Lecture notes
Explanations for forgetting
These notes both go into detail and keep the information simple about the explanations for forgetting. These notes were written in 2022.
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-Explanations for forgetting:-Forgetting is due to LTM becoming confused or disrupted by other information during coding.
-Two types:
Proactive- works forward in time, when information already stored interferes with recalling
something new (going into the future).
Retro-active- works backwards in time, when coding something new disrupts previous
information (going into the past).
-Proactive interference:
Old information moves forward
Interferes with retrieval of new information e.g., moving house (the postcode)
Goes from old information to new information
-Retroactive interference:
New information moves backwards
Interferes with retrieval of old information.
Goes from new information to old information
-Forgetting-interference:
Interference is where two lots of information become confused in memory.
Proactive interreference is when old learning affects recall of new information.
Retroactive interference is when new learning affects recall of old information as newer
information may overwrite or block earlier information
Similarity- interference is more likely to occur when the two pieces of information are
similar, this is due to response competition.
Time sensitive- interference is less likely to occur when there is a gap between the instances
of learning. Supportive research- Schmidt (2000)- Investigated memories from childhood
street names. N=11-79-year olds responded to a questionnaire containing a map of the area
around their old school without street names. Found the more times an individual moved to
a new house, the fewer street names recalled, a negative correlation between number of
times moved to a new house and street names recalled. Demonstrates retroactive inference,
remembering new streets makes recalling old streets harder. Supportive research- Baddeley
+ Hitch demonstrated retroactive interference by showing that the more games a rugby
player had played, the worse their recall of the team names they had played became.
-Forgetting-retrieval failure/Cue Dependant Forgetting (CDF):
Information is in LTM but forgetting happens due to the absence of appropriate
cues/prompts.
Different place- Inhibits memory as lacks environmental cues- being in a different place may
inhibit memory. Supportive by Godden + Baddeley (1975) who studied divers who learnt
new materials on dry land or while underwater. Found recall was worse if in a different
context and best if the same. For example, was learnt underwater was recalled best
underwater. Shows having the same context for learning and recall aids recall.
Being in a different mood/state of arousal may inhibit memory, if your internal environment
is different when coded- being in a different mood/state of arousal may inhibit memory.
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