Question

Difficulty in accessing a memory because of the presence of other information is known as _____

Short answer

Interference

Step-by-step solution

Determine the Context

First, identify the context of the problem. This is a psychological concept relating to difficulty in memory access due to competing pieces of information.

Recall Relevant Information

Recall from your study of cognitive psychology that when it becomes difficult to access a certain memory because other information is present, this is usually due to the concept of 'Interference'.

Fill in the Blank

Given the context and the correct terminology, fill in the blank in the sentence. The phrase should read, 'Difficulty in accessing a memory because of the presence of other information is known as interference.'

Key concepts

Memory Access

Memory access refers to our ability to retrieve information stored in our mind. In simple terms, it's how we mentally "call up" facts, events, or skills that we've learned in the past. Sometimes, though, this process doesn't go as smoothly as we'd like.
An essential aspect of memory access is the ease with which we can remember things. However, this can be disrupted by various factors, particularly when similar information clouds our cognitive pathways.

• Short-term Memory: This involves quickly recalling information that's recently been inputted, like a phone number you've just heard.
• Long-term Memory: This consists of information stored over a long period, such as your own birthday or historical events.

Memory access can be challenged when we are presented with similar or related information, leading to confusion or error during the process of remembering. This is where interference theory, an important area in cognitive psychology, comes into play.

Cognitive Psychology

Cognitive psychology is the scientific study of how we think, remember, and learn. It examines various internal processes that govern our behavior and emotions. Its practitioners seek to understand the workings of the brain’s "software" by focusing on how people comprehend, diagnose, and solve problems.
Core areas of interest in cognitive psychology include:

• Perception: How we interpret the world around us using our senses.
• Attention: How we focus on particular aspects of our environment while ignoring others.
• Memory: How we encode, store, and retrieve information.
• Language: How we understand and produce speech and written communication.

In the realm of cognitive psychology, understanding interference theory is crucial, as it provides insight into how competing information can disrupt our mental processes, particularly in accessing memories.

Competing Information

Competing information can significantly disrupt memory access. It happens when two or more memories or pieces of information clash, making it harder to remember one or the other. This clash is a core concept in interference theory, a key area of study in cognitive psychology.
The two main types of interference that arise from competing information are:

• Proactive Interference: This occurs when older information inhibits our ability to recall newer information. For example, the difficulty in remembering a new password because of the old one you've used for years.
• Retroactive Interference: This happens when new information makes it harder to recall old information, like struggling to remember the previous year’s curriculum because of current year's new lessons.

Understanding these forms of interference helps us appreciate the nuances of memory access and the challenges posed by overlapping information in the brain. By studying these concepts, cognitive psychologists can develop better strategies for improving memory and learning efficiency.