Explanations of forgetting Flashcards
What are the 2 ways we can explain forgetting?
Interference and retrieval failure
Proactive interference is when…
Old information affects new information
Retroactive interference is when…
New information affects old information
Which researchers support interference theory?
McGeogh & McDonald (1931)
Underwood (1957)
Baddeley & Hitch (1977)
How can we criticise interference theory?
Conditions for interference are rare in everyday situations
Interference can be overcome by cues
Lab-based studies - artificial
What does interference theory mean?
When one memory disrupts the ability to remember another.
When is interference more likely to occur?
If memories are similar
Retrieval failure is defined as a lack of…
Cues
The encoding specificity principle states…
If a cue is to help us to recall information, it needs to have been present at the time of encoding and at retrieval.
Context dependent forgetting relates to…
External cues such as the environment
State dependent forgetting relates to…
Internal cues such as your mood
Support for context dependent forgetting comes from?
Golden & Baddeley (1975)
Milne & Bull (2002)
Support for state dependent forgetting comes from?
Goodwin et al (1969)
Carter & Cassaday (1998)
How can we criticise retrieval failure?
Context effects are not very strong in everyday life
Context effects may depend on the type of memory being tested
Problems with the ESP
