Motivated forgetting

Question 1

Define: motivated forgetting theory

Answer 1

Proposes that forgetting occurs from a strong desire to forget, usually when an event is too traumatic to remember.

Question 2

From which two psychological processes does motivated forgetting result from?

Answer 2

Repression and suppression

Question 3

Define: repression

Answer 3

unconsciously blocking a disturbing memory from conscious awareness – so we are unaware of its existence..

Question 4

Repression is based on the theories of whom?

Answer 4

SIgmund Freud.

Question 5

What are Freud’s theories regarding repression?

Answer 5

o Repression is a defence mechanism: it prevents a person from experiencing the anxiety/distress associated with a memory by blocking it from conscious awareness.
o Repressed information is NOT FORGOTTEN: however it is DIFFICULT TO RETRIEVE IN NWC.

Question 6

How can repressed information be brought to conscious awareness, according to Freud?

Answer 6

In ASC’s (dreaming, nightmares or hypnosis); Freudian slips or blushing at certain things.

Question 7

What are examples of memories that might be repressed?

Answer 7

Sexual abuse, bulling or torture.

Question 8

Define: suppression

Answer 8

consciously blocking a memory out of conscious awareness – so we are aware of its existence.

Question 9

Can suppression change the tone and context of memories that we retrieve?

Answer 9

YES; becomes more neutral. Eg. participants recollection of traumatic memories were more neutral than the recollection of onlookers.

Question 10

Describe empirical research in support of the theory of suppression.

Answer 10

In a repeated measures experiment, participants learned a list of words then consciously tried to forget it/neither forget nor forget. Forgetters remembered less words; frontal lobes activated (meant to be responsible for suppressing memories) and reduced activation of hippocampus.

Question 11

LImitations of the theory of motivated forgetting?

Answer 11

• Repression is limited to a few specific (traumatic) experiences.
• Does not account for forgetting due to use of faulty or inappropriate retrieval cues or interference
• Difficult to experimentally investigate the existence of repressed (methodological and ethical issues)
• When we retrieve repressed memories, they may be reconstructed.

Question 12

Strength of the theory of motivated forgetting?

Answer 12

• Explains how disturbing memories are blocked from conscious awareness