AP Psychology: 5.03 Memory Interference

Encoding Failure

-Encoding failure leads to forgetting

-We do not notice much of what we sense

-Without effort put into encoding, many memories never form.

    -Things that are important to us are more likely to be encoded.

Storage Decay

-Forgetting something after it has been encoded

-Forgetting happens very rapidly at first, but then it levels off

-Ebbinghaus forgetting curve.

Retrieval Failure

-The inability to retrieve an encoded memory from long term storage.

-Tip of the tongue phenomenon

-Temporary inability to retrieve a word well known to the speaker.

-We retrieve words like the word we are looking for but not the actual word.

Inference (Retrieval Failure)

Proactive Interference: the forward acting disruptive effect of older learning on the recall of new information.

Ex: Having to change the password on your phone because your significant other is nosey. The well rehearsed old password will interfere with the retrieval of the new one.

Retroactive interference: The backward-acting disruptive effect of newer learning on the recall of old information

Ex: a song is remixed with new lyrics. You may find it difficult to remember the original lyrics that you knew very well.

Memory Construction Errors

Misinformation effect: Misleading information distorts one’s memory of an event

Imagination Effect: Imagining nonexistent actions and events to create false memories.

Source Amnesia: Not accurately remembering how information was learned or imagined