AS Pyschology - Theories of Forgetting

Interference theory...

This theory is the idea that forgetting is a FAILURE TO RETRIEVE information we have stored, and as we store more it becomes HARDER.

Interference theory...

Interference can occur in two forms;

- Retroactive; this is when a ps learns one topic e.g LIST A, then learns LIST B and is made to recall LIST A, however LIST B interferes with the ability to recall. This is because new information intereferes with the old information.

- Proactive; this is when a ps learns a topic e.g. LIST A then learns LIST B, and is made to recall LIST B, however LIST A intereferes with the ability to recall.  This is because old information intereferes with the newly learnt information.