Explanations for Forgetting

Explanations for Forgetting

1. Interference

   • Retroactive interference
     • Newer memories disrupt older ones, e.g. remembering to drive on left when you return from holiday.
   • Proactive interference
     • Older memories disrupt newer ones, e.g. remembering to drive on the right when you go on holiday abroad.

2. Retrieval failure

   • Memory being available but not accessible.
   • Cues
     • A trigger that enables access to memories.
   • Encoding specificity principle (ESP)
     • Tulving – recall is better when the cues that were present when we learnt something are also present when we recall it.
   • Meaningful cues
     • Cue linked to material-to-be-accessed in meaningful way. Other cues also encoded at time of learning (context or state).
   • Context dependent forgetting
     • Recall in environment different from where learning took place – Godden and Baddeley's study of deep-sea divers.
   • State dependent forgetting
     • Physical or psychological state different from when learning took place – Carter and Cassaday's study of hay-fever medication.