We find that on some occasions this lets us down as we are unable to remember the information that we require desperately. During examinations we are unable to remember or retrieve what we had learned. This is what we call forgetting. Why does this occur? Many explanations have been offered to explain this kind of loss. Let us briefly consider some theories to explain the causes of forgetting.
(i) Decay: Some psychologists think that it is due to gradual fading of memory traces or decay that happens with lapse of time. This does not explain why certain memories fade forever while others seem to be well preserved. Passing of time
cannot, therefore, be considered as the main cause of forgetting.
(ii) Interference: A more useful explanation is found in the view called interference theory. It argues that memories are lost because of what happens to them during the period when we retain them. Thus inhibition or interference by subsequently
learned material becomes the major cause of forgetting. There are two types of such interference – Retroactive interference and Proactive interference.
Retroactive interference (acting backwards) occurs, when the current information interferes with what has been retained earlier. For example, you learn Punjabi language on Monday and Bengali on Tuesday. During a Punjabi test taken on
Wednesday interference is expected from the learning of Bengali words. Forgetting may also occur due to (acting forwards) proactive interference. This is a situation in which earlier information in the memory interferes with the current information. Suppose you have been driving a scooter with gears. Now, you have a new scooter which has no gears (automatic drive). You will tend to change the gears in the new scooter and this habit can persist for long. Proactive
interference thus explains one’s inability to acquire new knowledge or habit because of the powerful interference from old habits.
(iii) Level of Processing: While learning some material we may attend to it in detail and process at a deeper level or neglect it and attend at a surface level. This may be a cause of forgetting.
