Names and faces are a big challenge for many people. In fact, several studies show that about 85% of middle-aged and elderly adults have difficulty remembering the names or faces of new acquaintances. Some remember the name but cannot give it a face, others recognize the face but cannot recall the name. It's frustrating and embarrassing, however it's not a no-brainer - with some specific techniques and mental training you can improve the memorization of names and faces.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Remembering Names
Step 1. Focus on the names
Simple lack of attention is one of the reasons we tend to forget names. After all, you may have a lot of things to do. You may be at a party with a lot of people you don't know; you may be on the first day of a new job and feel nervous. Sometimes we don't listen carefully enough. That said, try to focus your energy on people's names when you meet them. Make a conscious effort.
Also, make sure you hear the name clearly. Ask the person to repeat it, if you misunderstood it the first time. It may seem embarrassing, but it will save you the added embarrassment of forgetting
Step 2. Meet, greet and repeat
One way to memorize a person's name is to use it in the first few words of the conversation. Repeat the name several times in the sentences you pronounce, making sure you say it correctly. So when you say goodbye or break up, repeat it again. The repetition will help the name stay in your mind.
- Say something like: "Hi Catherine, it's very nice to meet you. Now, Catherine, how long have you been working here?".
- Asking a person's name is another way to repeat it during a conversation. For example: "I'm very happy to meet you, Federica. Do you let your friends call you 'Faith'?" or "I really like your name, Sveva. Where does the name Sveva come from? ".
Step 3. Spell
Asking a new acquaintance to spell out your name is a good idea, especially if it's long or unusual. You might also consider asking for a business card and taking a look at the name as you speak. If you have a visual memory, this technique can provide great results.
- You might say something like this: "Tayssa, you have a very original name. How do you spell Tayssa? Do you happen to have a business card, Tayssa?"
- Repetition, once again, is key. Try saying the name several times during the conversation.
Step 4. Make family connections
Look at the person's face and try to create some kind of mental association with their name. Suppose you have just met a person named Fabrizio, who has beautiful rosy lips. Remembering that trait, you might start calling it "Rose Mouth" in your head to better remember it. “Bocca di rosa” = Fabrizio De André = Fabrizio.
- The secret to remembering through visual images is to create a link in your mind between the face and the name. It doesn't have to be a unique feature, it could also be that "Fabio" reminds you of your uncle or you can link a certain song to your new colleague "Rita".
- Creating visual images forces you to invest time in creating a link, which reinforces your memory of the name and face.
Step 5. Create an association
Just as you connect a person's name to something or someone you already know, you can also try to create a mental image or device to associate with a name. These links should be easy to remember and make it easier to recall the name.
- One idea is to use alliteration, as if it were a play on words. For example, you might remember your colleague Carlo by labeling him (in your head, of course) Carlo Cartella or Pietro from the marketing office as Pietro Piemonte.
- There is also the possibility of creating a mental association. If you meet a Greek man named Georgos, you might for example imagine him dancing the sirtaki.
Step 6. Create clues
Look, say hello, repeat and then look again! It takes some time to put a name in long-term memory. The more you use a name and the more you work on it, the sooner you will be able to memorize it. You may want to consider creating clues, for example by writing a list of the people in your book club and reviewing it until you have memorized the names.
People who deal with many names - such as managers and teachers - sometimes find it helpful to have a list available. You could also insert images next to names, or write down identifying traits. For example: “Luigi. Majoring in history. Wear horn glasses. He is passionate about the Napoleonic period”. This way you match the name with a mental and personal image of the student, which will give you a living snapshot of the person
Part 2 of 3: Remembering the Faces
Step 1. Choose a unique stroke
Studies show that people generally have less difficulty remembering faces than names. Our brains are better at handling visual data. So picking a face out of the crowd should be easier than remembering a name. One way to do this is to focus on a characteristic, a unique or familiar trait.
- Study the eyes, hair, nose, mouth, complexion, hairline, ears, and any other facial features.
- Choose an exceptional trait, for example: "Simona's earlobes are attached to her head" or "Sergio has a big mole on his chin". You could also focus on family: for example, Antonio perhaps reminds you of your uncle.
Step 2. Associate the face with a strange visual detail
This technique is interesting and fun. When you meet someone new, create an original or strange visual cue, perhaps focusing on specific physical characteristics. For example, for a person named "Nelson" you might first make an association with Nelson Mandela and then, since Nelson has a big nose, imagine a tiny Nelson Mandela inside one of his nostrils.
This technique may sound a bit silly and, in fact, it is; indeed, the point is stupidity. The more exaggerated the image, the more likely you are to remember it, as well as the person's face and name
Step 3. Connect the face to the name
To connect a person's face and name, repeat, repeat, repeat. Use the name when talking to her, watching her carefully. When you say goodbye, recall the name and face it together. How do you remember names, slips of paper or a list will help you. In this way you can form mental devices such as word games or pictures. Remember: the more you associate a name with a face, the more likely it is to imprint them in your memory.
Part 3 of 3: Train Your Memory
Step 1. Make learning people's names a priority
Some people have a harder time remembering names and faces than others. A small percentage of people are "super recognizers" and remember a face for years. Women are usually better at this than men. However, we can all improve with commitment. Make a conscious effort to train your memory. There are many ways to reinforce memories, not just of names and faces.
First of all, pay attention. Whether it's names, faces, addresses or whatever, we process information very quickly. You must be ready to receive them. It takes about 8 seconds of concentration to impress the information in our memory. You have to pay attention to learn and remember something
Step 2. Use mnemonic devices
Memory devices are tools that help us remember, usually through associations of ideas. There are many ways to form a mnemonic device. You can use words, letters, rhymes or visual images. The more original it is, the easier it will be to recall the information.
- An "acrostic" is a sentence or word in which the first letters (or syllables) of each word give life to what you want to remember. For example, many use the term "Freezing" to remember the books of the Pentateuch in the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.
- An "acronym" is a phrase that uses the first letter of a series of other words. For example, many people remember the names of the Alps with the acronym "But with great pain brings them down": Marittime, Cozie, Graie, Pennine …
- Rhymes and puns can also be helpful. How many days are there in each month? Just remember the nursery rhyme: "Thirty days has November, with April, June and September …"
Step 3. Play
Mental activity will keep your brain awake and limber, just like exercise will keep your body healthy and vigorous. Try games that stimulate short and long-term memory, such as crosswords and sudokus. “Simon says” and “Memory” are also excellent memory games.
- Other activities that you may not consider games also require memory. Do you sing in a choir or play an instrument? Playing a song by heart is a great mental exercise.
- Playing chess is an excellent way to train memory, as well as logic and problem solving. In a 1985 study, students who played chess were shown to have better memory and organization skills.
Step 4. Use different senses
People prefer to use different ways to learn information. Some of us do it visually; others learn best by reading or listening. Try using different senses to better imprint things on your mind.
- For example, the act of writing a name by hand stimulates the brain in several ways: you revise the name, think about it, and your body creates a physical memory of the act of writing. This is why taking notes with a pen or pencil can be more effective than doing it with a computer.
- Try to relate information to colors, scents, textures, or even flavors. If you learn best by reading, read aloud to stimulate your sense of hearing at the same time.
