Primacy effect

When connected material is encountered the interpretation of the later material is coloured by the earlier.

The order in which different pieces of evidence are encountered can affect how the pieces of evidence are weighed and the strength of beliefs after having been exposed to the evidence – such that even though neither piece of evidence is more compelling in relation to some claim or issue, the first-encountered evidence may be weighed more heavily than its probative value warrants.

(see also: Prior Entry effect, cf. Recency effect)

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