Psychology: Memory and Forgetting

Study Notes

Memory

Short Term Memory (STM)

Limited capacity (7 ± 2 chunks of information)
Information is held for a short period of time (seconds to a minute)
Information is lost unless rehearsed or consolidated into Long Term Memory
Examples: remembering a phone number long enough to dial it, recalling a list of items to pick up at the store

Long Term Memory (LTM)

Permanent storage of information
Capacity is virtually unlimited
Information can be stored for an extended period of time (years or a lifetime)
Examples: remembering childhood events, recalling how to ride a bike

Working Memory

A system that temporarily holds and manipulates information
Involved in tasks such as mental arithmetic, following instructions, and problem-solving
Involves the use of attention and executive functions
Examples: doing math in your head, following a recipe

Encoding and Retrieval

Encoding: the process of taking in new information and making it available for storage
- Can be influenced by factors such as attention, motivation, and emotion
Retrieval: the process of accessing stored information
- Can be influenced by factors such as cues, context, and practice

Forgetting

Decay: gradual loss of information over time due to non-use
Interference: loss of information due to the presence of new information
Retrieval failure: inability to access stored information due to inadequate cues or context
Motivated forgetting: intentional suppression of unwanted memories

Description

Learn about the different types of memory, including Short Term Memory, Long Term Memory, and Working Memory. Understand how information is encoded and retrieved, and why we forget. This quiz covers the basics of human memory and forgetting.