Proactive Interference
Definition
Proactive interference is when previously learned information interferes with the learning or recall of new information.
Analogy
Imagine your mind as an email inbox. Old emails (old knowledge) are clogging up your inbox making it difficult for you to find or pay attention to new emails (new knowledge).
Related terms
Interference Theory: A theory stating that forgetting occurs because memories interfere with and disrupt one another.
Short-term Memory: Part of the memory system where limited amounts of information can be stored for a few seconds or minutes.
Working Memory: A cognitive system that holds and manipulates information over short periods.
"Proactive Interference" appears in:
Study guides (1)
Practice Questions (6)
You are given four lists of words to remember. List 1, List 2, List 2, and List 4. You must learn them in that order (1, 2, 3, and 4). Which list would cause proactive interference for remembering list 2?
Which of the following best describes proactive interference in memory retention?
What leads to proactive interference in memory?
How does the theory of proactive interference contradict the idea that memory loss is simply due to fading over time?
Which of these scenarios best exemplifies the concept of proactive interference in forgetting?
How can an individual best minimize proactive interference in their learning process when studying for multiple subjects?
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