Describe each of the five theories of forgetting and include example to illustrate each one
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Forgetting is a natural part of memory processing, and psychologists have identified five major theories to explain why it happens.
1. Decay Theory
This theory suggests that memory traces fade over time if they are not accessed. The brain forms a physical or chemical change when storing information. If the memory is not used or rehearsed, the trace weakens. For example, if you learn a few phrases in French during high school but never practice them, you may not recall them years later.
2. Interference Theory
This theory proposes that forgetting occurs because similar memories interfere with one another. There are two types of interference. In proactive interference, old memories hinder the recall of new ones. In retroactive interference, new information makes it harder to remember old material. For instance, if you learn a new phone number, it might become difficult to remember your old one.
3. Retrieval Failure Theory
According to this theory, memories are stored in long-term memory but cannot be accessed due to missing cues. The information is still present but inaccessible. An example is the tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon, where you feel you know a word but cannot recall it until someone gives you a hint.
4. Motivated Forgetting (Repression)
This theory, rooted in Freudian psychology, suggests that people forget unwanted memories either consciously (suppression) or unconsciously (repression). Traumatic experiences might be repressed to protect mental well-being. For example, a person might forget details of a painful car accident from childhood.
5. Encoding Failure Theory
This theory argues that information never actually entered long-term memory in the first place. It may have been noticed briefly but not processed deeply enough. For example, many people cannot accurately describe a penny despite seeing it regularly, because they never encoded its details.
Each theory highlights different factors contributing to the complex process of forgetting.
