Memory can be described as the ability to recall past experiences and ideas. Memory is a part of our everyday lives. It is a constant process, in which our minds are continually processing and retrieving information. A humans ability to remember allows one to function in their daily lives. Without memory, we would be lost. This is why many have suggested that our working memory and all it is composed of, contributes to our survival. When memory fails, one tend to get frustrated. We often wonder why we can remember some experiences while forgetting others. Why do we forget? Memory and forgetting has been studied throughout the years, however only recently became more commonly studied. There are many theories as to why we forget, however I will be discussing three in particular.
Ebbinghaus was one of the first to study memory in 1885. He conducted a study on himself and his retention of nonsense syllables. He tested his retention at various time intervals. Through his research he found that fifty percent of forgetting occurs with in the first half hour and then gradually drops off. This research led him to develop the rate of forgetting. The idea of gradual loss of memories refers to the theory of transience. Transience is known as the gradual decay of memories over time. Most could verify that our memories fade over time. Some would argue that this is due to less recall of items within memory, therefore leading to the gradual loss of that memory. For this reason, it is believed that retrieval and rehearsal are important factors in memory retention. Rehearsal often determines what will be remembered or retained.
Interference pays a large part in memory failure. Interference is the overlapping of memories. This most often occurs with related memories from similar past experiences that can be easily confused. These older memories often disrupt new ones, making it difficult to distinguish between the two.