Prepared by Paul John P. Lanic
B.S. Psychology - University of Santo Tomas
(October 2011)
REASONS FOR FORGETTING
Ψ Passive decay through disuse – lack of practice may lead to one forgetting what has been learned.
Ψ Systematic Distortion of Memory Trace – occurs when no deep learning has been established. Learned things may be changed or made incongruent with the original concept as caused by intrapersonal and environmental factors. Also, it is the abolition of memory trace.
Ψ Interference effects – forgetting may occur when other factors come in to affect learning.
o Kinds of interferences:
§ Retroactive Inhibition – past learning forgotten.
§ Proactive Inhibition – present learning forgotten.
Ψ Selective or motivated forgetting – unconscious or involuntary repression of learning that is perceived as traumatic or painful.
THEORIES OF MEMORY AND FORGETTING
1. Information – Processing Model
- The use of stimulation for the study of individual behavior
2. Theory of Fading
- Forgetting takes place through the passage of time.
-Memory trace
-Physical change in brain; metabolic processes cause fading
3. Interference Theory
-Forgetting increases with time solely because of increasing interference between connecting memories as stored information expands.
-Difficulty in converting short-term memory to long-term memory
- causes memory confusion (old memories blend with new ones)
4. Ziegarnik Effect
- tendency to remember non-completed tasks better than the complete ones
- Explanation: Tension system builds up within the individual until the task is finished.
B.S. Psychology - University of Santo Tomas
(October 2011)
REASONS FOR FORGETTING
Ψ Passive decay through disuse – lack of practice may lead to one forgetting what has been learned.
Ψ Systematic Distortion of Memory Trace – occurs when no deep learning has been established. Learned things may be changed or made incongruent with the original concept as caused by intrapersonal and environmental factors. Also, it is the abolition of memory trace.
Ψ Interference effects – forgetting may occur when other factors come in to affect learning.
o Kinds of interferences:
§ Retroactive Inhibition – past learning forgotten.
§ Proactive Inhibition – present learning forgotten.
Ψ Selective or motivated forgetting – unconscious or involuntary repression of learning that is perceived as traumatic or painful.
THEORIES OF MEMORY AND FORGETTING
1. Information – Processing Model
- The use of stimulation for the study of individual behavior
2. Theory of Fading
- Forgetting takes place through the passage of time.
-Memory trace
-Physical change in brain; metabolic processes cause fading
3. Interference Theory
-Forgetting increases with time solely because of increasing interference between connecting memories as stored information expands.
-Difficulty in converting short-term memory to long-term memory
- causes memory confusion (old memories blend with new ones)
4. Ziegarnik Effect
- tendency to remember non-completed tasks better than the complete ones
- Explanation: Tension system builds up within the individual until the task is finished.