[science, psychology] Face Blind

[bridgetester]

( via blade_bunny)

Face Blind
Joshua Davishttp://wired.com/wired/archive/14.11/blind.htmlRead more... )

Comments

[carandol]

There was a program on the BBC world service about this a few weeks ago. Personally, I have no trouble with faces -- but putting a name to a face I find very difficult. Even people I've seen every week at university for a couple of years, I have trouble with. And if I see a person out of context (like someone I normally meet in the greengrocers, in a pub instead) I have trouble remembering where I know them from. I did fine on the recognising faces test, but on the famous people test, I knew *exactly* who they were, but couldn't remember their names for the life of me. With film stars, I usually remember who they are, right up until the moment I have to mention their name, at which point I forget not only their name but the names of all the films they ever been in. As soon as someone says "who was in the movie?" instead of saying "Harrison Ford", I'm flapping around saying "Oh...that guy...he was in that film...you know......he had a hat...he drew a gun on a guy with a sword...there were Nazis...a whip...snakes...and that...you know...may the force be with you...space battles...big hairy thing..."

[bridgetester]

Yeah, I'm a lot closer with the image recognition for "actors"/acquaintances vs name recognition for "authors". It depends on what context I know the person from.

Oh...that guy...he was in that film...you know..

[sheherazahde]

Yes! Exactly! I know just what you mean.

(have you seen the new Home Depot ad with the woman who doesn't know the names of things she just describes them?)