Forgetting

Forgetting

1. FORGETTING THEORIES/MODELS

   • Retrieval faliure theory
     • CUE, a piece of information that helps you retrieve information from LTM
     • Tip-of-ther-tongue (TOT) phenomeon, when we remeber some information about the word/information we are trying to recall but we cannot remeber the actual word/information needed
   • Interference theory
     • Retroactivev interference, the tendency for new information to obstruct the retrieval of previously learnt information
     • Proactive interference, the tendency for previously learnt information to obstruct the retrieval of newly learnt information
   • Motivated Forgetting
     • Repression, a form of motivated forgetting where an individual unconsciously blocks painful of traumatic memories from entering conscious awareness
     • Suppression, a form of motivated forgetting, where an individual consciously/deliberately blocks painful or traumatic memories from entering conscious awareness
   • Decay Theory
     • A theory of forgetting that states that forgetting occurs due to the gradual fading of memory traces over time due to disuse

2. The forgetting Curve

   • A graph that diaplays the rate and amount of information that is lost, or forgotten, over time
   • Nonsense syllables, meaningless sets of three letters that are strung together- usually consisiting of two consonanta and a vowel, in any order

3. MEASURING RETENTION

   • Recall, a measure of retention that involves retrieving stored information using few or no cues for assistance
   • Free recall, recalling information from memory in any order with no cues for assistance
   • Serial recall, recalling information from memory in the order or sequence in which it was learnt, with no cues for assistance
   • Cued recall, recalling information from memory with some cues of hints for assistance
   • Recognition, a measure of retention that involves identifying previously learnt information from a list of group of alternatives
   • Distracter, A false item, similar to the correct item, that is included with the items to be recognised and can lead to unreliable identification
   • Relearning, A measure of retention that involves learning information that has been previously learnt and stored in LTM as a means of assessing whether any information was retained from the original learning

4. Enhancing memory retrieval

   • Encoding specificity principle, the theory that the more closely retrieval cues match the original learning conditions, the greater the chance of recalling the information
   • Context-dependant cues, environmental cues in the specific context or environment where the memory was formed, which enhance the retrieval of memories formed in that context
   • Imagery, forming a mental representation, or mental picture, of an item or scene
   • State-dependant cues, retrieval cues assiciated with your internal physiological state at the time the memory was formed, which enhance the retrieval of memories formed in that state

5. Aiding memory retention

   • Mnemonic device, a system or technique that aids memory retention
   • Mental association, creating meaningful connection between information to be learnt and information already stored in memory
   • Narrative chaining, A mnemonic device that involves linking unrelated items to create a story-like sequence of events
   • Method of loci, A mnemonic device that involves visualising items to be recalled in a well-known series of location, the taking a mental or physical journey through those locations to recall that information
   • Acronym
   • Acrostic, A mnemonic device that involves constructing a phrase or sentence from words that begin with the first letter of each word of the information to be recalled
   • Peg-word method, A mnemonic device involving using a recognisable or easily-remembered rhyme to visually associate items to be remembered

6. Reconstructing Memories

   • Memory reconstruction, remembering past events and features of these events and putting them together during memory recall
   • Schema, A preconceived idea that represents an aspect of the world or the things in it, influences by culture and experience
   • Eye-witness testimony, A statement from an individual who has viewed an event, giving their personal account of that event
   • Leading question, A question that features incorrect information as a means of implanting false memories