explanations for forgetting

• types of forgetting:

  • interference
  • retrieveal failure
• interference:

  • when two pieces of information conflict with each other, resulting in one or both memories becoming distorted or forgotten
• 2 types of interference:

  • proactive
  • retroactive
• proactive interference:

  • an older memory disrupts the recall of the new memory
• retroactive interference:

  • when a new memory disrupts the recall of an older memory
• effects of similarity: MCGEOCH & MCDONALD

  • retroactive interference in a lab
  • ptps had to learn a list of words and recall accurately
  • then they would learn a 2nd list which changed depending on the group they were in
• conditions of McGeoch and McDonald

  • synonyms
  • antonyms
  • words unrelated to the og ones
  • nonsense syllables
  • 3 digit numbers
  • no list
• finding of McGeoch and McDonald:

  • when the 2nd list was synonyms --> recall was worse
  • interference is strongest when the memories are similar
• encoding specificity principle (ESP): TULVING

  • cues have to be present at encoding and retrieval to help us recall information
• 2 types of cue-dependent forgetting:

  • context-dependent
  • state-dependent
• context-dependent forgetting:

  • remembering depends on the environment
• CDF: GODDEN & BADDELEY

  • study on sea divers
  • learn on land, recall on land
  • learn on land, recall underwater
  • learn underwater, recall underwater
  • learn underwater, recall on land
• GODDEN & BADDELEY: findings

  • forgetting was less likely when the context during encoding and retrieval were the same
• state-dependent forgetting:

  • remembering depends on our internal state
• SDF: CARTER & CASSADAY

  • ptps were given antihistamine drugs
  • learn on drug, recall on drug
  • learn on drug, recall off drug
  • learn off drug, recall off drug
  • learn off drug, recall on drug
• CARTER & CASSADAY: findings

  • ptps were most likely to forget words and passages when there was a mismatch between the internal state of encoding and recall