explanations of forgetting

Question 1

reasons for forgetting

Answer 1

• decay theory: memories have disappeared from long term storage
• interference theory: we fail to retrieve memories due to proactive/retroactive interference
• retrieval failure: cannot retrieve memories from LTM

Question 2

interference theory

Answer 2

we accidentally retrieve a different similar memory instead

Question 3

proactive interference

Answer 3

old memories interfere with retrieval of new similar memories

Question 4

retroactive interference

Answer 4

new memories interfere with retrieval of an old similar memory

Question 5

ao3 proactive study support - underwood

Answer 5

investigated effect of learning multiple word lists on recall of newest learnt (proactive interference)
= if p had to learn only one word list their recall was better
= if learnt multiple accuracy was only 20%, old interfered with new
= SUPPORTS PROACTIVE INTERFERENCE

Question 6

ao3 retroactive study support - underwood and potsman

Answer 6

lab experiment
divided p into two groups
control group learnt one list
experimental group learnt two lists
= control group recall was better
= exp group had better recall of second word list
= SUPPORTS RETROACTIVE INTERFERENCE

Question 7

underwood and postman evaluation

Answer 7

• lab conditions, highly controlled, objective date, highly scientific
• lacks ecological validity, not representative of what we recall in real life, lacks mundane realism