FORGETTING
Forgetting Curve – shows the pattern (rate and amount) of forgetting over a period of time. The
graph often shows a rapid forgetting shortly after the original learning followed by a gradual
decrease in the rate of memory loss and stability in the memories that remain.
Theories of Forgetting
Retrieval failure theory – what happens when we have a mental blank; retrieval failure theory
suggests that we sometimes forget because we lack or fail to use the right retrieval cues (stimulus
assisting locating and recovering information stored in our memory). This theory is often referred to
as ‘cue dependent forgetting’. The most common experience in retrieval failure is the ‘tip-of-thetongue’ phenomena; being aware of knowing something being confident you will remember at any
moment, but not being able to retrieve the information at that point in time, we often know what
letter it starts with or similar words but fail to remember the correct word.
Inference theory – suggests that forgetting in LTM occurs due to other memories interfere with the
retrieval with what we’re trying to recall, especially if other memories are similar. If learning of
similar information is learnt closely to other information then interference is more likely to occur.
Two main types of interference; retroactive interference and proactive interference.
 Retroactive interference: when new information interferes with the ability to remember old
information
 Proactive information: when information learned previously interferes with the ability to
remember new information.
Motivated Forgetting – is used to describe forgetting that arises from a strong motive or desire to
forget, usually because the experience is too disturbing or upsetting to remember. Two types of
motivated forgetting; repression and suppression.
 Repression: an unconscious process through which an individual blocks a memory from an
event or experience from entering conscious awareness.
 Suppression: being motivated to forget an event or experience by making a deliberate,
conscious effort to keep it out of conscious awareness.
Decay Theory: is based on the assumption that when something new is learned, a physical or
chemical memory trace of the experience is formed and that memory trace containing stored
information is consolidated in LTM. According to the decay theory forgetting occurs because a
memory (or memory trace) fades through disuse as time passes unless its reactivated by being used
occasionally.
LEARNING ACTIVITY 1
1a- in psychology, forgetting is defined as the inability to retrieve previously stored information
b- it doesn’t really, I thought that forgetting just wasn’t being able to remember a piece of
information we once knew.
2- Although forgetting results in the loss of information and many skills, if you don’t forget your
mind would be cluttered with so much information and it would be difficult to retrieve and select
the information needed.
34a- Forgetting curve is a graph showing that rate and amount of forgetting that occurs over time.
b- The graph often shows a rapid forgetting shortly after the original learning followed by a gradual
decrease in the rate of memory loss and stability in the memories that remain.
5- Factors affecting the rate and amount of forgetting are; how well the initial information was
encoded,
6-
LEARNING AVTIVITY 6
1- Retrieval cue: a stimulus that assists in the process of locating and retrieving information
stored in memory eg- words relating to a piece of learnt material (memorised sentences)
2a- Forgetting occurs because we lack or fail to use the right retrieval cues (stimulus assisting
locating and recovering information stored in our memory).
2b3a- Suggests that forgetting in LTM occurs due to other memories interfere with the retrieval
with what we’re trying to recall, especially if other memories are similar.
3b-Retroactive interference: when new information interferes with the ability to remember old
information
Proactive information: when information learned previously interferes with the ability to
remember new information.
3c- retroactive information is when newly learnt information interferes with the ability to
remember old information and proactive inference is when previously learnt information stops
us from remembering new information
3d- revise all material equally allowing for enough time to revise old material and also remember
new material
LEARNING ACTIVITY 7
1a- Sometimes forgetting arises from a strong motive or desire to forget, usually because the
experience is too disturbing or upsetting to remember.
1b- Repression: an unconscious process through which an individual blocks a memory from an
event or experience from entering conscious awareness.
Suppression: being motivated to forget an event or experience by making a deliberate,
conscious effort to keep it out of conscious awareness.
1c- repression is an unconscious process in which a memory is blocked and suppression is
deliberate effort to forget a memory.
2a- based on the assumption that when something new is learned, a physical or chemical
memory trace of the experience is formed and that memory trace containing stored information
is consolidated in LTM. According to the decay theory forgetting occurs because a memory (or
memory trace) fades through disuse as time passes unless its reactivated by being used
occasionally.