Interference - Chapter 7

People forget information because of competition for other WHAT

People forget information because of competition for other MATERIAL

Example:

• You met Joan for the first time in a party. Later in the party, you met Nancy, Sarah, Pam, Katie, Jenny and many other women. You forgot the name of the first woman (or might be others too) you met

Competition gets stronger when the to-be-remembered target bears a close resemblance to the WHAT item

Competition gets stronger when the to-be-remembered target bears a close resemblance to the INTERFERING item

Empirical studies demonstrating the theory of interference:

• Manipulate amount of WHAT by varying the degree of WHAT between the target and the interfering material

• Prediction: decreasing similarity should WHAT interference and cause less WHAT

Empirical studies demonstrating the theory of interference:

• Manipulate amount of INTERFERENCE by varying the degree of SIMILARITY between the target and the interfering material

• Prediction: decreasing similarity should REDUCE interference and cause less FORGETTING

What are the two types of interference

• WHAT

• WHAT

What are the two types of interference

• Proactive

• Retroactive

Proactive interference

Previously learned information interferes with the retention of new information

In the image shown for proactive interference attempt to recall info in time WHAT but recall info encoded in time WHAT instead

In the image shown for proactive interference attempt to recall info in time 2 but recall info encoded in time 1 instead

Retroactive interference

New information impairs the retention of previously learned information

In the image shown for retroactive interference attempt to recall info in time WHAT but recall info encoded in time WHAT instead

In the image shown for retroactive interference attempt to recall info in time 1 but recall info encoded in time 2 instead

Low recall is due to both WHAT and WHAT

Low recall is due to both PROACTIVE and RETROACTIVE INTERFERENCE