Describe the causes of forgetting.

            The explanation for the forgetting includes Decay hypothesis, Interference, repression, amnesia and others.

Decay hypothesis

            This is the first and the oldest explanation of forgetting. The theory assumes that learning results in the formation of memory trace or engram. It is the neurochemical and anatomical changes in the brain that encode memories. According to this hypothesis, reason for forgetting was considered to be disuse if information over a period of time. But this could not explain the questions like 'why elderly people have vivid memory of the past events and forget recent information?'

Interference Effects

            This theory assumes that, we forget information when something else we have learned blocks or interferes with recall. There are two types of interference; Proactive interference and Retroactive interference.

In proactive interference, something previously learned interferes with our ability to recall newly learned material. Retroactive interference refers to difficulty in recall of old information because of later exposure to new different information.

Repression

            It was suggested by Freud. According to him we unconsciously push unacceptable, anxiety provoking thoughts out of awareness so we do not have to confront them directly. This way, forgetting something because we want to forget is also known as Motivated forgetting.

Amnesia

            Amnesia is a profound memory deficit due either to the loss of what has been stored or to the inability to form new memories. Amnesia caused by any disturbance in the brain is called Biological amnesia. Other amnesias may be called psychological amnesias.