Chapter 4 Forgetting

Question 1

forgetting

Answer 1

the inability to retrieve information previously stored in LTM

Question 2

retrieval failure theory

Answer 2

a theory of forgetting that states that memories are inaccessible because retrieval cues that were present when the memory was formed are missing at the time of retrieval

Question 3

cue

Answer 3

a piece of information that helps you retrieve information from LTM

Question 4

tip-of-the-tongue (TOT) phenomenon

Answer 4

when we remember some information about the word/information we are trying to recall but we cannot remember the actual word/information needed

Question 5

interference theory

Answer 5

theory of forgetting that refers to the tendency for other memories, either new or old, to impair the retrieval of a required memory

Question 6

retroactive interference

Answer 6

the tendency for new information to obstruct the retrieval of previously learnt information

Question 7

proactive interference

Answer 7

the tendency for previously learnt information to obstruct the retrieval of newly learnt information

Question 8

motivated forgetting

Answer 8

a theory of forgetting that states that forgetting of LTMs occurs because of a conscious or unconscious desire to block painful or traumatic memories from entering our consciousness

Question 9

repression

Answer 9

a form of motivated forgetting, where an individual unconsciously blocks painful or traumatic memories from entering conscious awareness

Question 10

suppression

Answer 10

a form of motivated forgetting, where an individual conscious/deliberately blocks painful or traumatic memories from entering conscious awareness

Question 11

decay theory

Answer 11

a theory of forgetting that states that forgetting occurs due to the gradual fading of memory traces over time due to disuse

Question 12

forgetting curve

Answer 12

a graph that displays the rate and amount of information that is lost, or forgotten, over time

Question 13

nonsense syllables

Answer 13

meaningless sets of three letters that are stung together - usually consisting the two consonants and a vowel, in any order

Question 14

recall

Answer 14

a measure of retention that involves retrieving stored information using few or no cues for assistance

Question 15

free recall

Answer 15

recalling information from memory in any order with no cues for assistance

Question 16

serial recall

Answer 16

recalling information from memory in the order or sequence in which it was learnt, with no cues for assistance

Question 17

cued recall

Answer 17

recalling information from memory with some cues or hints for assistance

Question 18

recognition

Answer 18

a measure of retention that involves identifying previously learnt information from a list or group of alternatives

Question 19

distracter

Answer 19

a false item, similar to the correct item, that is included with items to be recognised and can lead to unreliable identification

Question 20

relearning

Answer 20

a measure of retention that involves learning information that has been previously learnt and stored in LTM as a means of assessing whether any information was retained from the original learning

Question 21

savings score

Answer 21

a formula that calculates the percentage of information retained from original learning after relearning has occurred

Question 22

encoding specificity principle

Answer 22

the theory that the more closely retrieval cues match the original learning conditions, the greater the chance of recalling the information

Question 23

context-dependent cues

Answer 23

environment cues in the specific context or environment where the memory was formed, which enhance the retrieval of memories formed in that context

Question 24

imagery

Answer 24

forming a mental representation, or mental picture, of an item or scene

Question 25

state-dependent cues

Answer 25

retrieval cues associated with your internal physiological or psychological state at the time the memory was formed, which enhance the retrieval of memories formed in that state

Question 26

mnemonic device

Answer 26

a system or technique that aids memory retention

Question 27

mental association

Answer 27

creating a meaningful connection between information to be learnt and information already stored in memory (LTM)

Question 28

narrative chaining

Answer 28

a mnemonic device that involves linking unrelated items to create a story-like sequence of events

Question 29

acronym

Answer 29

a mnemonic device involving constructing a pronounceable word using the first letter of each word of the information to be recalled

Question 30

acrostic

Answer 30

a mnemonic device that involves constructing a phrase or sentence from words that begin with the first letter of each word of the information to be recalled

Question 31

memory reconstruction

Answer 31

remembering past events and features of these events and putting them together during memory recall

Question 32

schema

Answer 32

a preconceived idea that represents an aspect of the word or the things in it, influenced by culture and experience

Question 33

eye-witness testimony

Answer 33

a statement from an individual who has viewed an event, giving their personal account of that event

Question 34

leading question

Answer 34

a question that features incorrect information as a means of implanting false memories