This document discusses several theories of forgetting: retrieval failure theory, which attributes forgetting to inability to access stored memories due to lack of appropriate retrieval cues; interference theory, where new memories interfere with recall of old ones; motivated forgetting as proposed by Freud involving repression or suppression of distressing memories; and decay theory, where memories fade over time due to disuse. It outlines the key aspects of each theory and notes limitations such as interference theory only applying to meaningless information and doubts around Freud's concept of repressed memories.

1. Lesson 1:
Forgetting
&
Memory Loss
Tuesday, 3 April 2012

2. Outcomes:
•Describe the strengths and limitations of the
psychological theories of forgetting:
- Retrieval failure theory including tip-of-the-
tongue phenomenon
- Interference theory
- Motivated forgetting as informed by the work of
Sigmund Freud including repression and
suppression
- Decay theory
Tuesday, 3 April 2012

3. What is Forgetting???
Failure to access or
retrieve information
previously stored in
memory
Tuesday, 3 April 2012

4. Forgetting something DOES NOT mean it is
gone FOREVER, but simply at that moment in
time you can not retrieve the information.
HY do we
So W
forget? ???
Tuesday, 3 April 2012

5. Retrieval Failure Theory
Forget because fail to use the right retrieval cue
Retrieval cues are mental reminders; context
dependent cues (context or environment memory was
encoded) and state dependent cues (smell, taste and
sounds associated with the encoding of the memory)
Retrieval of memories are enhanced when remembering
occurs in similar surroundings as when the memory was
encoded
IS STUDYING WHILST LISTING TO YOUR IPOD
SUCH A GREAT IDEA???????
Tuesday, 3 April 2012

6. Tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon
Tuesday, 3 April 2012

7. Remember this number 9458 2329
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8. Spend 30 sec remembering the following
9876 5432
97005731
9345 6894
9354 6823
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9. TRY TO RECALL ORIGINAL NUMBER
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10. 9458 2329
Tuesday, 3 April 2012

11. That was an example of retroactive interference.
Where new information interferes with the
ability to remember old information.
Tuesday, 3 April 2012

12. Interference Theory
Forget because other memories interfere with the
one we are trying to retrieve, particularly those
that are similar to the one we are trying to recall
Retroactive interference – New information
interferes with the remembering of old
information
Proactive interference - Old information interferes
with ability to remember new information
Tuesday, 3 April 2012

13. Tuesday, 3 April 2012

14. Limitations - Interference Theory
Research supporting the theory tends to
only show interference with the recall of
meaningless information.
It has yet to explain why interference does
not effect semantic memories
Tuesday, 3 April 2012

15. Motivated Forgetting
Theory proposed by Sigmund Freud
Forget because we want to forget, defense mechanism
that protects us from distressing memories.
Information not lost but hard to retrieve during normal
waking consciousness
Motivation can also lead us to recode distressing
memories as more pleasant
Repression - subconscious defense mechanism
Suppression – conscious choosing not to think
Tuesday, 3 April 2012

16. Limitations - Motivated Forgetting
Repressed memories is a highly
controversial topic. There mere existence
is questionable creating doubt in the
validity of Freud’s research.
Tuesday, 3 April 2012

17. Decay Theory
Forget because memory fades over time due to
misuse
Based on assumption that memory is stored as
a physical or chemical trace in the brain
Tuesday, 3 April 2012

18. Limitations - Decay Theory
Extremely difficult to empirically test theory
Does not explain sudden recollection of memories
‘forgotten’
Fails to explain the strength of the LTM retrieval of
the elderly
Tuesday, 3 April 2012