Interference Theory

Interference Theory

1. Focuses on forgetting on the LTM

2. Suggests forgetting occurs because of interference or confusion between old and new memories

3. Memory isn't thought to be lost, just distorted or changed due to other 'conflicting memories'

4. Two types:

   • Proactive Interference: Something that has been previously learnt interferes with current learning. Old memories interfere with new ones. Eg. calling your new bf your old bf's name
   • Retroactive Inference: Something learned later interferes with old memories. New memories interfere with old memories. Eg. Not being able to remember your old phone number because of your new number

5. McGeoch & McDonald 1931

   • Demonstrated radioactive interference acuratley
   • Participants had to learn a list of 10 words until they could be recalled
   • Then they either rested for 10 mins, learnt a list of 3 digit numbers, learnt a list of nonsense syllables, learnt unrelated words or learnt a list of antonyms or synonyms of original list
   • Found more similar the new information was to the old information (memory) the lower recall became

6. Jenkins & Dallenbach 1924

   • Supports radioactive interference
   • Participants given 10 nonsense syllable to learn
   • Some participants slept after learning- others carried out everyday routines
   • Found that those who stayed awake didn't remember as much
   • Researchers claimed it was because sleeping hadn't caused an interference whereas the day's activities had

7. EVALUATION

   • Much evidence to support this theory of forgetting
   • Doesn't explain how interference happens. Hard to separate interference from displacement and trace theory
   • Artificial tasks lack mundane realism, have low ecological validity. Solso 1995- such tasks don't occur in real world- conclusions may be invalid
   • Supporting evidence- based on lab exp.- highly controlled, and yield cause & effect. Allows firm conclusions and replication
   • Effects of interference disappears when participants are given cues- thus memory trace is still present, just not retriveable
   • Both Jenkins & Dallenbach and McGeoch & McDonald demonstrated retroactive interference
   • Doesn't account for all types of forgetting- some memories can't be recalled even if no similar info is present in memories to confuse it