Psychology: Forgetting; Nature, causes, theories and disorders

 

(ITP-16) Forgetting: Nature, causes, theories and disorders

Abstract: This article provides a comprehensive overview of forgetting, including its nature, causes, and related disorders. Forgetting is the inability to retrieve previously stored information from the memory, and it can happen due to various factors such as decay, interference, and retrieval failure.The article also explores various theories of forgetting, including decay theory, interference theory, and retrieval failure theory. Additionally, forgetting can be a symptom of disorders such as amnesia, Alzheimer's disease, and dementia. The article also provides techniques to improve memory retention, such as rehearsal, chunking, association, and visualization. Furthermore, factors such as age, stress, sleep deprivation, and medication can also influence forgetting. Finally, when forgetting becomes a problem, seeking professional help is important, as forgetting can be a symptom of depression, anxiety, and ADHD.Top of Form

Have you ever forgotten something important, like a friend's birthday or a meeting with your professor? Or perhaps you have struggled to recall an answer during a test, even though you studied extensively for it. These experiences are common and frustrating, but they are also part of a natural process known as forgetting.

What is forgetting?

Forgetting is the inability to retrieve information that was previously stored in the memory. This can happen for various reasons, including decay, interference, and retrieval failure. Decay refers to the gradual fading of memory traces over time. Interference happens when new information interferes with the retrieval of older information. Retrieval failure occurs when we are unable to access stored information due to inadequate cues or context.

Causes of Forgetting written in Theories:

Various theories have been proposed to explain the causes of forgetting. Here are some of the most prominent theories and their authors:

a.       Decay Theory by Ebbinghaus: This theory suggests that forgetting occurs due decay. Decay is the fading of memory traces over time. If we do not use or reinforce the memory traces, they will eventually be deleted.

b.      Interference Theory by Muller and Pilzecker: This theory suggests that forgetting occurs due to interference from other memories. Interference occurs when new information interferes with the retrieval of older information. Interference can happen in two ways:

·         Retroactive interference: new information interferes with the retrieval of old information.

·         Proactive interference: old information interferes with the retrieval of new information.

c.       Retrieval Failure Theory by Tulving and Thomson: This theory suggests that forgetting occurs due to Retrieval failure. Retrieval failure happens when we are unable to retrieve information due to inadequate cues or context. This can happen when we lack the necessary information or cues to access a particular memory.

d.      Motivated Forgetting Theory by Sigmund Freud: This theory suggests that forgetting occurs when we repress or suppress unpleasant or unwanted memories to protect ourselves from psychological harm.

e.      Encoding Failure Theory by Craik and Lockhart: This theory suggests that forgetting occurs due to inadequate encoding of information. If we do not encode information properly, it will not be stored in the memory.

Understanding these theories can help us better understand the nature of forgetting and develop strategies to improve memory retention.Top of Form

 

Disorders related to forgetting

Forgetting can also be a symptom of various disorders, such as:

1. Amnesia: Amnesia is a condition where an individual is unable to remember past events or form new memories. It can be caused by head injuries, strokes, or degenerative diseases.

·         Retrograde amnesia is a type of amnesia where a person is unable to remember events that occurred before the onset of amnesia.

·         Anterograde amnesia, on the other hand, is a type of amnesia where a person is unable to form new memories after the onset of amnesia.

2. Alzheimer's Disorder: Alzheimer's Disorder is a progressive brain disorder that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. It is the most common cause of dementia in older adults.
3. Dementia: Dementia is a general term for a decline in cognitive function that interferes with daily life. It can be caused by various conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease.

How to improve memory retention

Although forgetting is a natural process, there are various techniques that can improve memory retention, such as:

1. Rehearsal: Rehearsal involves repeating information to reinforce memory traces.
2. Chunking: Chunking involves grouping information into smaller units to make it easier to remember.
3. Association: Association involves linking new information to existing knowledge or memories.
4. Visualization: Visualization involves creating mental images to aid memory retention.

Factors of Forgetting: Forgetting can be influenced by various other factors such as age, stress, sleep deprivation, and medication.

·         As we age, our memory and ability to retain new information may decline.

·         Stress and sleep deprivation can also affect memory, as they can interfere with the encoding and consolidation of new information in the memory.

·         Certain medications such as tranquilizers, sedatives, and antihistamines can also affect memory and lead to forgetting.

Forgetting is not always bad: It is important to note that forgetting is not always a bad thing. In fact, forgetting can be a useful process that helps us filter out irrelevant information and focus on what is important. Forgetting also allows us to update our knowledge and adapt to new situations.

Professional help for Forgetting: When forgetting becomes a problem and interferes with daily life, it is important to seek professional help. Forgetting can be a symptom of various disorders such as depression, anxiety, and ADHD. These conditions can affect memory and lead to forgetting, along with other symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, low mood, and anxiety.

Conclusion:

In summary, forgetting is a natural process that can occur due to various reasons. Memory is a complex system that can be influenced by various factors. Understanding the causes of forgetting and the techniques to improve memory retention can help in retaining important information. However, when forgetting becomes a problem and interferes with daily life, it is important to seek professional help.

References:

1. Alzheimer's Association. (2021). Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Retrieved from https://www.alz.org/
2. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
3. Atkinson, R. C., & Shiffrin, R. M. (1968). Human memory: A proposed system and its control processes. Psychology of Learning and Motivation, 2, 89-195.
4. Baddeley, A. (2000). The episodic buffer: A new component of working memory? Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 4(11), 417-423.
5. Baddeley, A. D., & Hitch, G. (1974). Working memory. Psychology of Learning and Motivation, 8, 47-89.
6. Craik, F. I., & Lockhart, R. S. (1972). Levels of processing: A framework for memory research. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 11(6), 671-684.
7. Ebbinghaus, H. (1885). Memory: A contribution to experimental psychology. New York: Dover.
8. Freud, S. (1899). Screen memories. The standard edition of the complete psychological works of Sigmund Freud, 3, 301-322.
9. Kandel, E. R., Schwartz, J. H., & Jessell, T. M. (2000). Principles of neural science (4th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
10. Loftus, E. F., & Palmer, J. C. (1974). Reconstruction of automobile destruction: An example of the interaction between language and memory. Journal of verbal learning and verbal behavior, 13(5), 585-589.
11. Muller, G. E., & Pilzecker, A. (1900). Experimentelle beitrage zur lehre vom gedachtniss [Experimental contributions to the theory of memory]. Zeitschrift für Psychologie, 24, 1-300.
12. Ranganath, C., & D'Esposito, M. (2001). Medial temporal lobe activity associated with active maintenance of novel information. Neuron, 31(5), 865-873.
13. Roediger, H. L., & McDermott, K. B. (1995). Creating false memories: Remembering words not presented in lists. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 21(4), 803-814.
14. Squire, L. R., & Zola-Morgan, S. (1991). The medial temporal lobe memory system. Science, 253(5026), 1380-1386.
15. Schacter, D. L. (2001). The seven sins of memory: Insights from psychology and cognitive neuroscience. American Psychologist, 56(3), 205-218.
16. Tulving, E. (1972). Episodic and semantic memory. In E. Tulving & W. Donaldson (Eds.), Organization of Memory (pp. 381-403). New York: Academic Press.
17. Tulving, E., & Thomson, D. M. (1973). Encoding specificity and retrieval processes in episodic memory. Psychological review, 80(5), 352-373.

Top of Form

Top of Form

Top of Form