Explanations For Forgetting Flashcards
What is forgetting?
when we fail to retrieve or recall information from out LTM
What is the interference theory?
when one memory interferes with the ability to recall another. This may result in forgetting or distorting one or the other, or both.
This is more likely to happen if memories are similar.
What is cue-dependent forgetting?
Forgetting occurs when the right cue is not available for retrieving the memory.
When a memory is encoded it leaves a memory trace which also stores information about the way we felt or the place we were in at the time of encoding.
In order for this memory to be accessed again a retrieval cues required
What are the two types of cue-dependent forgetting?
context-dependent failure
state-dependent failure
What are the positive evaluation points for forgetting.
- Supported by research: Schmidt and Godden & Baddeley
- Practical application
can reduce the amount of forgetting by making two lots of info distinct as possible (stops interference)
What are the negative evaluation points for forgetting.
- supporting research can be criticised for using tasks that lack mundane realism and population validity
- There are other explanations for forgetting, so it is reductionist.
What are the two types of interference?
proactive and retroactive
What is proactive interference?
works forwards in time, occurring when information stored previously interferes with an attempt to recall something new
i.e. the memory of an old phone number disrupts attempts to recall a new phone number
What is retroactive interference?
works backwards in time, occurring when coding new information disrupts information stored previously
i.e. the memory of a new car registration number prevents recall of a previous one
What was the aim of Schmidt’s research?
to assess the influence of retroactive interference upon the memory of street names learned during childhood
What was the procedure of Schmidt’s research?
700 names were randomly selected from a database of 1700, 211 Ps responded
Given a map of the neighbourhood they had all gone to school, with all 48 street names replaced with numbers and asked to remember as many of them as possible
What were the findings of Schmidt’s research?
there was a positive association between the number of times P’shad moved house outside their old neighbourhood and the number of street names forgotten
retroactive interference does seem able to explain forgetting in some real-life situations
What is context-dependent failure?
occurs with external retrieval cues, with forgetting occurring when the external environment is different at recall from how it was at coding
What is state-dependent failure?
occurs with internal retrieval cues , with forgetting occurring when an individual’s internal environment is dissimilar at recall to when information was coded
What is repression?
a type of motivated forgetting where emotionally threatening events are thought to be hushed into the unconscious mind, to prevent the feelings of anxiety they might cause
