Forgetting

Definition

Forgetting refers to the inability to retrieve information from memory either partially or completely. It occurs when previously learned information becomes inaccessible or goes unrecognized.

Related terms

Encoding Failure:

This occurs when information was never fully processed or encoded into memory in the first place, leading to difficulties in retrieval.

Retrieval Failure:

In this case, the information is stored in memory but temporarily inaccessible due to interference or other factors.

Amnesia:

A severe form of forgetting where individuals experience significant memory loss usually caused by brain injury or illness.