The Psychology of SalesmanshipAtkinson, William Walker
Science
The Psychology of Salesmanship
Atkinson, William Walker
Selling -- Psychological aspects
What we have said so far has reference to the stage of First Impression,
which followed the preliminary stage of Involuntary Attention which was
caused by your presence. The purpose of the favorable First Impression
is to make the way easy for the real process of selling which is to
follow. The principle of First Impression rests upon the associated
experience of the buyer, and its effect arises from suggestion. The
hasty, general idea or impression of the Salesman's personality, which
we call the First Impression, is almost unconscious on the part of the
prospect, and is due largely to the suggestion of association. That is,
the prospect has met other people manifesting certain characteristics,
and has fallen into the habit of hasty generalization, or classification
of people in accordance with certain traits of appearance, manner, etc.
This is the operation of the psychological principle of the Association
of Ideas, and may be influenced by what is known as the Suggestion of
Association. The following quotation from the volume of this series
entitled "Suggestion and Auto-Suggestion," will make clearer this
principle:
"This form of Suggestion is one of the most common phases. It is found
on all sides, and at all times. The mental law of association makes it
very easy for us to associate certain things with certain other things,
and we will find that when one of the things is recalled it will bring
with it its associated impression. * * * We are apt to associate a
well-dressed man, of commanding carriage, travelling in an expensive
automobile, with the idea of wealth and influence. And, accordingly,
when some adventurer of the 'J. Rufus Wallingford' type travels our way,
clad in sumptuous apparel, with the air of an Astorbilt, and a $10,000
(hired) automobile, we hasten to place our money and valuables in his
keeping, and esteem ourselves honored by having been accorded the
privilege."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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