Cognitive Revision Guide - Attention

, FORGETTING

Definition:
- Loss or failure of memory

 Two processes involved in loss of information from memory

- Incidental factors
- Motivated factors

 Incidental factors:
 Processes that occur without direct intention to forget
 Not in our direct control (decay, interference, retrieval –
induced
forgetting etc)

 Motivated factors:
 Linked to processes that occur with the direct intention to
forget
(suppression, repression etc)
 There is some sort of ‘motivation’ for forgetting (conscious
directed
process)  intentional forgetting
 Motivated forgetting – not accidental BUT not consciously
aware

WHY do we forget?
 Nietzsche (1844 – 1900)
 The idea of forgetting has never been proved – only know that
some things do not come to our mind when we want them to
 Doubts that process of forgetting exists

 Forgetting – common daily occurrence

 Underwood (1966) – Says forgetting is an exasperating &
painful phenomenon

FORGETTING: LEARNING & MEMORY PROCESSES

 Kohler (1947)
- Outlines stages for classifying learning & associated memory
processes:
 Acquisition stage: encoding
 Storage: Maintenance
 Retrieval: Use of stored information




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