Explanations for Forgetting-Interference

Explanations for Forgetting-Interference

1. Description

   • Retroactive interference- old interferes with the new
     • Muller and Pilzecker- recall was less good if there was an intervening task (describing paintings)
   • Proactive interference- new interferes with the old
     • Underwood- analysed many studies, the more lists learned the lower the percentage of recall
   • Baddeley and Hitch
     • Rugby players who played fewer games had better recall of teams played against (less interference)

2. Evaluation

   • Artificial research
     • Words and nonsense syllables does not represent everyday memory
   • Limited to some situations of forgetting, where two sets of stimuli are quite similar
   • Ceraso- spontaneous recovery of recognition memory after interference suggests memories are available but not accessible

3. Further Evaluation

   • Real world application
     • Competing advertisements reduce their effect because of interference, better to show three in one day
   • Individual differences
     • People with greater working memory span are less susceptible to proactive intereference