The tendency for raters to focus on general impressions rather than specific traits is known as?

The halo tendency refers to the cognitive bias where a person's overall impression of an individual influences the perception of that individual's specific traits or abilities. When raters assess people—such as police personnel—they may allow a positive or negative general impression to overshadow specific behaviors or performance metrics. For instance, if a supervisor has a favorable view of an officer due to their appearance or demeanor, they might overlook specific areas where that officer could improve or perform poorly. This can lead to skewed evaluations that do not accurately reflect an individual’s competencies or specific behaviors.

In the context of personnel evaluations, being aware of the halo tendency is crucial for supervisors. It reminds them to strive for objectivity and to focus on tangible evidence and performance metrics, rather than allowing their perceptions to be clouded by general feelings or impressions. Reducing the influence of the halo tendency helps ensure fair and balanced evaluations that better guide development and training needs.