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Open any self-help book and somewhere inside you will find this truism: You never get a second chance to make a first impression. No one can argue that each of us, entering into a new or unfamiliar situation, will be judged first on our appearance before any other factors can be entertained.

Many lament that this is unfair but, is it really?

It is true that when we judge others by their appearance we are being prejudicial. Prejudice simply means to prejudge based on generalized knowledge or to form an opinion before mitigating facts are introduced. By definition it is prejudicial to cross the street simply because you see an unrestrained pit bull standing close to your current path. Prejudicial, but prudent.

One of the first factors triggering prejudicial reactions in those we meet is the "uniform" we choose to wear. Make no mistake, we all are in uniform each time we venture out into the public. The title of the book about the IBM corporation, "The Man in the Grey Flannel Suit," refers to the uniform worn by IBM reps.

If you walk into a supermarket and see a fellow shopper dressed in scrubs, you immediately assume they are in the medical profession. This may or may not be the case as many child care workers also wear scrubs while on duty.

If you find yourself having a late evening burger at the local fast food establishment and two young men, dressed in hip-hop fashion, come in and one loiters near the door while the other one approaches the counter you will have a different visceral reaction than if the same two men came in dressed preppy casual. While their mode of dress obviously does not speak to their intent, it will cause the viewer to have a prejudicial reaction.

We all judge and are judged by appearance. This is true without regard to whether we consider it a positive or a negative facet of human nature. If, in mid December, you see someone dressed as Santa Claus going into a convenience store you don't immediately assume that he is intent on robbing the place. Subsequent events might prove you wrong but such a suspicion would not be your first reaction.

The upside to all of this, and the true importance of appearance in society comes when we begin to realize that we can control the initial reactions to our appearance simply by controlling the way we look. It all comes down to the "uniforms."

The word itself simply means "one form." Uniforms are adopted by groups of people who, for one reason or another, feel the need to adopt a group identity. Police

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