interference theory of forgetting Flashcards
(24 cards)
What is the main idea of interference theory?
Forgetting occurs when two pieces of information disrupt each other.
What memory system is interference mainly proposed for?
Long-term memory (LTM).
According to interference theory, why do we forget LTMs?
We can’t access them, even if they are available
What are the two types of interference?
Proactive Interference (PI) and Retroactive Interference (RI).
What is proactive interference (PI)?
Older memories interfere with newer ones.
What is retroactive interference (RI)?
Newer memories interfere with older ones.
Who discovered that interference is worse when memories are similar?
McGeoch and McDonald.
Describe the procedure used by McGeoch and McDonald.
Studied retroactive interference by varying the similarity between two lists of words.
What type of material produced the worst recall in McGeoch and McDonald’s study?
Synonyms (words with similar meanings).
Why does similarity affect recall?
~ PI: old info makes new similar info hard to store.
~ RI: new info overwrites old similar memories.
Give an example of real-world interference.
Baddeley and Hitch (1977) rugby players recalling team names; more games played led to poorer recall.
What is a counterpoint to real-world interference?
Interference in everyday situations is unusual because conditions are rarely ideal.
How can interference be overcome?
By using cues (hints or clues).
Describe Tulving and Psotka’s (1971) study on interference and cues.
Participants recalled categorized word lists better when given category names as cues.
What did Tulving and Psotka’s study demonstrate about accessibility?
Interference causes a temporary loss of accessibility in LTM.
How do drug studies support interference theory?
Evidence of retrograde facilitation shows drugs can prevent new info from interfering with stored memories.
How did Wixted (2004) explain the effect of certain drugs on memory?
The drug prevents new information from reaching brain areas involved in processing memories.
How can you reduce forgetting due to interference?
Reduce the interference.
What is the key factor for interference to occur between memories?
Memories need to be fairly similar.
What does ‘pro’ mean in the context of proactive interference?
Working forwards, from old to new.
What does ‘retro’ mean in the context of retroactive interference?
Working backwards.
What was the control condition in McGeoch and McDonald’s study?
Participants who had no new list to learn just rested.
What does retrograde facilitation suggest about forgetting?
Forgetting can be due to interference.
What does interference theory suggest about the nature of forgetting in LTM?
Forgetting is often due to retrieval failure rather than the disappearance of memories.
