Cue Dependency Theory of Forgetting (Tulving, 1972) Flashcards
What is the ‘tip of the tongue’ phenomenon?
We know we know something but are temporarily unable to retrieve it
When did Tulving propose the cue dependency theory of forgetting?
1972
What did Tulving propose?
That forgetting takes place when we have the memory but we lack the necessary cues to access it.
What are cues?
The additional pieces of information that guide us to the information we are seeking.
What did Tulving and Pearlstone find?
In a cued condition participants remember more words than if the cue isn’t present.
What is an example of distinctive sensory information that serve as cues to retrieve old memories?
When you return to your old school; smell sights and sounds bring memories flooding back
What is a context dependent cue?
Environmental external cues
What is a state dependent cue?
Physiological cue for recall. emotion hunger etc
For cue-dependency
Practical Applications - can enhance people’s recall by introducing context or state cues
What did Jerabek and Standing show? (for)
Students can enhance their recall of work in an exam by imagining their classroom.
What did Baker et al find? (for)
Showed that chewing-gum when both learning and recalling words significantly improved recall.
Against cue-dependency 2
Probably only an explanation for forgetting for ltm, doesn’t have a role in stm.
Baker et al - affected recall the next day but not immediately
Why is cue-dependency not a complete explanation of forgetting?
Doesn’t explain why emotionally charged memories remain clear in the absence of context cues
Supporting
Godden and Baddeley (1975)
