Question

Compare and evaluate decay theory and interference theory as explanations of forgetting.  Describe both theories then identify strengths and weaknesses of each.  Conclude with your opinion of which theory makes the most sense.  Provide evidence to defend your opinion.

Answer 1

Both these theories are quite similar yet different in their own ways.

In Decay Theory, people lose their memory as time passes by. However, in Interference Theory, old memories get replaced by new memories due to which one tends to lose old memories. The common thing in both theories deals with forgetting memory.

Weakness of Decay Theory

This is not appropriately justified as at times we tend to forget things that happened recently and remember those that happened long back

Strength of Decay Theory

This is the most widely accepted and used theory of forgetting.

Weakness of Interference Theory

Relatable things need to happen such forgetting as well as recovery of such memory loss.

Strength of Interference Theory

Quiet relatable to day to day life

According to me, the Interference Theory is more justified as we come across such happenings in our day-to-day life. Let's take the example of forgetting mobile numbers. We tend to forget the phone number of one person when replaced by another simultaneously.