ForgettingChapter 7

7 Sins of MemoryThree sins of forgetting (encoding failure)

1.Absent-mindedness- inattention to details2. Transience- memory loss

unused info fades

3. Blocking- stored info cannot be accessed tip of tongue syndrome

7 Sins of MemoryThree sins of distortion (storage decay)

4. Misattribution- confusing the source of info forgetting who said what

5. Suggestibility- the lingering effects of misinformation Misinformation- a memory that has been corrupted

by misleading information

6. Bias- belief- colored recollections

7 Sins of MemoryOne sin of intrusion (retrieval failure)

7. Persistence – unwanted memories Repressed memories- in psychoanalytic theory, the

basic defense mechanism that banishes from consciousness anxiety-arousing thoughts, feelings, and memories

Improving MemoryStudy repeatedly to boost long-term recallSpace out studySpend more time rehearsing or thinking

about the material Make the material personally meaningfulMinimize interferenceTest your own knowledge to find out what

you don’t yet know