Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-05-15
NAMES AND FACES
Bv H. 'AddingtOn Bruce

ITO have poor memory for names and faces
is real handicap success. And there
are many people thus troubled some to an
almost incredible degree.
| was strongly reminded of this recently by the
statement of personal friend. He had spent the
evening with me and with another friend of mine
whom he had not met before After this second
friend had left the first said to
II have enjoyed meeting Mr.. Blank, and hope
to meet him again. But I'm afraid won't know
him unless he speaks to me- tells me who he is,
and recalls this pleasant evening. Ask him to do
that and not to feel offended if ! seem to cut him
when next meet.
You see" he went on Il have frightfully
weak memory Tor names and faces. | must see
man quite frequently before I can be sure of re-
Numbering him. Otherwise both his name and his
features fade from my mind
My friend added that this memory defect had
caused him many unpleasant situations. He re-
GREETED it exceedingly, yet did not see now II
could be helped
As matter of fact. however all men who are
similarly troubled by memory weakness with
spect to either names or faces. or both names and
faces. greatly help themselves if only they viii
take little trouble.
They need to appreciate, first of all, that one
of the fundamental laws of memory is that any
impression is better remembered in proportion as
it is vivid and is closely attended to- Quite evil
IDENTIFY names and faces make no vivid impression
on the minds of these forgetful ones, nor do they
attend to them closely enough.
To obtain increased vividness of impression
they will find it helpful, whenever they are intro
duced to anybody. to repeat ais name aloud at the
same time looking at him directly and attentvey'
Instead of merely saying in perfunctory way,
Glad to meet you" let them say heartily, GLAD
to meet you, Mr.. JONES' whatever the name
may be. If they have not clearly caught the
strangers name. they should make sure OF IL at
once. by asking him the introducer just What
his name is. -,
Also they should mentally link his name with
the introducer's, should make mental note OF the
place of meeting, and should also note mentally
any particular topic of discussion. In this way D!
multiplying associated ideas, they will make the
first impression vivid and complete
Next at the earliest opportunity, they snould
Tot down in a notebook carried for the purpose
the items they have mentally noted. Thus:
"Mr. Jones. Introduced by Mr. Brown Az
the Luncheon Club. Talked of business and golf
That night, before retiring they should look at
this memorandum, and recall all the clrcum-
stances dwelling especially on the name ana ap-
pearance of the man they have met. In the morn
ing they should again do this, and should DO II at
intervals for some time.
The effect will be to help fix the desired mem
orv-image in their mind by frequency OF repetlton
AS a result, when they next meet the man In ques-
ton they will not be embarrassed by their olu-
time forgetfulness. ~,
Moreover, by adopting this methoo theg VIII
in time find themselves less and less dependent on
their notebook For they will be training their
minds unconsciously to record names and races IN
the improved way they have been recording them
consciously. -,
To be sure. they may first have to- serve a long
and paient apprenticeship in the conscious record
ing But if they really wish to improve their mem
DRY for names and faces they will gladly serve tns
apprenticeship.