Forgetting

• What is decay theory?


  Decay theory is one theory of why we forget and it claims that we forget because the memory is no longer in long-term memory.

  
• What is meant by: Retrieval failure?

  Retrieval failure is a second theory as to why we forget and claims that we forget because we are unable to retrieve the memory from storage.
• What is proactive interference?

  When an old memory interferes with remembering a new memory.
• What is retroactive interference?

  When a new memory interferes with remembering an old memory.
• How does interference theory explain forgetting?

  Interference theory says that we forget a memory because we accidentally retrieve a different but similar memory instead.
• Which researcher found support for proactive interference?

  Underwood found support for proactive interference.

  
• Which researchers found support for retroactive interference?

  Underwood and Potsman found support for retroactive interference.
• What are two limitations of interference theory?

  - studies that support are artificial or have low ecological validity - only explains similar memories
• What is meant by: Retrieval cues?

  Retrieval cues are prompts that we associate with a particular memory and that help us to retrieve the memory.
• What is meant by: External cues?

  External cues are features of the external world that we experienced around the time of encoding a memory.

  
• What is meant by: Internal cues?

  Internal cues are things that we felt and thought around the time of encoding a memory

  
• What is meant by: Cue overloading?

  Cue overloading is when a retrieval cue is associated with multiple memories.
• How does cue-dependent forgetting theory explain forgetting?


  Cue-dependent forgetting theory says we forget when we are unable to access a retrieval cue to help us retrieve a memory.
• How does cue-dependent forgetting explain memory interference?

  If two memories are very similar, they are likely to be associated with the same retrieval cue. So if we use a retrieval cue that is associated with both memories to retrieve one of the two memories, we could end up accidentally retrieving the other memory.

  
• Which researchers found support for the role of external cues in memory recall?

  Godden and Baddeley (1975)

  
• Which researchers conducted a study comparing interference theory and cue-dependent forgetting theory?

  Tulving and Psotka
• What are two limitations of cue-dependent forgetting theory?

  - studies that support lack ecological validity - less relevant for procedural memories