Explanations for forgetting: Interference

Interference Thoery:

Proactive interference (PI) -

• A previous memory interfering with a new one.
• Older interfers with the newer.
• When old and new data are similar, they can cause problems in the memory.

Retroactive interference (RI) - 

• Looking backwards.
• Newer interferes with the older.

Effects of similarity:

McGeoch and McDonald studied retroactive interference by changing the amount of  similarity between two sets of materials. 

Procedure -

• Participants had to learn a list of 10…