primacy effect

The primacy effect is a psychological phenomenon where people tend to remember the first items or information they encounter better than those in the middle or at the end. For example, when hearing a list of names, you’re more likely to recall the first few names more accurately. This occurs because initial information has more opportunity to be encoded into long-term memory, while subsequent information may be less likely to be retained quickly. The primacy effect is important in areas like advertising, education, and personal interactions, as it influences how we form impressions and remember key details.