FORGETTING (HOW WE LOSE MEMORY)
Forgetting is the inability to recall, recognize or relearn at improved rate. This condition may be due to a storage failure in which the memory trace was never satisfactory created or consolidated. It may due to retrieval failure in which memory trace is adequate cue evoking it is lacking.
There are four main theories that explaining forgetting:
1. Interference theory
2. Decay theory
3. Repression theory
4. Consolidation theory
Interference theory
Here information is lost from memory because it is disturbed or displaced by other information either by retro or proactive interference.
This is when later memories interfere with recall of something learned earlier. When testing this form of interference in an experiment, both the experimental and control groups learned task A in the first session. The control group rests in the second session while the experimental group learns task B.
Finally both groups are called upon to call task A. According to retroactive interference the experimental group that learnt task B will show a poorer performance on task B.
This can be shown below.
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1st session |
2nd session |
Recall |
Performance |
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Experimental |
Task |
A |
Task B |
Task A |
Performance |
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group |
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poorer |
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Control |
Task |
A |
Rests |
Task A |
Performance |
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group |
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better |
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b) Proactive Interference.
When earlier memories interfere with the recall of material learnt later it is called proactive interference. To test this experimental group learn task A and the control group rests. They both learn task B in the second session. The experimental group performs poorer on the memory test of task B due to proactive interference.
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1st session |
2nd session |
Recall |
Performance |
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Experimental |
Task A |
Task B |
Task B |
Poor |
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group |
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Control |
Rests |
Task B |
Task B |
Better |
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group |
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This theory assumes that learning leaves a trace on the brain and that memory trace if not actively used fades with time.
Decay theorists
Stress that they have a limited capacity for processing information and that rehearsal prevents decay by keeping the material available until it can be used, and when rehearsal stops then decay succeeds.
Repression theory (motivated forgetting)
Sigmud Freud suggested that we forgot some information because it is threatening to us in some way. Freud believed that the conscious mind often dealt with unpleasant or dangerous information by an act of repression and this is normally referred to as motivated forgetting. Memories for highly stressful events such as auto accidents are pushed in the unconscious mind.
Another view of forgetting that postulates storage failure focus on the sudden destruction of a new trace in its formative stage. In consolidation theory it is suggested that memory trace needs time to be firmly fixed certain conditions occurring soon after an experience can eradicate the before it becomes permanent.
Any event which destructs normal brain functioning can also destruct memory, certain drugs alcohol and excessive anesthesia inhibit brain functioning and can also result into loss of recent memories by interfering with consolidation of the memory trace.