Question about memory?

Question

I just got a call from a banking survey. First, they asked me about if I had seen advertising from specific banks on TV, radio, newspapers, bus ads, etc. I knew I had seen tons of bank ads, I could only remember maybe one ad by ING Direct in any useful detail, and I had to think a couple of minutes on that one.

Later in the survey, they described specific TV banking commercials, and I could remember most of them then, but only one of them I could remember which bank it was for.

Do I have bad memory, or is this normal?

Answer 1

Completely normal. What you're talking about is recall versus recognition. Most people are better at recognition than spontaneous recall. For example, try the following (don't read # 2 until you read # 1)

1. From memory, name the Seven Dwarfs in Snow White.

2. Pick the Seven Dwarfs from the following list:
Snoopy
Dopey
Bashful
Sneaky
Doc
Happy
Gloomy
Grumpy
Loopy
Sleepy
Mac
Jerky
Sneezy
Looney

Which one was easier?
(by the way, they are Dopey, Grumpy, Sleepy, Sneezy, Bashful, Happy, and Doc).

The vast majority of people can recognize something more easily than they can just spontaneously remember. That's why you recognized the commericials, and still could not name the banks.

Answer 2

We're inundated with ads; most of which we aren't at all interested in.

We don't remember most of what we experience, only the things that stand out in some way.

Also, there's an increasing trend in advertising to not give a hint of a clue as to what is being advertised (seems like a waste of money to me).

That may be what the survey was actually about -- seeing whether people remember the commercials, or have any idea which banks were being advertised.

I wouldn't worry about your memory.

I bet your "score" is pretty common.

Now that I've been thinking about it, the only bank commercials I can remember are about that guy and all the old-fasioned banker objecting to the advertised bank being good to its customers.

I know I must have seen others, but in one ear ....

Answer 3

Not at all. Most of the time when we're watching TV, we aren't watching the ads--we tend to tune them out. Occasionally there will be one that will stick in our minds, simply because it's unusual, and even then they don't tie it to their brand enough for us to really remember. For example, do you remember the ad where the bankers are on a "get together," and one sinks into quicksand? Even if you did, did you remember that it's by the Royal Bank of Scotland? Probably not.

Answer 4

It's absolutely normal. When we hear or read a message, even one that's intended to persuade us to do something (which is what advertising is all about), one of the first things we forget is the source of the message. So, you might remember a catchy commercial, but not necessarily the name of the product. Or, a friend might tell you something, but you forget where you heard it. That's why "They say" is such a handy phrase.

Answer 5

.....Normal. You don't integrate everything from short-term memory into long-term memory. To do that, you'd have to reflect on what you're seeing or talk about it with others. Most of the time, we don't do that, at least on first viewing.

Also, recall isn't the same as memory. Long-term memories are permanent, but if you can't find it, especially if you haven't used or related the information to other things - then it seems as if you can't remember it.

Don't worry...you're not losing it...yet.

Answer 6

It's normal...unless you are an absolute tv freak...who has to see every second of what is on. I only remember the stuff i really like....like the Geico caveman commercial ; )

Answer 7

kay you might suffer from short term memory loss ? wait maybe from long term well one of those!!!!!

Answer 8

you don't have bad memory, but you do watch bad commercials :D

Answer 9

What?