Interference Theory

Question 1

Proactive interference

Answer 1

Older memory interferes with new one
Pro (looking forward) old -> new

Question 2

Retroactive interference

Answer 2

New memory interferes with old one
Retro (working backwards)

Question 3

Underwood + Postman (1960)

Answer 3

Learn series of word pairs
Presented with first word (stimulus)
Recall it’s paired word (response)
Then gives another set on response words to learn with the same stimulus words
Recall is worsened by proactive and retroactive interference when the same stimulus words are used in both lists

Question 4

Baddeley and Hitch (1977)

Answer 4

Asked ruby players to try to remember names of teams they’d played so far in the season
If they had played a lot of games (misses less) recall was interfered with
Shows that forgetting occurs because other memories disrupt retrieval as opposed to because of time passing