Theories of Forgetting

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Theories of Forgetting

• Theories of forgetting can be difficult to test
  as we may in fact not forget, but have trouble
  retrieving information from storage.
• Therefore it is possible that these theories can
  explain why we are unable to retrieve a memory or
  why it is distorted.

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Theories of Forgetting

• Two factors involved in forgetting
• Accessibility The information available can be
  accessed at a specific time/place.
• Availability The information is represented in
  the memory.

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Theories of Forgetting

• Freud Repression, conscious process of burying
  memories to protect ego.
• The emotions associated with the repressed memory
  may be recovered, or express themselves through
• Dream Analysis.
• Hypnosis.
• Free Association.

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Forgetting in STM.

• Trace Decay Unless information is refreshed or
  rehearsed will spontaneously fade or decay over
  time.
• Displacement Only a fixed number of slots in
  memory capacity. New information will displace
  old when capacity is reached.

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Forgetting in LTM.

• Interference More information will be stored and
  become confused together.
• Retrieval Failure
• Information may be available but temporarily
  inaccessible

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What are cues aid retrieval?
recall
learns
Good recall
Poor recall
Good recall
learns
recall