Explanations for forgetting

• Interference theory says that forgetting occurs because memories interfere with and disrupt each other. Forgetting is a result of confusion between similar pieces of information.
• Proactive interference is when past learning or an old memory interferes/ impairs our ability to encode and recall new information.
• Retroactive interference is the opposite of proactive interference. It's when a new memory impairs the retrieval of an old memory.
• While there is considerable experimental support for inference theory, most of this evidence comes from laboratory tests which lack ecological validity.
• Inference theory might not explain forgetting in all contexts. For example, it might not explain forgetting in long-term memory where decay may play a larger role.
• Cue-depended forgetting or retrieval failure explains forgetting as the result of insufficient cues.
• Cues are anything that aids the recall of a memory.
• Context-dependent cues refer to the surroundings or situation in which a piece of information is learnt and it can enhance the ability of recalling details.
• State-dependent cues are about the state of mind one is in when learning occurs. Revisiting this state can help with remembering.
• The main criticism of cue-dependent forgetting is that is doesn't explain why memories need a cue for recall in the first place, it just describes the process.
• A limitation of cue-dependent forgetting is that there is no guarantee that cues will always aid recall. They might worsen it if they trigger recall of incorrect or irrelevant material.