Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Unintentional failing refers to forgetting that occurs without deliberate intention or effort. It happens when retrieval cues fail to activate the correct memory traces effectively.
Related terms
Absentmindedness: Absentmindedness involves forgetting due to lapses in attention or lack of focus during encoding or retrieval processes.
Transience: Transience refers to forgetting that naturally occurs over time as memories gradually decay and become less accessible.
Tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon (TOT): TOT phenomenon is experiencing the feeling of knowing that specific information is stored in memory but being temporarily unable to retrieve it.