Interference theory is theory regarding human memory. Interference occurs in learning when there is an interaction between the new material and transfer effects of past learned behavior, memories or thoughts that have a negative influence in comprehending the new material. Bringing to memory old knowledge has the effect of impairing both the speed of learning and memory performance. There are three main kinds of interference:
- proactive interference
- retroactive interference
- latent interference
The main assumption of interference theory is that the stored memory is intact but unable to be retrieved due to competition created by newly acquired information.
Read more about Interference Theory: History, Proactive Interference, Retroactive Interference, Output Interference
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