Explanations for forgetting: Retrieval Failure
Encoding Specificity principle (ESP)
Endel Tulving (1983) found the ESP after reviewing information.
A cue must be present at encoding (when we learn the material) and at retrieval (when we
are recalling it).
There may be some forgetting if the clues are different or are absent during recall.
Some cues are linked to the content to be remembered in a meaningful way- the cue “STM”
may help you recall info. about the short-term memory.
Mnemonic techniques are also used.
Other cues are also encoded, but are not meaningful:
o Context-dependent forgetting (external environment)
o State-dependent forgetting (internal)
1
Encoding Specificity principle (ESP)
Endel Tulving (1983) found the ESP after reviewing information.
A cue must be present at encoding (when we learn the material) and at retrieval (when we
are recalling it).
There may be some forgetting if the clues are different or are absent during recall.
Some cues are linked to the content to be remembered in a meaningful way- the cue “STM”
may help you recall info. about the short-term memory.
Mnemonic techniques are also used.
Other cues are also encoded, but are not meaningful:
o Context-dependent forgetting (external environment)
o State-dependent forgetting (internal)
1
