Forgetting in Psychology
Forgetting Assignment- Remembering
TCE Psychology 2013
Tom Gardiner
Grade 12 LCGS
April 2013
Mrs Hussey
Forgotten is defined as ‘the inability to retrieve previously stored information’ (Grivas, Down & Carter, 1999). Although this may be viewed as a negative aspect of the memory system, it is important to ensure that the brain is not subject to information overload.
“A certain degree of forgetting contributes to our survival and our sanity” (Wade & Tavris, 1990).
The Forgetting Curve http://www.flashcardlearner.com/imgs/forgetting-curve.jpg http://www.flashcardlearner.com/imgs/forgetting-curve.jpg In 1885 a man named Hermann Ebbinghaus created a concept known as the Forgetting Curve. This curve is a graph which shows the speed of which information is lost, or forgotten, over time. Ebbinghaus used this graph to show that human’s quickly forget information unless is reinforced, or repeated. This is because we are constantly bombarded with information from our senses, and we have no chance at containing all gathered information. However, Ebbinghaus also showed that reinforcement means that this information is once again remembered, thus this information is more easily stored in the long term memory system.
Ebbinghaus is recognised as the first person to do any sort of scientific study of forgetting, and he is known for using himself as a test subject.
By testing his ability to remember information with the use of various memory games, lists and methods, Ebbinghaus created the Forgetting Curve. In his studies, Ebbinghaus found that around 2 hours after learning information he had already forgotten most of what he had learnt. He realised later that this scenario is rare, and usually information can be recalled without repetition for a longer amount of time than a few hours. It became apparent that each individual has a rate of forgetting, which is influenced by each person’s ability to retain information, known as retention.
TCE Psychology 2013
Tom Gardiner
Grade 12 LCGS
April 2013
Mrs Hussey
Forgotten is defined as ‘the inability to retrieve previously stored information’ (Grivas, Down & Carter, 1999). Although this may be viewed as a negative aspect of the memory system, it is important to ensure that the brain is not subject to information overload.
“A certain degree of forgetting contributes to our survival and our sanity” (Wade & Tavris, 1990).
The Forgetting Curve http://www.flashcardlearner.com/imgs/forgetting-curve.jpg http://www.flashcardlearner.com/imgs/forgetting-curve.jpg In 1885 a man named Hermann Ebbinghaus created a concept known as the Forgetting Curve. This curve is a graph which shows the speed of which information is lost, or forgotten, over time. Ebbinghaus used this graph to show that human’s quickly forget information unless is reinforced, or repeated. This is because we are constantly bombarded with information from our senses, and we have no chance at containing all gathered information. However, Ebbinghaus also showed that reinforcement means that this information is once again remembered, thus this information is more easily stored in the long term memory system.
Ebbinghaus is recognised as the first person to do any sort of scientific study of forgetting, and he is known for using himself as a test subject.
By testing his ability to remember information with the use of various memory games, lists and methods, Ebbinghaus created the Forgetting Curve. In his studies, Ebbinghaus found that around 2 hours after learning information he had already forgotten most of what he had learnt. He realised later that this scenario is rare, and usually information can be recalled without repetition for a longer amount of time than a few hours. It became apparent that each individual has a rate of forgetting, which is influenced by each person’s ability to retain information, known as retention.
References: Books Grivas, J., Down, R., & Carter, L., (1999) Psychology VCE Units 3 & 4 Second Edition, Melbourne, Macmillan Website SparkNotes (1984). Memory Securingthehuman.org (2012). The Forgetting Curve - The Importance of Reinforcement. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.securingthehuman.org/blog/2012/10/29/the-forgetting-curve-important-of-reinforcement [Accessed: 4 Apr 2013]. Answers.com (2008). What is retrieval failure theory?. [online] Retrieved from: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_retrieval_failure_theory [Accessed: 9 Apr 2013]. Dynamic Uoregon (2013). Motivated Forgetting and Misremembering: Perspectives from Betrayal Trauma Theory. [online] Retrieved from: http://dynamic.uoregon.edu/~jjf/articles/bttnebraska2012.pdf [Accessed: 11 Apr 2013]. Simply Psychology (2008). Forgetting. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.simplypsychology.org/forgetting.html [Accessed: 10 Apr 2013]. wiseGEEK (2003). What Is Motivated Forgetting? (with picture). [online] Retrieved from: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-motivated-forgetting.htm [Accessed: 13 Apr 2013]. Hebb, D.O. (1961). Distinctive features of learning in the higher animal. Oxford University Press. Retrieved from: http://psycnet.apa.org/index.cfm?fa=search.displayRecord&uid=1965-09429-001 (accessed 8 Apr 2013)