Page 237 - Use Your Memory

USE YOUR MEMORY
16 Have fun. If you make the learning of names and faces a
serious and enjoyable game, the right side of your brain will feel far
more free and open to make the imaginative associations and
connections necessary for good memory. Children have 'better
memories' for names and faces than adults not because their
minds are superior but simply because they naturally apply all the
principles outlined in this book.
17 The Plus-one Principle. If you would normally remember only
between two to five of thirty people you have newly met, as the
average person would, give yourself the goal of one more than you
would normally remember. This establishes in your mind the
principle of success and does not place the unnecessary stress of
your trying to be perfect first time out. Apply the Plus-one Prin-
ciple each time you are in a new situation and your road to success
in the memorisation of names and faces is guaranteed.
Head and Facial Characteristics
1 Head
You will usually first meet a person face-to-face, so before dealing
with the rundown of separate characteristics, we will consider the
head as a whole. Look for the general shape of the entire bone
structure. You will find that this can be: a) large; b) medium; or c)
small. And that within these three categories the following shapes
can be found: a) square; b) rectangular; c) round; d) oval; e)
triangular, with the base at the chin and the point at the scalp; f)
triangular, with the base at the scalp and the point at the chin; g)
broad; h) narrow; i) big-boned; or j) fine-boned.
Fairly early in your meeting, you may see the head from the side
and will be surprised at how many different shapes heads seen
from this view can take: a) square; b) rectangular; c) oval; d) broad;
e) narrow; f) round; g) flat at the front; h) flat on top; i) flat at the
back; j) domed at the back; k) face angled with jutting chin and
slanted forehead; or 1) face angled with receding chin and promi-
nent forehead.
2 Hair
In earlier days, when hairstyles used to be more consistent and
lasting, hair served as a better memory hook than it does now. The
advent of dyes, sprays, wigs and almost infinitely varied styles
makes identification by this feature a tricky business. Some of the
more basic characteristics, however, can be listed as follows:
Men: a) thick; b) fine; c) wavy; d) straight; e) parted; f) receding;
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