Transcript forgetting - SCPsychology

FORGETTING
Inability to retrieve information
previously stored in LTM

Theories of forgetting (retrieval failure, interference theory,
motivated forgetting, decay)

The features of the forgetting curve as ( the contribution of
proactive and retroactive interference effects in recall)

Organic causes of forgetting (amnesia both anterograde and
retrograde)

Memory decline over the lifespan

Memory enhancement though quality of encoding
(organisation) and the use of context dependent cues, state
dependent cues and mnemonic devices (narrative chaining and
method of loci)
Theories of Forgetting

Retrieval Failure Theory: Suggests
that many memories are
inaccessible because memory cues
that were present when the memory
was formed are missing when the
time comes to retrieve it

Tip-of-the-tongue (TOT)
phenomenon: Having the answer on
the tip of your tongue, you know the
answer is there but it is just out of
reach
Theories of Forgetting

Retrieval Failure Theory: Suggests
that many memories are
inaccessible because memory cues
that were present when the memory
was formed are missing when the
time comes to retrieve it

Tip-of-the-tongue (TOT)
phenomenon: Having the answer on
the tip of your tongue, you know the
answer is there but it is just out of
reach
Retrieval Cues

Any piece of information that aids
the retrieval of information stored in
LTM

Experiment

Look at the list of words. Provide
three words for each word that
somehow relate to that word.

Place you name on your piece of
paper and hand it to the teacher.
Interference Theory

The tendency for new memories to
impair the retrieval of older
memories and vice versa

Proposes that forgetting in LTM
results from other memories
interfering with the retrieval of
information targeted for recall,
especially when memories are
similar
Types of Interference

Retroactive Interference: Refers to
the tendency for new information to
interfere with the retrieval of
previously learned information
(think: retro = backward)

Proactive Interference: Refers to
the tendency for previously learned
information to interfere with the
retrieval of recently learned
information (think: proactive =
forward)
Motivated Forgetting

Forgetting in LTM occurs because of
a conscious or unconscious desire to
block out painful or threatening
memories

Repression: Occurs unconsciously or
without your awareness

Suppression: When you actively and
consciously attempt to put
something out of awareness – you
could choose to remember it
Limitations to Motivated Forgetting

Has not been extensively tested in
laboratory

Other factors could account for
memory loss such as a blow to the
head or lack of consolidation
Decay Theory

Assumes that when learning takes
place a change occurs in the brain – a
memory trace is formed
(physical/chemical trace of the
event)

Decay theory suggests that these
traces disintegrate over time if they
are not reactivated for use
-
Only relevant to LTM
Limitations of Decay Theory

Fails to explain why some memories
fade and others are maintained for
life

Doesn’t explain our ability to recover
seemingly forgotten memories – this
can happen through re-learning or a
retrieval cue
The Forgetting Curve

There is a normal curve for forgetting
new information

Hermann Ebbinghaus did experiment
on himself using nonsense syllables
-
After 20 mins he remembered 70%
-
After 1 hour her remembered 54%
-
After 1 day he remembered 38%
-
After 2 days he remembered 28%
-
After a month remembered 21
Forgetting Curve
Rate and Amount of Forgetting

Curve is generally the same for a
variety of materials but can vary

Semantic memories tend to be
lasting

More meaningful information is also
forgotten less easily

How well information is encoded
influences rate and amount of
forgetting – not affected by difficulty
of information
Organic Causes of Forgetting

When damage to the brain causes
abnormal functioning it is said to be
organic eg: blow to head, stroke,
tumour – these can lead to amnesia,
a common form of memory loss
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmzU47i2xgw&feature=related

Amnesia: temporary or permanent,
partial or complete loss of memory
-
Organic = caused by damage to
brain
-
Dissociative = psychological trauma
Amnesia: Anterograde Amnesia

Brain damage or trauma that causes
memory loss for events occurring
AFTER the amnesia (antero =
forward)

Sufferers are able to retrieve LTM’s
but are unable to form new ones

Extent of amnesia depends on the
extent of the injury
Amnesia: Retrograde Amnesia

Memory loss for events occurring
BEFORE the amnesia (retro =
backward)

Sufferers are unable to remember
events or information related to the
past but are able to form new
memories
Alzheimers Disease

Permanent, progressive and
debilitating form of dementia that
results from organic brain decay

Serious and permanent loss of
intellectual capacity that results in
confusion and loss of memory –
especially for episodic and semantic
memories

Considered to be age-related, but
not always
-
Read more on pages 256/257
Memory Decline over Lifespan

People remember more between the ages
of 10 and 30 – why?
-
We experience new things
-
Physical abilities are high

Young adults have better recall but
recognition doesn’t decline with age

Age results in more errors in recalling
meaningless information

Episodic memories more affected by age

Attitude affects memory recall in older
people
Memory Enhancement

Information not properly encoded is
more easily forgotten

Organising new information by
connecting it to LTM’s increases
retrieval chances

Attending to information ensures it
will not be lost

Quality of encoding: Shallow:
physical structure, Moderate:
acoustic/phonetic qualities, Deep:
links new to old
Retrieval Cues

Encoding specificity principle: the
more closely retrieval cues match
original condition the greater the
chance of recall

Context-dependent cue: Our
physical surroundings during the
learning

State-dependent cue: The bodily
state that exists during learning
Mnemonic Devices

Any kind of memory system or aid
-
Imagery: mental representations or
mental picture of something
-
Mental association: creating
connections between new and LTM’s
-
Narrative chaining: links unrelated
items to create a sequence of
meaningful information
-
Method of Loci: Mentally linking a
serious of locations to information
that needs to be recalled