Explanations of forgetting: Retrieval failure

retrieval failure

when we are unable to access the material in our memories even though it is there.

This is explained via the

•Encoding specificity principle

 and two examples of how the principle works:

•Context dependent forgetting

•State dependent forgetting

encoding specificity principle

A principle that states that human memories are more easily retrieved if cues at the time of retrieval are similar to those in existence at the time the memory was stored.
The cues can be internal (state) or external (context).

context dependent forgetting

if we are not in the same place as we were when learning, the memory may not be accessible. The cues are external.

This is why when you revisit your old school you may recall more memories of being there.

state dependent forgetting

if we are not in the same physical and emotional state as we were when the learning happened, we may not be able to access the memory. The cues are internal.

Examples of state cues include – happiness, fear or even being drunk!