Interference: Retroactive & Proactive (OCR A-Level Psychology): Revision Notes
📚 Revision Notes
2.3.1 Interference: Retroactive & Proactive
Inability to recall something now, that could be recalled at a previous occasion
Explanations of why we forget:
- Trace decay
- Retrieval failure
Trace decay theory = We forget because memories disappear from storage
Retrieval failure = We forget memories because we are unable to retrieve them
Reasons for retrieval failure:
- Interference theory
Interference theory = Accidentally retrieving a different memory because it is similar
Types of memory interference:
Proactive interference = When an old memory interferes with retrieving a new, similar memory
infoNote
E.g__., moving to a new house and giving someone your old house address instead
Retroactive interference = When a new memory interferes with retrieving an old, similar memory
infoNote
E.g__., moving to a new house and forgetting your old house address