Which one of the following are the reasons for forgetting?

A. The information is not attended to and fails to be encoded.

B. Information accessed repeatedly decays.

C. Older information in memory interferes with the learning of new information.

D. Newer information interferes with the retrieval of older information.

E. Information attended and perception is poor.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct option is A

Forgetting occurs due to several cognitive and neurological reasons, which include encoding failures, memory decay, and interference. The reasons are:

1. A. Information is not attended to and fails to be encoded: Information that is not actively processed or rehearsed is less likely to be encoded into long-term memory.
2. C. Older information in memory interferes with the learning of new information: Known as proactive interference, older memories obstruct new learning.
3. D. Newer information interferes with the retrieval of older information: Known as retroactive interference, recently acquired information disrupts retrieval of previously learned data.

Information Booster:

1. Decay theory: Forgetting happens because memory traces weaken over time without rehearsal.
2. Interference theory:
• Proactive interference
• Retroactive interference
3. Encoding failure: Information never enters long-term memory due to lack of attention or processing.
4. Forgetting also occurs due to retrieval failure, lack of cues, and motivated forgetting (e.g., repression).

Additional Information:

• E. Information attended and perception is poor: Poor perception may hinder initial encoding, but if attention is given, it should be encoded. It is less accurate compared to the other reasons listed.