Theories of forgetting: Interference theory

Interference theory is an explanation of forgetting in terms of one memory disrupting the ability to recall another
This is most likely to occur when the two memories have some similarity
It has been proposed mainly as an explanation of forgetting LTM

Types of interference

It is very likely that the two memories interfering with each other were stored at different times. Psychologists recognise that there are two types of interference:
- Proactive interference= occurs when an older memory interferes with a newer one
- Retroactive interference= happens when a newer memory interferes with an older one
In both proactive and retroactive interference, the interference is worse when the memories are similar
McGeoch and McDonald:
- ppts had to learn a list of ten words until they could recall them with 100% accuracy
- They then had to learn a new list of words
- There were six groups whom all learned different types of lists:
  - Synonyms
  - Antonyms- words with opposite meanings to the originals
  - Words unrelated to the original ones
  - Nonsense syllables
  - Three-digit numbers
  - No new list- ppts just rested
- …

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