PROSOPAGNOSIA: a cognitive disorder the prohibits one from recognizing familiar faces and distinguishing faces of strangers (Psychology Today). Many may also not be able to recognize the difference between a face and an object. And furthermore (probably the most shocking), some with prosopagnosia may find it challenging to recognize their own face.
This is quite an interesting phenomenon; much of our sense of self is shaped by us being able to distinguish ourselves in a sea of people, discerning the features that make us us, and having a concrete concept of what we look like. In fact, I read an article from The Washington Post that detailed a first experience with prosopagnosia: "My Life With Face Blindness". It details the encounters the author, Sadie Dingfelder, has had with her face blindness. Some, awkward (being unable to distinguish coworkers). Some, humorous (realizing the man she had been trailing in the store was–wait for it–not her husband).
But a line that stuck with me the most was this: "What I didn’t realize was that this diagnosis would make me question all the stories I’ve ever told about myself, the very fabric of my identity. It felt like I’d bought a ticket for a Ferris wheel and ended up being launched into space" (The Washington Post).
This makes me wonder two things. 1) How do those with prosopagnosia create alternative methods in developing a sense of self? and 2) With having a sense of self developed NOT entirely from the physical, does this create a more stable self-esteem?
To kind of answer question #2, I read further on the Washington Post article. While I think the idea of creating a sense of self not from your appearance may be helpful in developing a more stable self-esteem, those with face blindness face another factor that influences their sense of self. To quote directly, "One face-blind man I read about walked around with his eyes downcast to avoid chance encounters with people he knew but couldn’t recognize. This earned him a reputation for being aloof, which made it even harder for him to make friends." Moreover, many of those with prosopagnosia describe how their lives can be "racked" with social anxiety–they may avoid gatherings, destructing their relationships with loved ones. So no, having a sense of self that is not derived from appearance doesn't automatically solve all problems regarding self-esteem or mental health.
For #1, I surfed the web trying to find reddit threads, magazine articles, and other sources of information that could fill me in on how those with face blindness develop a sense of self without their appearance to depend on. Sadly, I didn't find much–maybe I'm looking in the wrong place.
So, I don't have an answer to my first question. But if I had to guess, I would think that they would have a larger emphasis on their work, relationships, and interests than how they look to be content with their lives. In other words, with the information I've gathered, I get the feeling that those with face blindness may actually be able to develop stronger relationships to loved ones and be more successful in terms of setting aside their appearance when it isn't important.
But if you know of someone who has prosopagnosia or you have it yourself, please let me know what your experience is with self-esteem. I'd love to know.
References
1. Dingfelder, S. (2019, August 21). My life with face blindness: I spent decades unable to recognize people. Then I learned why. Retrieved October 04, 2020, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/magazine/wp/2019/08/21/feature/my-life-with-face-blindness/
2. Prosopagnosia. (n.d.). Retrieved October 04, 2020, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/basics/prosopagnosia
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