strengths and limitations of theories of forgetting

Question 1

Forgetting Curve

Answer 1

• Ebbinghaus
• shows the pattern (RATE AND AMOUNT) of forgetting that occurs
• Ebbinghaus studied memory using nonsense syllables (meaningless sequences of 3 letters e.g. CFE)
• The rationed amount of forgetting is influenced by how meaningful the material is as well as how well the information was initially encoded or if learning took place over extended periods of time then more info is retained
• it is not influenced by how difficult the task is or the learning ability of the learner

Question 2

Criticisms of Forgetting Curve

Answer 2

• Ebbinghaus
• when information is more meaningful forgetting occurs more slowly (than Ebbinghaus first said)
• does not account for the effect of proactive interference on recall abilities i.e once one syllable was presented it was followed by another similar syllable
• recall can be adversely affected by similar information interfering with its retrieval

Question 3

Retrieval Failure Theory

Answer 3

• memories are inaccessible because retrieval cues that were present when the emory was formed are missing at the time of retrieval
• a piece of information that helps you retrieve information from the LTM

Question 4

Tip-of-the-tongue (TOT) phenomenon

Answer 4

• (Retrieval Failure Theory)
• when we remember some information about word/information we are trying to recall but we cannot remember the actual word/information
• TOT phenomenon illustrates several aspects of the retrieval process
  
  • Retrieval is not an all or nothing process, it is a partial process where bits of information can act as further retrieval cues
  • info into LTM is stored in a variety of forms linked to levels of encoding
  • info into LTM is organised and connected in logical ways. This clearly links to the SNT

Question 5

Limitations of Retrieval Failure Theory

Answer 5

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Question 6

Interference theory

Answer 6

• theory of forgetting that refers to the tendency for other memories, either new or old, impair the retrieval of required memory
• retroactive interference: NEW information to obstruct the retrival of previously learnt information
• proactive interference: PREVISOULY learnt information to obstruct the retrial of newly learnt information

Question 7

Limitations of Retrieval Interference Theory

Answer 7

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Question 8

Motivated Forgetting

Answer 8

• Sigmund Freud
• forgetting of LTM’s occurs because of a conscious or unconscious desire to block painful or traumatic memories from entering our conscious awareness
• repression individual UNCONSCIOUSLY blocks painful or traumatic memories from entering conscious awareness
• suppression individual CONSCIOUSLY/DELIBERATELY blocks painful or traumatic memories from entering conscious awareness

Question 9

Limitations of the theory of Motivated Forgetting

Answer 9

• may be due to a lack of consolidation into LTM e.g. “blow to the head”
• remembering traumatic memories may help us learn from the experience blocking them from conscious awareness does not enhance an individuals chance of adapting to and surviving in new situations and environments
• many “repressed” memories have turned out to be false

Question 10

Decay Theory

Answer 10

-a theory of forgetting that states that forgetting occurs due to the gradual fading of memory traces over time due to disuse

Question 11

Limitations of Decay theory

Answer 11

• does not account for our ability to recover some seemingly forgotten memories that have not been used for a long time
• people who suffer from the effects of senility may become so forgetful that they have vivid memories of trivial and long-forgotten events from the past

Question 12

nonsense syllables

Answer 12

-meaningless sets of three letters that are strung together - usually consisting of two consonants and a vowel in any order