Harvard study shows people with face blindness are more likely to be ostracized! Experts teach improvement strategies: remember the 3 characteristics of strangers
When you meet a colleague or relative or friend you have met before, but you cannot remember what the other person looks like, may it be a precursor to suffering from “Facial Recognition Deficiency Syndrome (Prosopagnosia)”? Recent research published in “Cortex” has brought new insights into prosopagnosia, indicating that the disease may be more common than popular imagination, affecting approximately 1 in 33 people.
Are there more people with prosopagnosia than thought? Taiwan’s 700,000 population fears “unidentified people”
The study was sponsored by Harvard Medical School and the Boston Healthcare System. A total of 3,341 subjects participated in an online questionnaire survey and test. The subjects were asked through the questionnaire whether they had encountered difficulties in recognizing faces in their daily lives. In addition, the research team also conducted two objective tests to determine whether the subjects had difficulty recognizing new faces or recognizing very familiar famous faces.
The results showed that among 3,341 subjects, 31 suffered from severe prosopagnosia and 72 suffered from mild prosopagnosia. The researchers also observed that those with poor or strong face recognition abilities were not neatly divided into discrete groups; instead, the ability to recognize faces seemed to be “continuous” and may vary over time. difference.
The results of the study indicate that about 1 in 33 people (3.08%) in the global population may meet the diagnostic criteria for facial recognition deficiency, which is higher than the previous estimate of 2-2.5% by the academic community. Based on the U.S. population , more than 10 million Americans may be affected by the disease; and if Taiwan’s population is 23.57 million, about 720,000 people may suffer from prosopagnosia.
Serious fear of difficulty in interpersonal relationships and inability to socialize! A Hollywood star also suffers from prosopagnosia
Study author Joseph DeGutis noted that the findings suggest that diagnostic criteria for prosopagnosia should be broadened and made more inclusive, as millions of people may suffer from the disease but not receive a correct diagnosis. “Prosopagnosia may lead to social weakness, and in severe cases it may even limit employment opportunities. For people with prosopagnosia, interpersonal communication is extremely difficult, which can easily lead to social distress and embarrassment, as well as being ostracized or ignored by peers.”
DeGutis said that prosopagnosia can also be divided into congenital and acquired aspects. Among them, congenital prosopagnosia (DPs) is a lifelong disease caused by genetic or developmental abnormalities, and 1 in 33 people may be affected. Acquired prosopagnosia may be caused by brain damage to the occipital or temporal lobe areas. Approximately 1 in 30,000 people are affected, and the incidence is less than congenital prosopagnosia.
DeGutis also claimed that prosopagnosia can also affect individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD, referred to as autism) and lead to age-related cognitive decline. In a world of increasing social isolation, fostering social connections and good face-to-face interactions is more important than ever, especially for teenagers or young adults.
In fact, Hollywood superstar Brad. Brad Pitt mentioned in an interview with the media last year that he has been suffering from prosopagnosia for a long time. Because of this, many relatives, friends or the media even misunderstood that he was a big name and was too conceited. DeGutis said that if Brad. People with prosopagnosia, like Peter, often have trouble remembering everyone’s faces, even if they try hard, and may feel ashamed or depressed about it.
Face blindness also makes it impossible to distinguish cars or animals? Experts teach improvement strategies: remember 3 characteristics of strangers
In addition to being unable to recognize faces, patients with prosopagnosia may also be unable to distinguish cars or animals? According to guidance published by the National Health Service (NHS), prosopagnosia may include difficulties recognizing people’s emotions, age and gender, characters and plots in TV shows or movies, and non-human animals or inanimate objects such as cars. .
As for how to improve the troubles caused by face blindness? The NHS gives the following advice:
Before meeting new friends or strangers, tell them about your condition in advance.
Ask close family and friends for help in identifying others.
When greeting a new friend or stranger, ask them to introduce themselves
Use people’s voices or body language to differentiate between them.
Note down the distinguishing features of your new friend, such as their hairstyle, jewelry, or accessories.
Use name tags or write down the names and facial features of strangers.
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