Forgetting theories

• Retrieval cue definition⇒ is any stimulus that assists the process of locating and recovering information stored in the LTM. It acts as a prompt that guides the search and recovery process within memory.
• Retrieval failure theory

  • According to the Retrieval failure theory, we sometimes forget because we lack or fail to use the right cues to retrieve information stored in LTM
  • This explanation of forgetting suggests that memories stored in the LTM are available and not forgotten, however, the memories are temporarily inaccessible because of an inappropriate or faulty cue
  • A limitation of this theory is that it doesn’t explain forgetting due to anxiety-related memories, brain trauma, or memories that interfere with one another.
• • The interference theory ⇒ proposes that forgetting in the LTM occurs because other memories interfere with the retrieval of what we are trying to recover, particularly if the other memories are similar.
• 1. Interference theory

  Retroactive interference definition⇒ When new information interferes with the ability to remember old information
• Interference theory

  b) Proactive interference definition⇒ Information learnt previously can interfere with our ability to remember new information
• Motivated forgetting

  Definition⇒ Describes forgetting that arises from a strong motive or desire to forget, usually because the experience is too disturbing or upsetting to remember
• Motivated forgetting:

  Repression Definition⇒ unconsciously blocking the memory of an event or experience from entering conscious awareness
• Suppression Definition⇒ involves being motivated to forget an event or experience by making a deliberate conscious effort to keep it out of conscious awareness.
• Decay theory Definition⇒ Forgetting occurs because the neural representation of memory (called a memory trace) fades through disuse as time passes unless it’s reactivated by being used occasionally