AP Psychology: Topic 2.7 - Forgetting and Other Memory Challenges

Forgetting curve

a mathematical formula by Ebbinghaus that demonstrates the rate at which information is forgotten over time if there is no attempt to retain it

Encoding failure

the inability to recall specific information because of insufficient encoding for storage in long-term memory

Proactive interference

the disruptive effect of prior learning on the recall of new information

Retroactive interference

the disruptive effect of new learning on the recall of old information

Tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon

the temporary inability to remember something you know, accompanied by a feeling that it's just out of reach

Repression

a theory that information or memories can be forgotten to defend the mind from distress

Misinformation effect

when misleading information encountered after an event has corrupted one's memory of the event

Source amnesia

the inability to recall where, when, or how one has learned something

Constructive memory

the theory that memories may not fully recall what actually happened since they can be "updated" by new information that is inaccurate

Imagination inflation

a phenomenon in which vividly imagining an event (that may not have happened) greatly increases one's confidence that the event actually occurred