YOUR MIND AND HOW TO USE IT /PART 8
CHAPTER VIII.
Memory—Continued.
THE
subject of memory cannot be touched upon intelligently without a consideration
of the Law of Association, one of the important psychological principles.
The
Law of Association.
What
is known in psychology as the Law of Association is based on the fact
that no idea exists in the mind except in association with other ideas.
This is not generally recognized, and the majority of persons will dispute the
law at first thought. But the existence and appearance of ideas in the mind are
governed by a mental law as invariable and constant as the physical law of
gravitation. Every idea has associations with other ideas. Ideas travel in
groups, and one group is associated with another group, and so on, until in the
end every idea in one's mind is associated directly or indirectly with every
other idea. Theoretically, at least, it would be possible to begin with one
idea in the mind of a person, and then gradually unwind his entire stock of
ideas like the yarn on the ball. Our thoughts proceed according to this
law. We sit down in a "brown study" and proceed from one subject to
another, until we are unable to remember any connection between the first
thought and the last. But each step of the reverie was connected with the one
preceding and the one succeeding it. It is interesting to trace back these
connections. Poe based one of his celebrated detective stories on this law. The
reverie may be broken into by a sudden impression from outside, and we will
then proceed from that impression, connecting it with something else already in
our experience, and starting a new chain of sequence.
Often
we fail to trace the associations governing our ideas, but the chain is there
nevertheless. One may think of a past scene or experience without any apparent
cause. A little thought will show that something seen, or a few notes of a song
floating to the ears, or the fragrance of a flower, has supplied the connecting
link between the past and the present. A suggestion of mignonette will recall
some past event in which the perfume played a part; some one's handkerchief,
perhaps, carried the same odor. Or an old familiar tune reminds one of some
one, something, or some place in the past. A familiar feature in the
countenance of a passer-by will start one thinking of some one else who had
that kind of a mouth, that shaped nose, or that expression of the eye—and
away he will be off in a sequence of remembered experiences. Often the starting
idea, or the connecting links, may appear but dimly in consciousness; but rest assured
they are always there. In fact, we frequently accept this law, unconsciously
and without realizing its actual existence. For instance, one makes a remark,
and at once we wonder, "How did he come to think of that?" and, if we
are shrewd, we may discover what was in his mind before he spoke.
There
are two general classes of association of ideas in memory, viz.: (1)
Association of contiguity, and (2) logical association.
Association
of contiguity is that form of association depending upon the previous association
in time or space of ideas which have been impressed on the mind. For instance,
if you met Mr. and Mrs. Wetterhorn and were introduced to them one after the
other, thereafter you will naturally remember Mr. W. when you think of Mrs. W.,
and vice versa. You will naturally remember Napoleon when you think of
Wellington, or Benedict Arnold when you think of Major André, for the same
reason. You will also naturally remember b and c when
you think of a. Likewise, you will think of abstract time when you
think of abstract space, of thunder when you think of lightning, of colic when
you recall green apples, of love making and moonlight nights when
you think of college days. In the same way we remember things which
occurred just before or just after the event in our mind at the moment; of
things near in space to the thing of which we are thinking.
Logical
association depends upon the relation of likeness or difference between several
things thought of. Things thus associated may have never come into the mind at
the same previous time, nor are they necessarily connected in time and space.
One may think of a book, and then proceed by association to think of another
book by the same author, or of another author treating of the same subject. Or
he may think of a book directly opposed to the first, the relation of distinct
difference causing the associated idea. Logical association depends upon inner
relations, and not upon the outer relations of time and space. This innerness of
relation between things not connected in space or time is discovered only by
experience and education. The educated man realizes many points of relationship
between things that are thought by the uneducated man to be totally unrelated.
Wisdom and knowledge consist largely in the recognition of relations between
things.
Association
in Memory.
It
follows from a consideration of the Law of Association that when one wishes to
impress a thing upon the memory he should, as an authority says,
"Multiply associations; entangle the fact you wish to remember in a net of
as many associations as possible, especially those that are logical."
Hence the advice to place your facts in groups and classes in the memory. As
Blackie says: "Nothing helps the mind so much as order and classification.
Classes are always few, individuals many; to know the class well is to know
what is most essential in the character of the individual, and what burdens the
memory least to retain."
Repetition
in Memory.
Another
important principle of memory is that the impressions acquire depth and
clearness by repetition. Repeat a line of poetry once, and you may remember it;
repeat it again, and your chances of remembering it are greatly increased;
repeat it a sufficient number of times, and you cannot escape remembering it.
The illustration of the phonograph record will help you to understand the
reason of this. The rule is: Constant repetition deepens memory
impressions; frequent reviewing and recalling what has been memorized tends to
keep the records clear and clean, beside deepening the impression at each
review.
General
Rules of Memory.
The
following general rules will be of service to the student who wishes to develop
his memory:—
Making Impressions.
· (1) Bestow attention.
· (2) Cultivate interest.
· (3) Manifest perception.
· (4) Cultivate understanding.
· (5) Form associations.
· (6) Repeat and review.
Recalling Impressions.
(1)
Endeavor to get hold of the loose end of association, and then unwind your
memory ball of yarn.
(2)
When you recall an impression, send it back with energy to deepen the
impression, and attach it to as many new associations as possible.
(3)
Practice a little memorizing and recalling each day, if only a line of verse.
The memory improves by practice, and deteriorates by neglect and disuse.
(4)
Demand good service of your memory, and it will learn to respond. Learn to
trust it, and it will rise to the occasion. How can you expect your memory to
give good service when you continually abuse it and tell every one of "the
wretched memory I have; I can never remember anything"? Your memory
is very apt to accept your statements as truth; our mental faculties have an
annoying habit of taking us at our word in these matters. Tell your memory what
you expect it to do; then trust it and refrain from abusing it and giving it a
bad name.
Final
Advice.
Finally,
remember this rule: You get out of your memory only that which you place in it.
Place in it good, clear, deep impressions, and it will reproduce good, clear,
strong recollections. Think of your memory as a phonographic record, and take
care that you place the right kind of impressions upon it. In memory you reap
that which you have sown. You must give to the memory before you can receive
from it. Of one thing you may rest assured, namely, that unless you take
sufficient interest in the things to be remembered, you will find that the
memory will not take sufficient interest in them to remember them. Memory
demands interest before it will take interest in the task. It demands attention
before it will give attention. It demands understanding before it will give
understanding. It demands association before it will respond to association. It
demands repetition before it will repeat. The memory is a splendid instrument,
but it stands on its dignity and asserts its rights. It belongs to the old
dispensation—it demands compensation and believes in giving only in equal
measure to what it receives. Our advice is to get acquainted with your memory,
and make friends with it. Treat it well and it will serve you well. But neglect
it, and it will turn its back on you.
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