Chapter 7: Human Memory (4)

Question 1

What causes pseudoforgetting?

Answer 1

Pseudoforgetting is usually due to lack of attention.

Question 2

When you can’t remember the information that you’ve read, your forgetting may be due to__________

Answer 2

When you can’t remember the information that you’ve read, your forgetting may be due to ineffective encoding.

Question 3

What is decay theory?

Answer 3

Decay theory proposes that forgetting occurs because memory traces fade with time.

According to decay theory, the mere passage of time produces forgetting.

Question 4

What is interference theory?

Answer 4

Interference theory proposes that people forget information because of competition from other materials.

In many of these studies, researchers have controlled interference by varying the similarity between the original material given to participants (the test material) and the material studied in the intervening period.

Question 5

What are the two types of interference?

Answer 5

There are two kinds of interference: retroactive interference and proactive interference.

Question 6

Define retroactive inerference.

Answer 6

Retroactive interference occurs when new information impairs the retention of previously learned information.

Question 7

Define proactive interference.

Answer 7

Proactive interference occurs when previously learned information interferes with the retention of new information.

Question 8

What theory provides one explanation for the inconsistent success of retrieval efforts?

Answer 8

The encoding specificity principle states that the value of a retrieval cue depends on how well it corresponds to the memory code.

(cS)

Question 9

What was Sigmund Freud’s explanation for retrieval failure?

Answer 9

In Freudian theory, repression refers to keeping distressing thoughts and feelings buried in the unconscious.

Question 10

What is motivated forgetting?

Answer 10

The tendency to forget things one doesn’t want to think about is called motivated forgetting, or to use Freud’s terminology, repression.

Question 11

What are the 7 sins of memory?

Answer 11

The ways memory fails.

1. Transcience
2. Absentmindedness
3. Blocking
4. Misattribution
5. Suggestibility
6. Bias
7. Persistence

(CS)

Question 12

Define transience.

Answer 12

Transience is the simple weakening
of a memory over time

Question 13

Define Absentmindedness.

Answer 13

Absentmindedness refers to a memory failure that is often due to a failure to pay attention because we are perhaps preoccupied with other things.

Question 14

Define blocking.

Answer 14

Blocking is an often temporary problem when we fail to retrieve information such as someone’s name when we meet them.

(CS)

Question 15

Define misattribution.

Answer 15

In misattribution, we assign a memory to the wrong source.

Question 16

Define suggestibility.

Answer 16

In the sin of suggestibility our memory
is distorted because of, for example, misleading questions.

Question 17

Define bias.

Answer 17

The sin of bias is similar to the sin of suggestibility in that one’s current
feelings and worldview distort remembrance of past events.

Question 18

Define persistence.

Answer 18

The final sin, persistence, involves unwanted memories or recollections that you cannot forget—memories that
haunt you.

Question 19

What did Kandel believe the building blocks of complex memory to be?

Answer 19

Kandel believes that durable changes in synaptic transmission may be the neural building blocks of more complex memories as well.

Question 20

Evidence on ________also supports the idea that memory traces consist of specific neural circuits.

Answer 20

Evidence on long-term potentiation also supports the idea that memory traces consist of specific neural circuits.