Interference Theory

Abstract

Abstract Interference profoundly influences learning and remembering, functioning as the major cause of forgetting. This chapter surveys the history of research on interference in learning and memory from the earliest empirical work at the dawn of experimental psychology to the most recent work in cognitive modeling. Several forms of interference at the time of learning are examined, most notably proactive and retroactive interference, which are respectively negative influences from learning that took place before or after a target episode. Also considered is interference that takes place at the time of remembering, notably output interference. Other mechanisms that may contribute to forgetting—particularly decay and inhibition—are briefly considered, and the role played by changes in context is highlighted. Overall, the goal is to characterize how interference influences both learning and remembering.