Retrieval failure as an explanation of forgetting

• Retrieval failure


  Occurs when there is an absence of cues, which results in forgetting
• The information is available but not accessible in the LTM
• Encoding specificity principle


  A cue must be present during encoding and at retrieval, in order to aid memory
• If cues at encoding and retrieval are different this could lead to forgetting
• Types of retrieval failure


  • Context dependent forgetting
  • State-dependent forgetting
• Context dependent forgetting


  Memory retrieval is dependent on an external cue (e.g. a place)
• State-dependent forgetting


  Memory retrieval is dependent on an internal cue/state of mind (e.g. mood)