Do you have trouble remembering faces, or are you someone who never forgets one? The better you are at recognizing faces, the more supportive relationships you’re likely to have, no matter your personality.

A groundbreaking study from the University of South Australia has found some surprising facts about facial recognition.

Recognizing faces

The first is that being able to recognize faces isn’t linked to being extroverted or sociable. But good facial recall is tied to having more close, high-quality relationships.

The researchers carried out four separate studies with over 3,000 people to explore the connection between facial recognition, social networks, and personality traits.

Participants who did well on tests to memorize new faces or identify celebrities had more close relationships.

“People who recognized more faces typically had larger, more supportive social networks, which is good for their overall health and happiness,” the researchers said.

Building relationships

The study found that moving from recognizing the fewest faces (two) to the most faces (28) in one test was linked to an increase from nine to 15 close relationships—an extra six, or two-thirds more. That’s one extra strong social bond for every four celebrities recognized.

The study also found no link between facial recognition and being more sociable.

“Our findings debunk the idea that being sociable means you’ll be good at recognizing faces. They also show that not recognizing someone doesn’t mean you’re less sociable,” the authors said.

“Recognizing faces easily helps people develop relationships faster. Imagine having a great conversation with someone you just met. If you recognize them easily the next time, you can build on that first meeting, helping the relationship to grow.

Being recognized

But if you don’t recognize them, you miss the chance to strengthen that connection. Being recognized by others boosts self-esteem.

“It makes us feel important and valued, leading us to relate more warmly to that person. On the other hand, not being recognized feels like a snub,” the researchers explained.

They hope these findings will help build stronger communities that promote human connection.

“Understanding that not everyone finds it easy to recognize people can help us support each other in social interactions,” they concluded.

“Simple things like name tags at community events can make a big difference. And if you see someone struggling to place you, a gentle reminder will be appreciated.”

You can test your own celebrity face recognition at the researchers’ website, TestMyBrain.org.