Lecture 4 Memory Theories of Memory The Forgetting

Lecture 4 Memory “Theories of Memory”

The Forgetting Curve! 100% Pythagoras (575495 B. C. ) a Greek philosopher, scientist, and religious teacher 80% He discovered the Pythagoras Theorem. % REMEMBERED 60% I think he was a mathematician or something. 40% Greek guy. Probably dead. 20% Huh? 0% TIME ONE DAY 7 DAYS 14 DAYS 63 DAYS

Understanding Your Enemy: Forgetfulness How Your Memory is Sabotaged… • When you learn new idea, you’ll forget ____ of it by end of day • Studies/experiments have shown how quickly we forget what we read & hear • One experiment students who read textbk. chapt. forgot ___ of their reading after 1 day • After 1 month, info. they were able to retain from reading had _____ down to 19% • Thus, about 81% of what was originally read was now _______!!

So…Why Do We Forget? ! Let’s take an in-depth look at 5 Theories of Forgetfulness: 1. 1. 2. 2. 3. 3. 4. 4. 5. 5.

FADING THEORY • When you walk through tall grass first time, what happens? • What happens to fresh pathway if you don’t repeatedly walk over it? • What occurs when you walk over same path several times a day, a week, etc. ? Using above analogy: If you learn a fact but never use it, it will become _____ and eventually lost to the Enemy of __________.

RETRIEVAL THEORY *You must figure out where a fact is in the vast _____ of your mind. *It has NOT been forgotten but may be ______.

Interference Theory *Memories are like bunch of competing basketball players all _____ for a spot beneath the basket. *Old memories & facts try to elbow out new memories & facts (and vice versa!). Some memories ____; some memories _______!

Reactive Interference Theory • Your _______ toward facts plays crucial role in how well you’ll recall them later. If you’re bored spitless by a topic or just can’t stand it, remembering concepts will be much more _______. On the other hand, how hard is it to remember the plot of a movie you ____?

Pseudo-Forgetting Theory I Forgot!! • People often say, “I forgot!” whenever they cannot remember a fact. • The truth is forgetting may NOT be the problem. • The information may have never been ______ in the first place. • A quote from Oliver Wendell Holmes: A man must get a thing before he can forget it. • To remember, you must make _______& convince yourself the info. is worth knowing!!