Interference theory

• Interference


  Occurs when two pieces of information conflict with each other, resulting in forgetting
• Types of interference


  • Proactive interference (PI)
  • Retroactive interference (RI)
• Proactive interference (PI)


  Occurs when old memories interfere with new memories
• Retroactive interference (RI)


  Occurs when new memories interfere with old memories
• Effects of similarity


  Interference was greater when memories were more similar
• Procedure


  1. Participants had to learn a ten word list

  2. Six groups had to learn a new list (synonyms, antonyms, unrelated words, nonsense syllables, 3-digit numbers, nothing)
• Lab studies


  • Increase validity due to control over irrelevant influences
  • But also greater chance of interference happening in a lab rather than everyday life due to artificial stimulus and meaningless tasks
• Time between learning


  Lab studies use short learning periods to maximize interference chances
• Interference might not be a likely explanation for forgetting in everyday life, which contains more meaningful information like faces, birthdays, ingredients etc.
• Passage of time


  Interference has a greater effect on forgetting than passage of time