Explanations for Forgetting Flashcards
What do we mean by the term RETRIEVAL FAILURE?
Occurs when we don’t have access to the necessary cues to access memories. Memory is available but not accessible unless there’s a cue.
What do we mean by INTERFERENCE?
Forgetting when one memory blocks another causing other memories to disappear or to be forgotten.
What is PROACTIVE INTERFERENCE?
give an example
(PI) occurs when an older memory interferes with a newer one (pro in this context means working forwards, from old to new).
Example: your teacher has learned so many new names in the past that she has a difficult time remembering the names of her current class.
What is RETROACTIVE INTERFERENCE?
give an example
(RI) happens when a newer memory interferes with an older one (retro meaning working backwards).
Example: your teacher has learned so many new names this year that she has difficulty remembering the names of the students from last year.
When is interference most likely to occur?
When the 2 lots of information are similar.
When is interference less likely to occur?
When there is a gap between the instances of learning.
What is INTERFERENCE THEORY?
Pieces of information conflicting with each other, resulting in forgetting of one or both, or in some distortion of memory.
What is CUE-DEPENDENT FORGETTING?
A ‘trigger’ or information that allows us to access a memory.
