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2.7 Forgetting and Other Memory Challenges

Syllabus
2025
Topic
2.7
Level
—

Learning objectives

2.7A—Explain possible reasons why memory failure or errors may occurExplain possible reasons why memory failure or errors may occur.• The forgetting curve shows that time is a significant factor in forgetting. Forgetting occurs rapidly after initial learning and levels off over time.• Many memories are difficult to retrieve due to encoding failure, interference (proactive or retroactive), or inadequate retrieval (i.e., tip-ofthe-tongue phenomenon).• Psychodynamic theorists believe that information or memories can be forgotten to defend the ego from distress (repression).• The accuracy of memories may be affected by the misinformation effect, source amnesia, or constructive memory (via memory consolidation and imagination inflation).

Why Memories Fail or Change

The forgetting curve shows a time pattern: forgetting is rapid soon after initial learning and then levels off. Time matters, but the curve does not claim that every forgotten item failed for the same reason.

Mechanism Why access fails
Encoding failure Information was not adequately entered into memory
Proactive interference Earlier information disrupts access to later learning
Retroactive interference Later information disrupts access to earlier learning
Inadequate retrieval The memory may be stored but current cues do not access it; tip-of-the-tongue is an example
Repression Psychodynamic theorists propose forgetting as defense of the ego from distress
Accuracy challenge What can go wrong
Misinformation effect Later misleading information changes remembered details
Source amnesia Information is remembered but its source is not correctly remembered
Constructive memory Remembering rebuilds an account rather than replaying an exact record
Imagination inflation Imagining an event can increase its apparent familiarity or remembered plausibility

Memory consolidation helps stabilize information, but later reconstruction can still alter accuracy. A confident or vivid memory can therefore be accessible yet contain an error.

Repression is presented as a psychodynamic belief, not as the universal explanation for forgetting. Also distinguish forgetting from distortion: source amnesia and misinformation may leave a person with a memory, but not an accurate one.