Techniques of Psychology - Essay Example

Psychology 2 Memory techniques are used to help us remember. There are tools that can be used to help us remember information accurately. An individual may prefer a certain memory tool over another or one tool may be more effective than another. With anything, the more you practice, the easier it becomes and this does pertain to the use of memory tools to increase memorization. Another word that is synonymous to memory tool is mnemonic. The article titled Memory Techniques (n.d.) from the website Mind Tools states that, “Mnemonics are methods for remembering information that is otherwise quite difficult to recall.

A very simple example is the '30 days hath September' rhyme. The basic principle of mnemonics is to use as many of the best functions of your brain as possible to store information.”The brain is an amazing thing, to state it mildly. It has the capability to process many, many functions such as emotions, the five senses (sight, taste, touch, sound and smell), images, colors, etc. Our minds can perform many skills. Mnemonics, or mind tools, will help our minds apply more of these skills. Memory Techniques suggests tools that will help the mind recall facts and information better, faster and more accurately.

The article mentions the technique of using positive, happy, and pleasant images as “the brain often blocks out unpleasant ones”. It also suggests for individuals to “use all your senses to code information or dress up an image. Remember that your mnemonic can contain sounds, smells, tastes, touch, movements and feelings as well as pictures.” These techniques will help improve memory.I have applied the techniques of using positive and pleasant images, along with using all five senses, to dress up an image to help improve my memory many times.

I find that this can be used in all areas of life whether professional or personal. For instance, many times we get too busy and forget to make time to visit or call family members. We forget special dates such Psychology 3as their birthdays and anniversaries or we do not make it a priority to remember. I am quite guilty of this. It is very difficult for me to remember to make time for family members. These are people whom I have shared so much (history, genetics, home, etc.) and yet I cannot even remember to take a few minutes out of my life to contact them.

Therefore, to help me remember to make time for them, I focus on the positive characteristics and special memories about this person. I will make it a point to remember that this person is very important to me and holds a very special position in my life. I will focus on the good things such as what he/she has done for me in the past or a special memory that only belongs to us. For instance, if I tend to forget my mother’s birthday, or to take her for granted, I will focus on the times when I am sick and she will bring her special recipe soup to me.

I will concentrate on the smell of the soup, the way the utensils are placed just so on the serving tray, and the way she touches my forehead with her warm hand to check my body temperature. I have also used these techniques when I get upset with a family member. I will focus on their qualities (such as my father’s ability to be so patient with me) and the good times that we have shared (such as the camping trip we took one autumn). Then I will focus on the sensory details of that person and of that particular memory and I become not so upset.

These techniques for improving memorization can be applied to people who are not so close to me. As I practice these memory tools, I find that a quote in the article titled, Develop Your Visualization Muscle (1996), to be quite true. The quote states, “By having done the exercises, and by applying them in certain situations, the (individual) seems to be doing something in (his/her) mind that improves (his/her) ability to remember things in all situations.”Psychology 4References – APA StyleDevelop Your Visualization Muscle (1996).

Patrick T. Magee Copyright: 1996. Retrieved January 27, 2006, from http://braindance.com/bdimem3.htmMind Tools. (1995-2006). Memory Techniques. Retrieved January 27, 2006, from http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTIM_00.htm