I seem to be able to recognise a face easily enough, regardless of how many years have passed, but struggle to remember a colleague's name! Why is that?
Are you a "face" or a "name" person?
2007-06-20 01:52:52 · 26 answers · asked by Tessa 3 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Definately a face person and I think because people tend to be more visual people.
2007-06-20 01:57:21 · answer #1 · answered by Lily 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Faces, for me.
I wish I could quote you the source... I seem to recall from graduate school that recognizing faces is biologically programmed into us and we have the skill nearly from birth. Also, when we talk about recognizing someone by their face, we usually mean much more than that -- their manner of walking, gestures, all the nonverbal communication, how they dress, smells possibly, uniquenesses and oddities, similarities to people we know... on and on. With names, unless the name is particularly unique or has some significance for you, it's harder.
But there's more. I posted on this in another forum, in a different topic -- the difference between recognition and recall. Basically, with memory, we're better at recognizing that at recalling. Faces are recognition, while names are recall. You can't think of the woman's name -- but if someone were to ask you, "Is that Sarah, Jennifer, Tina, or Kate?" you'd probably be able to pick the name from the list (recognition, also cueing, which is similar).
Simultaneously, although you can recognize a person by their face, try calling to mind the face of "that guy you see on the elevator every morning" and drawing it from memory -- or, if you can't draw, describing him(recall)! I can't even do that with my husband, and I minored in art in college and have known him for 17 years.
2007-06-26 11:09:59 · answer #2 · answered by Ali Cat 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's different for different people. I will often recognize a person as being familiar, but find myself unable to recall where I have seen them. This applies to people I see in work type situations, such as the lady behind the desk at the library, or a clerk in a store. When I meet new people on my job, it often takes me a long time to learn to recognize them and put a name to a face. Sometimes I think I am particularly bad at remembering and recognizing faces.
2007-06-26 20:07:32 · answer #3 · answered by treebird 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have a hard time remembering either sometimes... especially when going through bouts of insomnia like tonight... or if I can remember one I can't remember the other... but mostly I think I remember actual faces before names.
2007-06-27 23:01:33 · answer #4 · answered by Insomniac Butterfly 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's easier for me to remember faces than names.
2007-06-20 02:03:11 · answer #5 · answered by vanhammer 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A face
2007-06-27 16:03:02 · answer #6 · answered by Jennie L 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it depends. if i've spent a long time with a person, i can remember their name, and sometimes their face. say i just met someone. i can definitely remember their name. i think it takes my brain a couple of minutes to kind of take a mental picture of someones face, but only 5 seconds to remember a persons name. to answer your question, im a name person.
2007-06-20 02:04:37 · answer #7 · answered by I Heart ? (: 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's easier for me to remember a face.
2007-06-26 16:18:33 · answer #8 · answered by amaya7 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I am definately a "face" person, like you. I have a horrible time remembering names, even ones I recently learned!!!
2007-06-20 01:58:09 · answer #9 · answered by zaytox0724 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Definitely a face person. I'm always getting names wrong.
2007-06-27 14:27:58 · answer #10 · answered by phlada64 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋