What is Recognition?
Recognition is remembering in psychology characterized by a sensation of awareness when something already experienced is seen again; in such circumstances, a correct response can be identified when presented but may not be repeated without such a trigger. In other words, it is a mental response to previously encountered or learned but now unperceived information.
However, acquaintance does not ensure recognition. For example, if a person meets someone they remember but does not identify at first look, that person may still go unnoticed till that person shouts their name. Therefore, a mental link between what was seen or overhead and some other information or experience about that individual is also required. This is referred to as a “recognition memory.” The mental link may be so powerful that you cannot forget it, since it serves as the foundation for identifying that individual in future interactions (Du Plessis, 1994).
Many parts of life, such as social contact, education, job screenings, and criminal inquiries, rely on it. Failure to identify familiar persons or objects frequently causes issues in several areas of life. For example, if a close friend or co-worker is not recognized, this might signal something is amiss with the connection. If a student fails to identify the instructor who has just spoken, it may indicate that the kid did not gain anything that day. Furthermore, failures to identify familiar individuals or things are frequently used as testimony in court.
Recognition memory refers to the capacity to perceive as familiar a stimulus or a scenario experienced earlier. This is distinct from recall memory, which is the ability to recreate or explain an experience. It is possible to have either explicit or implicit recognition memory. Explicit recognition requires reflecting on what was learned and responding to questions about it, but implicit recognition does not. For example, if anybody observes a car in a parking lot and comes later to find it still there, they have implicitly identified it while not being conscious of it at the time they initially saw it. Both education systems and criminal prosecutions rely heavily on recognition memory.
In education, it assists pupils in determining what they know and don’t know before taking examinations. During police investigations, eyewitnesses may be questioned if they have previously seen a particular piece of evidence. If they respond “yes,” they officially acknowledge it (Rugg & Yonelinas, 2003).
Check the following reference articles to learn more about what is recognition
Rugg, M. D., & Yonelinas, A. P. (2003). Human recognition memory: a cognitive neuroscience perspective. Trends in cognitive sciences, 7(7), 313-319.
Du Plessis, E. (1994). Recognition versus recall. Journal of Advertising Research, 34(3), 75-92.
- Capturing Market Opportunities in SriLanka
- A Look on Real-life Practices of Project Management
- Trademark Law
About the Author
The Netizen Me editors team is a group of passionate writers and editors committed to providing accurate and informative content.
With expertise in areas such as sustainable living, social responsibility, history, art, marketing, business, psychology, and tech, we deliver diverse perspectives and stay up-to-date on the latest developments in our fields.