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Nice to meet you! ... What's your name again?
Tired of finding yourself in that awkward situation where you recognize someone's face, yet you can't recall their name? New research in Psychological Science sheds some light on the phenomenon.
Scientists recently discovered that a face's features, more than the entire face per se, are the key to recognizing a person.
"In the past, it was believed that we look at faces holistically in order to recognize the face," says Jason M. Gold, coauthor of the study and associate professor of psychology at Indiana University. "But surprisingly, we found that the whole was not greater than the sum of its parts."
But how can you put this ability to hone in on features to good use? We reached out to Scott Hagwood, author of Memory Power and four-time National Memory Champion, to teach you how to utilize that memory of yours and never forget a name again.
Wordplay
The key to remembering someone's name is making a connection between their name and something that you can easily remember, says Hagwood. So right off the bat, see if the name itself does the work for you. Alliteration and rhyming can be very helpful, says Hagwood. For example, you remember Lucy due to her luscious lips (alliteration), or you were introduced to Cole, who has a large facial mole (rhyming).
Form a trigger
Let's say you meet "Henry," yet this isn't the first "Henry" you know. Since you have an old Henry in mind, try to form a connection between the new Henry's features and the original Henry, says Hagwood. By drawing this parallel, this conditions the brain to use that feature as a memory trigger. A weak example: Both men have short hair. "Since hair styles can frequently change, it's not the wisest choice to make connections to," says Hagwood. A better method: Pick something you despise about old Henry and compare it to the new. Maybe Old Henry has absolutely horrible skin, yet the new once looks like he just stepped out of a Clinique ad.
A simple way to get an individual's name to go hand in hand with their face is to say their name aloud in conversation. This technique practices mindfulness and can condition your brain to associate the sound of their name to their face, says Hagwood. Just don't overdo the repetition, otherwise the interaction feels forced.
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Leave a Comment:
Well, all I have to say is...wait...what was I commenting on?
So you "despise" Henry for his bad skin? It's not his fault, what did he ever do to you? This article is cruel.
I'll, for ever remember Trdbrglr, for he is never cruel - and he smells like he steals turds.
yawn...i suggest less alcohol will solve this dilemma. stupid story and am sorry i wasted 3 minutes of my day in even reading it, let alone posting a comment.
Who, who are you, again ? LOL Not remembering someone's name might be a good thing sometimes !
Now if I could only write the name on their forehead with indelible ink I just might remember.
Meh, I just call everyone I meet dick head anyhow.
*sigh* I held out the mad hope that this article might be helpful. Silly me.
Me too. Bummer, man.
Why is this in the "Men's Health" section?
How about just being a mature adult & maybe asking the person their name? I too usually forget names of people that I've only met once or twice or haven't seen in awhile. I'm really not offended when people ask my name again. At least they're trying to be sure they have my name right & will tend to remember it from then.
Word and number association are the key to remembering anything.
I actually wrote the paper in Psychological Science that this article refers to. It has absolutely nothing to do with remembering people's names. Something clearly got lost in translation. Oh well.
I introduced a guy I was dating to my mother, and in my efforts to remember his name, I forgot hers!
Stuff happens.
I don't buy any of this (and I didn't buy it the first 400 times I heard it, either). I know exactly why I don't "remember" peoples' names, and so I know exactly the remedy for it. I don't "remember" them because I invariably don't make the extra effort to listen when they introduce themselves. It may be that I'm concentrating on giving a proper handshake (not "missing" and giving a "woman handshake" inadvertently). If I listen, and confirm (repeat) it, I've got it. And, if I don't, a simple, "I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name" works pretty well.
The correct term is "HOME" in. As in a homing pigeon or device that can find it's way.
Yoshi
I've always found that I have a much easier time remembering names if they are unusual names. Maybe it's just because I only know one of them? Like I still remember three of the girls from my little sister's Brownie troop (even though we're all adults now)... Irish, Maha and Madonna. Couldn't tell you what any of the other girls' names were. I probably couldn't have told you then. And the first person I remembered in high school was a guy named Jelani.
New research in psychological science? I did a paper on this for an English class in the early 70's- same sort of stuff. I guess they didnt say how new!
The powerful impresssion made by remembering the names of those one meets and then sees only occasionally - as in a sales position - should not be underestimated. If there is any possiblity the name has multiple spellings, ask the individual to spell it. HOME in on and 'see' the letters in the air as they say them. Taking the time to ask and remembering the name six weeks down the road never cost anyone an account... ^_^
I think it's important to remember people and their names. I have met many people over my life and remember each and every one of their names. More often than not, I remember where I met them, the time of year and (almost) the date I met them. There are many times I do not see people for years, and I still remember their names. No, I do not work in sales or any similar job. Does the fact that I am the theatre help, probably, but not likely. I have had this gift since I was a child and well before I thought about being an actor. I manage two theatre companies and with that comes many patrons, and I remember each of their names. Those who say that this article is a waste of time, too bad. Obviously, not remembering anyone is alright with you. Not remembering a person's name/face once in a while - that happens. I do not do anything special to remember any person's name. It just happens that I do remember them. It is a powerful impression to remember them - everyone wants to be remembered.
Carline?? Who's Carline?
You know, she's the one with the big...
OH YEAAAAAH!
Classic example of body part association for males lol
Madelaine Haller ? Who ? "...tips from a memory expert..." ??? Is she a PhD from Indiana U ?? How long has she been practicing medicine ? HTF can MSNBC pick up this drivel from some phuching crap-azzed rag (Men'sHealth????? Ha Ha) published in cow country Emmaus where the only thing to DO is jog, fer khryzzakes ??!!
Do yer homework, clowns; this little twip can't be 23 years old if she left IU last year and has been w/MH for maybe 8 months ?? (sorry, girlie, not picking on YOU for ur little witty epigram; but the 'sages' at MSNBC who chose this to headline on their website, proclaiming you to be the next Amazing Kreskin ). Bye, bye, Michele.
Who the hell is named Lucy anymore? This isn't Charlie Brown...
And Cole? Associating it with the mole on his face? How long before you call him "Mole" and piss him off, probably getting shot in your car in the parking lot of a Waffle House...
Here's an idea for remembering names:
Oh wait... I forgot... sorry...