The Trained Memory | Page 8

wide circulation whose authors, showing no
conception of the processes involved, seek to develop the general ability to remember by
incessant practice in memorizing particular facts, just as one would develop a muscle by
exercise.
The following is quoted from a well-known work of this character:
"I am now treating a case of loss of memory in a person advanced in years, who did not
know that his memory had failed most remarkably until I told him of it. He is making
vigorous efforts to bring it back again, and with partial success. The method pursued is to
spend two hours daily, one in the morning and one in the evening, in exercising this
faculty. The patient is instructed to give the closest attention to all that he learns, so that it
shall be impressed on his mind clearly. He is asked to recall every evening all the facts
and experiences of the day, and again the next morning. Every name heard is written

down and impressed on his mind clearly and an effort made to recall it at intervals. Ten
names from among public men are ordered to be committed to memory every week. A
verse of poetry is to be learned, also a verse from the Bible, daily. He is asked to
remember the number of the page of any book where any interesting fact is recorded.
These and other methods are slowly resuscitating a failing memory."
[Sidenote: Real Cause of Failing Memory]
As remarked by Professor James, "It is hard to believe that the memory of the poor old
gentleman is a bit the better for all this torture except in respect to the particular facts thus
wrought into it, the occurrences attended to and repeated on those days, the names of
those politicians, those Bible verses, etc., etc."
The error in the book first quoted from lies in the fact that its author looks upon a failing
memory as indicating a loss of retentiveness. The real cause is the loss of an intensity of
interest. _It is the failure to form sufficiently large groups and complexes of related ideas,
emotions and muscular movements associated with the particular fact to be remembered.
There is no reason to believe that the retention of sensory experiences is not at all times
perfectly mechanical and mechanically perfect._
Interest is a mental yearning. It is the offspring of desire and the mother of memory.
It goes out spontaneously to anything that can add to the sum of one's knowledge about
the thing desired.
[Sidenote: The Manufactured Interest]
A manufactured interest is counterfeit. When a thing is done because it has to be done,
desire dies and "duty" is born. In proportion as a subject is associated with "duty," it is
divorced from interest.
[Sidenote: Memory Lure of a Desire]
If you want to impress anything on another man's mind so that he will remember it,
harness it up with the lure of a desire.
Diffused interest is the cause of all unprofitable forgetfulness. Do not allow your
attention to grope vaguely among a number of things. Whatever you do, make a business
of doing it with your whole soul. Turn the spotlight of your mind upon it, and you will
not forget it.
[Illustration: TESTING ABILITY TO OBSERVE, REMEMBER AND REPORT
THINGS SEEN PRIVATE LABORATORY, SOCIETY OF APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY]

A SCIENTIFIC MEMORY SYSTEM FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS
[Illustration: Decorative Header]

CHAPTER VII
A SCIENTIFIC MEMORY SYSTEM FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS
[Sidenote: Importance of Associates]
We recall things by their associates. _When you set your mind to remember any
particular fact, your conscious effort should be not vaguely to will that it shall be
impressed and retained, but analytically and deliberately to connect it with one or more
other facts already in your mind._
[Sidenote: "Cramming" and "Willing"]
The student who "crams" for an examination makes no permanent addition to his
knowledge. There can be no recall without association, and "cramming" allows no time
to form associations.
If you find it difficult to remember a fact or a name, do not waste your energies in
"willing" it to return. Try to recall some other fact or name associated with the first in
time or place or otherwise, and lo! when you least expect it, it will pop into your
thoughts.
If your memory is good in most respects, but poor in a particular line, it is because you do
not interest yourself in that line, and therefore have no material for association. Blind
Tom's memory was a blank on most subjects, but he was a walking encyclopedia on
music.
[Sidenote: Basic Principle of Thought-Reproduction]
_To improve your memory you must increase the number and variety of your mental
associations._
Many ingenious methods, scientifically correct, have been devised to aid in the
remembering of particular facts.