AP Psychology 2.7 Forgetting and Other Memory Challenges

Forgetting Curve

graph that demonstrates that forgetting occurs rapidly after learning and then levels off over time

Encoding Failure

information is not properly stored in memory, making retrieval difficult

Proactive Interference

interference where old information hinders recall of new information

Retroactive Interference

interference where new information hinders recall of old information

Repression

according to (hard to prove) psychodynamic theory, memories are sometimes repressed to protect ego from distress

Misinformation Effect

false information presented after an event can alter memory of that event

Source Amnesia

to forget where or how information was acquired

Constructive Memory

memories can be influenced or altered during recall, often through imagination or suggestion