What this deck covers
This deck focuses on Forgetting And Other Memory Challenges, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Psychology.
Study Forgetting And Other Memory Challenges in AP Psychology with focused flashcards that help you recognize the idea, recall the key rule, and apply it in practice-style prompts.
0% Complete
Identify the term: Gradual fading of memory traces over time.
Tap card or press Space to flip
Decay theory. Memory traces naturally weaken without use or rehearsal.
How well did you know it?
Card 1 / 78
Space to flip · ← / → to move · once flipped, → Got it · ← Still learning
This deck focuses on Forgetting And Other Memory Challenges, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Psychology.
Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.
Answer: Decay theory. Memory traces naturally weaken without use or rehearsal.
Answer: A schema is a cognitive framework that helps organize and interpret information. Mental structure that influences how we encode and recall.
Answer: Repression is the unconscious blocking of unpleasant memories. Defense mechanism pushing traumatic memories into unconscious.
Answer: The forgetting curve describes how information is lost over time when there is no attempt to retain it. Shows rapid initial forgetting that slows over time.
Answer: The fading of memory traces over time. Unused memory traces naturally deteriorate over time.
Answer: Context-dependent memory. Environmental context at encoding aids later retrieval.
Answer: Interference hinders the retrieval of memories. Competing information makes target memory harder to access.
Answer: Hermann Ebbinghaus. German psychologist who studied memory and forgetting systematically.
Answer: Lack of retrieval cues or ineffective encoding. Context and cues present during encoding help retrieval.
Answer: A tool or strategy used to improve memory recall. Memory aid using familiar patterns or associations.
Answer: Flashbulb memories. Clear, emotional memories that feel permanent but can be inaccurate.
Answer: Underdeveloped brain structures and language skills. Immature neural networks cannot form lasting memories.
Answer: Context-dependent memory. Environmental context at encoding aids later retrieval.
Answer: It is crucial for forming new explicit memories. Essential brain structure for consolidating explicit memories.
Answer: Proactive interference is when older memories inhibit the recall of newer information. Old learning interferes with new learning.
Answer: Organizing information into familiar, manageable units. Grouping increases working memory capacity and recall.
Answer: Underdeveloped brain structures and language skills. Immature neural networks cannot form lasting memories.
Answer: Encoding. First stage where information enters memory system.
Answer: A vivid, detailed memory of an emotionally significant event. Often inaccurate despite feeling extremely clear and confident.
Answer: Retrograde amnesia. Loss of memories formed before brain injury or trauma.
Answer: Flashbulb memories. Clear, emotional memories that feel permanent but can be inaccurate.
Answer: Memory that is not consciously recalled, such as skills and procedures. Automatic memories like riding a bike or typing.
Answer: Memory retrieval is more efficient when one is in the same state as during encoding. Internal state matching between encoding and retrieval helps.
Answer: The inability to form new memories after a trauma. Brain damage prevents consolidation of new memories.
Answer: Encoding failure occurs when information is not processed into memory. Information never enters memory due to lack of attention.
Answer: Source amnesia is the inability to remember where, when, or how one acquired information. Remember the fact but forget the context of learning.
Answer: Memory distortion. Memory becomes altered by incorrect post-event information.
Answer: Retroactive interference is when newer memories inhibit the recall of older information. New learning interferes with old learning.
Answer: Misinformation effect. Post-event information alters original memory content.
Answer: A schema is a cognitive framework that helps organize and interpret information. Mental structure that influences how we encode and recall.
Answer: Retroactive interference is when newer memories inhibit the recall of older information. New learning interferes with old learning.
Answer: Information related to oneself is more easily remembered. Personal relevance enhances encoding and retrieval processes.
Answer: Serial position effect. Primacy and recency effects in list recall.
Answer: A vivid, detailed memory of an emotionally significant event. Often inaccurate despite feeling extremely clear and confident.
Answer: A prompt or stimulus that aids in recalling information. Environmental or internal hint that triggers memory access.
Answer: A tool or strategy used to improve memory recall. Memory aid using familiar patterns or associations.
Answer: Interference hinders the retrieval of memories. Competing information makes target memory harder to access.
Answer: Decay theory. Memory traces naturally weaken without use or rehearsal.
Answer: Retrograde amnesia. Loss of memories formed before brain injury or trauma.
Answer: Encoding failure occurs when information is not processed into memory. Information never enters memory due to lack of attention.
Answer: Source amnesia. Context details fade while content may remain accessible.
Answer: Memory that is not consciously recalled, such as skills and procedures. Automatic memories like riding a bike or typing.
Answer: Encoding. First stage where information enters memory system.
Answer: The process of piecing together memories using general knowledge and expectations. Memory is rebuilt rather than replayed exactly.
Answer: Infantile amnesia. Due to underdeveloped hippocampus and language skills.
Answer: Source amnesia. Context details fade while content may remain accessible.
Answer: Retrieval cues aid in accessing stored memories. Environmental or internal prompts trigger memory recall.
Answer: Memory distortion. Memory becomes altered by incorrect post-event information.
Answer: Hermann Ebbinghaus. German psychologist who studied memory and forgetting systematically.
Answer: Explicit memories. Declarative memories requiring conscious effort to recall.
Answer: The principle that memory is improved when information available at encoding is also available at retrieval. Matching encoding and retrieval contexts improves recall.
Answer: Misinformation effect. Post-event information alters original memory content.
Answer: The inability to form new memories after a trauma. Brain damage prevents consolidation of new memories.
Answer: Proactive interference is when older memories inhibit the recall of newer information. Old learning interferes with new learning.
Answer: Source amnesia is the inability to remember where, when, or how one acquired information. Remember the fact but forget the context of learning.
Answer: The process of piecing together memories using general knowledge and expectations. Memory is rebuilt rather than replayed exactly.
Answer: A state where one cannot fully retrieve a word but has partial recall. Knows the word exists but cannot access it temporarily.
Answer: Blocking. Interference prevents access to stored memories temporarily.
Answer: Retrieval cues aid in accessing stored memories. Environmental or internal prompts trigger memory recall.
Answer: Explicit memories. Declarative memories requiring conscious effort to recall.
Answer: Information related to oneself is more easily remembered. Personal relevance enhances encoding and retrieval processes.
Answer: The fading of memory traces over time. Unused memory traces naturally deteriorate over time.
Answer: Retroactive interference. New learning disrupts recall of previously learned material.
Answer: Organizing information into familiar, manageable units. Grouping increases working memory capacity and recall.
Answer: A prompt or stimulus that aids in recalling information. Environmental or internal hint that triggers memory access.
Answer: Retroactive interference. New learning disrupts recall of previously learned material.
Answer: The principle that memory is improved when information available at encoding is also available at retrieval. Matching encoding and retrieval contexts improves recall.
Answer: The tendency for distributed study to yield better long-term retention. Spaced practice beats massed practice for retention.
Answer: Repression is the unconscious blocking of unpleasant memories. Defense mechanism pushing traumatic memories into unconscious.
Answer: Memory retrieval is more efficient when one is in the same state as during encoding. Internal state matching between encoding and retrieval helps.
Answer: Blocking. Interference prevents access to stored memories temporarily.
Answer: A state where one cannot fully retrieve a word but has partial recall. Knows the word exists but cannot access it temporarily.
Answer: It is crucial for forming new explicit memories. Essential brain structure for consolidating explicit memories.
Answer: Infantile amnesia. Due to underdeveloped hippocampus and language skills.
Answer: The forgetting curve describes how information is lost over time when there is no attempt to retain it. Shows rapid initial forgetting that slows over time.
Answer: Serial position effect. Primacy and recency effects in list recall.
Answer: Lack of retrieval cues or ineffective encoding. Context and cues present during encoding help retrieval.
Answer: The tendency for distributed study to yield better long-term retention. Spaced practice beats massed practice for retention.