Serial position effect

When primary effect (English primacy effect, even primacy effect) is a psychological memory phenomenon. The effect says that is better remembered to incoming information earlier rather than later in-depth information.

The reason is that this information can easily be absorbed into long-term memory, as no information is received, interfere with the Abspeicherungsprozess in long-term memory ( consolidation) and could adversely affect him.

In a broader sense, the primary effect is a phenomenon that can occur in assessments. Previously, incoming information may have a stronger effect on the setting than later incoming information. One example is the obtained assessment: " That man there is selfish ". Even if this then shows up friendly, open and helpful, such behavior would probably not be used for the accommodation of the original setting, but rather interpreted as " slimes ". This particular form of the primary effect is the first impression. It also acts as an error of assessment in interviews and psychological tests when the first questions have an influence on the later questions and answers. This effect is sometimes particularly resistant setting.

The primary effect is offset by the so-called Rezenzeffekt in the later incoming information receives more weight ( Primacy - recency effect). Overall, it always depends on the situation, which of the two effects more pronounced. With longer chains the reproduction of information, however, are generally more likely to first and last terms reminiscent learned (see the serial position curve Atkinson & Shiffrin, 1968).