What's your name?

In a recent post about learning I said I had a bad memory. One thing I've always had a hard time with is remembering people's name. Turns out, just like my onion problem, there is a solution.

I've found out why not too long ago. Without going into details, first I don't know them all and secondo memory is way too complex to discuss in a small blog like this. What we need to know is that our brain likes to memorize things using connections.

You know how sometimes you'll smell an odor and a memory instantly comes to mind. Freshly cooked apple pie could remind you of your mother doing some when you where only a child. The music of your first kiss. Those are strong connections. But just go through your memory and you'll see that everything is connected, it can be to an image, a sound, a smell or a feeling.

So what does that has to do with remembering people's names? The exact same thing happens with people's name. The first time you encounter someone, your brain identify that person to a "human being" possibly a male or a female. As you interact with that "human being" some features starts to come out. You notice its dark hair, its posture, its blue eyes etc. The more details you see the more that "human being" starts to be an individual in your head. At one point, some features will differentiate that "human being" from other "human beings" you know. Only once it's singled out from your general perception of a "human being" can your brain starts to make those connections which will enable you to connect a name, car, home and anything you want to link to that person.

Since the name of a person is usually given at a very early stage of an encounter at a time when that person is still seen as a general "human being" in your brain. Then the link to it's name is lost because it could not be connected to anything tangible in your brain.

So being able to memorize names has nothing to do with memory but a lot to do with observation. From the first sight to the "Hi, my name's Henry" handshake you must observe, Henry in this case, and single out some features which will make sure you'll remember Henry for Henry. A blue shirt would not work since John can also wear a blue shirt and there are good chances Henry have shirts of other colors. It must be something specific to that person, a trait

I know I'm not the only one having problems with people's name, if you are one of those I hope this is going to help you in the future.