Explanations For Forgetting: MEMORY Flashcards
what is the Interference theory
-Forgetting because one memory blocks another, causing one or both memories to be distorted or forgotten
- only explains LTM forgetting
- memories still in LTM, just difficult to access
- Very likely two interfering memories stored at different times
What are the 2 types of interference
Proactive, Retroactive
What is proactive interference?
Old memory interferes with new memory
what is Retroactive interference
new memory interferes with old memory
McGeoch + Mcdonald (1931) Method
and 6 conditions
1) P.Ps asked to learn list of 10 words until they could remember them 100% accurately
2) Then asked to learn a new list of words
3) then asked to recall original list of words
3) there were 6 conditions in which P.Ps could be placed in > decided which 2nd list they had
conditions were .Synonyms .Antonyms .Unrelated adjectives .Nonsense syllables .Numbers .None
McGeoch + Mcdonald (1931) Findings
- When PP recalled origonal list, their performance depended on which group they were in for 2nd list
- Synonyms produced worst recall > Showing that interference is stronger when the meaning of memories are similar
What is retrieval failure ?
A form of forgetting.
Occurs when we do not have the necessary cues to access memory
What did Tulving conclude about retrieval failure ?
cue has to be present at encoding and also at retrieval
What is a Cue?
A ‘trigger’ of information which allows us to access a memory.
Cues may either be meaningful or indirectly linked by being encoded at time of encoding
What are the two types of cues?
Context dependent Cues
State dependent Cues
WHat is a context dependent cue?
Recall depends on an external cue
e.g: a place or the weather
Who Studied context dependent cues ?
what did they find?
Godden + Baddely (1975)
The group that learned and recalled in the same context cues (on land or under water) had the best recall
What are state dependent cues?
- Recall depends on internal cue
- can either be emotional or physical state
- e.g: Feeling sad, being drunk
Who studies state dependent cues?
FINDINGS
Carter + Cassady (1998)
Groups who had same state dependent cues (On antihistamines or not on drug) on encoding and recall recalled most accurate