Question

Why does forgetting take place?

Answer 1

Forgetting takes place because of a sharp drop in memory. The following are the different theories that have been put forward to explain the causes of forgetting:

(i) Forgetting due to trace decay − It is the earliest theory of forgetting which assumes that the memory leads to modification in the central nervous system. This is akin to physical changes in the brain called memory traces. These traces later fade away and become unavailable when they are not used for a long time.

(ii) Forgetting due to interference − This theory suggests that forgetting is due to interference between various information that is contained in the memory store. Interference occurs when the sets of associations that are formed during learning and memorising compete with each other for retrieval.

Proactive interference is a result of earlier information that interferes with subsequent learning while retroactive interference occurs when new information interrupts the recalling of earlier information.

(iii) Forgetting due to retrieval failure − The contents of memory may become inaccessible either due to inappropriateness or absence of retrieval cues at the time of recall.