Why We Forget & Can't Recognise Faces | Why Do We Do That?

From the creator

Why do we forget names and faces? In this episode of Why Do We Do That?, Open University psychology student Freya and Professor Catrina Havard explore how memory works, why do we forget things, and whether photographic memory is actually real. From short term memory and face blindness to those moments when you recognise someone but have absolutely no idea where you know them from, Katrina explains why our memory isn't always as reliable as we might think. How accurate is your memory? Katrina explores how memory is a reconstructive process rather than a perfect recording of our experiences, and explains the "butcher on the bus" phenomenon, where taking a familiar face out of context can make someone surprisingly difficult to recognise. They also explore prosopagnosia, or face blindness, super recognisers, own age and own race bias, and why you might forget names but have no problem remembering an embarrassing moment from years ago. Plus, could relying on technology and AI like ChatGPT affect our memory? Do brain training apps actually work? And can we improve our memory? Katrina discusses the method of loci, mind maps, Elizabeth Loftus's false memory research and some simple techniques that could make information easier to remember. Finally, they look at when everyday forgetfulness and memory lapses are completely normal, and when problems with memory might be worth discussing with your GP. Chapters: 0:00 Why do we forget? 2:01 How does memory actually work? 3:27 Why we

Published 2026-09-14 · Watch on YouTube ↗
Availability and playback restrictions are controlled by the original channel.