Primacy effect

Better memory for the first few items in a list than for the items in the middle.

  • Ex: Remembering the first two people introduced at a party but not the four after them.
  • Ex: Recalling the opening scene of a movie more clearly than the middle.
  • Ex: Remembering the first store you visited on a long shopping trip.

Last updated: September 17, 2026 at 8:39 AM