior or potential will be key to fostering an environment that lifts people up for only their best characteristics.

Links for Today:

https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-halo-effect-2795906

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/intentional-insights/201908/are-you-falling-unconscious-bias

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/halo-effect#:~:text=The%20halo%20effect%20is%20a,the%20individual%20as%20a%20whole.&text=For%20example%2C%20an%20attractive%20individual,not%20that%20assessment%20is%20warranted

https://youtu.be/T_SN4FouFn8

https://onlinelibrary-wiley-com.ezproxy.lib.uconn.edu/doi/pdfdirect/10.1111/jopy.12546

https://www.healthline.com/health/halo-effect#medicine

https://smallbusiness.chron.com/examples-halo-effect-workplace-11522.html

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