Response process: Retrieval
Forgetting From Episodic Memory
Interference
- The longer the time period in question (e.g. 1 year vs. 1 month) the more likely other similar events will have occurred
- Hard to distinguish details of one event from the others
- Tend to blend into single generic memory
Decay
- The more time has passed since events occurred, the weaker the memory
- Forgetting most rapid in period immediately after event experienced
- Forgetting continues after as many as 50 years(!)