M33 Forgetting, Memory Construction, and Improving Memory

Overview

Forgetting sometimes reflects encoding failure. Without effortful processing, much of what we sense we never notice or process. Memories may also fade after storage—often rapidly at first and then leveling off. Retrieval failures may be caused by proactive or retroactive interference or even by motivated forgetting.

Memories are not stored as exact copies. Rather, they are constructed, using both stored and new information. Thus, when eyewitnesses are subtly exposed to misinformation after an event, they often believe they saw the misleading details as part of the event. Memory researchers are especially suspicious of long-repressed memories of sexual abuse that are “recovered” with the aid of a therapist or suggestive book.

Among strategies for improving memory are studying repeatedly, making material personally relevant, activating retrieval cues, using mnemonic devices, minimizing interference, getting adequate sleep, and self-testing.