Memory: topic 5 ‘explanations of forgetting; interference and retrieval failure’

Question 1

What are the 2 explanations for forgetting?

Answer 1

• interference theory
• retrieval failure

Question 2

What is interference in memory?

Answer 2

• when one memory disrupts (or interferes with) our ability to recall another

Question 3

When is interference most likely to occur?

Answer 3

• when two memories are similar

Question 4

What are the 2 types of interference?

Answer 4

• retroactive interference
• proactive interference

Question 5

what is retroactive interference?

Answer 5

• this occurs when newly learned information disrupts our recall of other memories
• for example learning gracias in spanish and grazie in italian and then struggling to recall the spanish word you learned first

Question 6

What is proactive interference?

Answer 6

• this occurs when older memories disrupt our ability to learn and recall new information
• for example, learning gracias in spanish and grazie in italian then struggling to recall the italian word you learned later

Question 7

What is retrieval failure due to the absence of cues?

Answer 7

• when a memory is available but we cannot access it because we do not have the necessary cues or triggers to do this

Question 8

Why do we experience retrieval failure due to the absence of cues?

Answer 8

• because when memories are coded, we also often code where we were at the time the information was learned (eg the ‘context’ or how we felt ‘state’)
• our memory is often triggered by retuning to the context or state in which we first experienced a memory, so when these triggers or cues are not present at the time of retrieval or recall we often forget

Question 9

What is context-dependant forgetting?

Answer 9

• the inability to retrieve a memory due to an absence of environmental triggers at the time of retrieval (eg in a classroom and struggling to recall when in a different classroom)

Question 10

What is state-dependent forgetting?

Answer 10

• the inability to retrieve a memory due to being in a different mental state at the time of retrieval to that when to memory was initially coded (eg learning new information whilst upset and struggling to remember it when feeling happier)