Interference Theory

Interference Theory

1. Key Terms

   • Interference: Forgetting because one memory blocks another, causing one or both memories to be distorted or forgotten
   • Proactive interference: Forgetting occurs when older memories, already stored, disrupt the recall of newer memories. The degree of forgetting is greater when the memories are similar.
   • Retroactive interference: Forgetting occurs when newer memories disrupt the recall of older memories already stored. The degree of forgetting is again greater when the memories are similar.

2. Proposed mainly as an explanation for forgetting in LTM. Information in LTM is more or less permanent, therefore any forgetting is because we can't access them. Interference between memories makes it harder for us to locate them, which is experienced as forgetting.

3. Types of interference

   • Proactive interference: old memory interferes with new. Eg your teacher has learned so many names in the past she has difficulty remembering the names of her current class
   • Retroactive interference: new memory interferes with old. Eg your teacher has learned so many new names this year that she has difficulty remembering the names of the students last year

4. John McGeoch and William McDonald (1931) Similarity. They studied retroactive interference by changing the amount of similarity between two sets of materials. Participants had to learn a list of 10 words until they could remember them with 100% accuracy