Proactive vs Retroactive Interference Flashcards
Practice 42 original English flashcards on memory interference: both directions, target and competitor checks, paired scenarios, and missing-evidence decisions.
About this deck
Practice proactive and retroactive interference with 42 original English flashcards for introductory psychology. Each classifiable case states when the material was learned, what the person is trying to recall, and which competing memory blocks it. These are simplified hypothetical situations: use the obstruction stated in the prompt. An ordinary error or episode of forgetting alone does not establish its cause.
The cards practice term-to-direction definitions, direction-to-term recall, scenario-to-label decisions, and identifying the target or competing memory. Eight separated scenario pairs switch the requested target while keeping the same learning chronology. Six component checks, eight claim repairs, and six evidence checks help catch reversed labels and conclusions drawn from missing information. Some cases use changed rules; others use two associations that remain valid.
The sequence introduces the two directions, the target, and acquisition order before mixing applications, reverse recall, repairs, and evidence checks. Each paired scenario has at least five unrelated cards between its two forms. Answers put the result first and give a short reason. Every card uses the memory-interference tag; the review scheduler handles longer-term spacing after installation.
Arbitrary label-to-example prompts are omitted because many examples would be correct. Famous-study trivia, detailed neuroscience, clinical diagnosis or treatment, and broad memory-theory coverage are outside this focused deck. No exam or complete-course alignment is claimed. For a longer explanation, read the proactive vs retroactive interference lesson.
The questions, scenarios, answers, organization, and metadata were written independently with AI assistance and checked against reference facts. No competitor cards, textbook examples, examination questions, source prose, or diagrams were copied. Factual references are the APA Dictionary entries for proactive interference, retroactive interference, and interference, plus Jeffrey C. Levy's Memory chapter in Psychology, published under CC BY 4.0. The reference works retain their own rights; facts are not claimed as proprietary.
Original material, including the AI-generated decorative cover, is dedicated under CC0 1.0 to the extent applicable rights exist. This is independent study material without institutional endorsement.
Cards in this deck
Card 1
Question
Proactive interference: which learning hinders which memory?
Answer
Earlier learning hinders learning or recalling later material. The competing material was acquired first.
Card 2
Question
In a memory-interference case, what is the target memory?
Answer
The information the person is trying to learn or recall. Identify it before deciding the interference direction.
Card 3
Question
Retroactive interference: which learning hinders which memory?
Answer
Later learning hinders recalling earlier material. The competing material was acquired after the target.
Card 4
Question
In proactive and retroactive interference, what makes a memory earlier or later?
Answer
When the material was learned. The time of its most recent recall does not set its acquisition order.
Card 5
Question
Eli first learned that a blue badge means the Pine hiking club, then that it means the Tower chess club in a different badge system. Both remain valid. Asked for the hiking club, Tower keeps intruding and blocks recall of Pine. Which interference direction?
Answer
Retroactive interference. The later chess association hinders recall of the earlier hiking association.
Card 6
Question
A grower first learned that tray K held basil, then learned it had been replanted with mint. Asked what tray K holds now, the basil memory intrudes and blocks recall of mint. Which interference direction?
Answer
Proactive interference. Earlier basil learning hinders recall of the later mint information.
Card 7
Question
Nora learned a shop's old closing bell, then its replacement bell. Nothing is said about whether either memory makes the other harder to recall. Is interference established?
Answer
No; the blocking relationship is missing. Two learned items alone do not show that either one interferes with the other.
Card 8
Question
What is the term for earlier learning hindering recall of later-learned material?
Answer
Proactive interference. The hindering memory was acquired before the requested material.
Card 9
Question
Leah first learned to finish a dish with parsley, then learned a revised version with dill. Asked for the revised version, the parsley instruction keeps intruding and blocks recall. What is the target memory?
Answer
The revised instruction to use dill. It is the information Leah is asked to recall; parsley is the competitor.
Card 10
Question
A pupil learned the kite symbol's meaning on Monday and the leaf symbol's meaning on Tuesday. On Wednesday the pupil recalled kite. Repair: 'Kite is now the later-learned memory.'
Answer
Kite remains the earlier-learned memory. Recalling it on Wednesday does not change when it was originally acquired.
Card 11
Question
Mika first learned a paint mix with two spoonfuls of white, then a revised mix with four. Asked for the earlier mix, the four-spoon instruction intrudes and blocks recall. Which learned instruction is the competitor?
Answer
The later instruction to use four spoonfuls of white. It obstructs the requested earlier mix.
Card 12
Question
What is the term for later learning hindering recall of earlier-learned material?
Answer
Retroactive interference. The hindering material was acquired after the requested material.
Card 13
Question
A volunteer first learned that cloths go in the low cabinet, then learned the new rule placing them in the tall cabinet. Asked for the new location, the low-cabinet memory intrudes and blocks recall. Which interference direction?
Answer
Proactive interference. The earlier location hinders recall of the later location.
Card 14
Question
Rae first learned that the matinee opens with a flute cue, then that the evening show opens with a drum cue. Both cues remain correct for their shows. Asked for the evening cue, the flute cue intrudes and blocks recall. Which interference direction?
Answer
Proactive interference. The earlier matinee association hinders recall of the later evening association.
Card 15
Question
Repair this rule: 'If a memory-interference prompt mentions an old memory, the answer must be retroactive.'
Answer
The label depends on which memory obstructs which target. An earlier memory blocking a later target is proactive; a later memory blocking an earlier target is retroactive.
Card 16
Question
A clerk first learned to mark completed forms with a dot, then learned a replacement rule using a tick. Asked how forms were marked under the earlier rule, the tick instruction intrudes and blocks recall. Which interference direction?
Answer
Retroactive interference. The later tick rule hinders recall of the earlier dot rule.
Card 17
Question
A singer first learned to start a song softly, then learned a revised arrangement with a loud start. Asked for the earlier arrangement, the loud start keeps intruding and blocks recall. What is the target memory?
Answer
The earlier instruction to start softly. The requested arrangement sets the target, even though another arrangement was learned later.
Card 18
Question
A grower first learned that tray K held basil, then learned it had been replanted with mint. Asked what tray K held before replanting, the mint memory intrudes and blocks recall of basil. Which interference direction?
Answer
Retroactive interference. Later mint learning hinders recall of the earlier basil information.
Card 19
Question
Kai learned two associations for a star emblem: Cedar team and Harbor team. Asked for Cedar, Harbor intrudes and blocks recall. The account does not say which association was learned first. Can the direction be classified?
Answer
Not from this account; acquisition order is missing. The target and competitor are clear, but their earlier/later relationship is unknown.
Card 20
Question
Repair this claim: 'Proactive interference is decided by which response comes to mind first during the test.'
Answer
Proactive interference is decided by earlier learning obstructing later material. The order in which responses come to mind during a test does not define the label.
Card 21
Question
Sam first learned to stamp bowls before glazing, then learned a revised studio procedure stamping after glazing. Asked for the earlier procedure, the after-glazing instruction intrudes and blocks recall. Which interference direction?
Answer
Retroactive interference. The later procedure hinders recall of the earlier procedure.
Card 22
Question
A maker first learned that the sample called Dawn is wool, then that the sample called Dusk is cotton. Asked for Dusk's fabric, the wool association intrudes and blocks recall of cotton. Which memory is the competitor?
Answer
The earlier association between Dawn and wool. It obstructs recall of the requested Dusk association.
Card 23
Question
A helper first learned that bread deliveries arrive on Tuesday, then learned that the schedule changed to Friday. Asked for the current day, Tuesday intrudes and blocks recall of Friday. Which interference direction?
Answer
Proactive interference. The earlier Tuesday schedule hinders recall of the later Friday schedule.
Card 24
Question
Eli first learned that a blue badge means the Pine hiking club, then that it means the Tower chess club in a different badge system. Both remain valid. Asked for the chess club, Pine keeps intruding and blocks recall of Tower. Which interference direction?
Answer
Proactive interference. The earlier hiking association hinders recall of the later chess association.
Card 25
Question
A dancer first learned a left-step ending, then a revised right-step ending. Asked for the earlier ending, the right step intrudes and blocks recall. Repair: 'This is proactive because the left step is old.'
Answer
This is retroactive interference. The later right-step learning obstructs the requested earlier left-step ending.
Card 26
Question
Jo first learned that a circle token means rest in a travel game, then that it means swap in a puzzle game. Both meanings remain valid in their games. Asked for the travel-game meaning, swap intrudes and blocks recall of rest. Which interference direction?
Answer
Retroactive interference. The later puzzle-game association hinders recall of the earlier travel-game association.
Card 27
Question
A student first learned that a triangle marks a campsite on one map key, then that a triangle marks a lookout on another. Asked for the second map's meaning, campsite intrudes and blocks recall. What is the target memory?
Answer
The second map's association between triangle and lookout. The requested map key identifies the target.
Card 28
Question
A volunteer first learned that cloths go in the low cabinet, then learned the new rule placing them in the tall cabinet. Asked for the earlier location, the tall-cabinet memory intrudes and blocks recall. Which interference direction?
Answer
Retroactive interference. The later location hinders recall of the earlier location.
Card 29
Question
A learner first learned Elm for a square symbol, then Bay for the same symbol in another chart. The account says the associations interfere but never specifies which chart's meaning is being recalled. Can you assign one direction?
Answer
Not from this account; the requested target is missing. You need to know which association obstructs recall of which other association.
Card 30
Question
Rae first learned that the matinee opens with a flute cue, then that the evening show opens with a drum cue. Both cues remain correct for their shows. Asked for the matinee cue, the drum cue intrudes and blocks recall. Which interference direction?
Answer
Retroactive interference. The later evening association hinders recall of the earlier matinee association.
Card 31
Question
Repair this claim: 'Forgetting something learned yesterday proves retroactive interference.'
Answer
Forgetting alone does not prove retroactive interference. You need evidence that later-learned material hinders recall of that earlier target.
Card 32
Question
A packer first learned to fold a label inward, then a replacement method folding it outward. Asked for the new method, the inward fold intrudes and blocks recall. Which learned method is the competitor?
Answer
The earlier inward-fold method. It obstructs recall of the later outward-fold method.
Card 33
Question
A clerk first learned to mark completed forms with a dot, then learned a replacement rule using a tick. Asked how forms are marked under the new rule, the dot instruction intrudes and blocks recall. Which interference direction?
Answer
Proactive interference. The earlier dot rule hinders recall of the later tick rule.
Card 34
Question
A visitor never heard or learned the name of an exhibit. Asked for its name, the visitor cannot give it. Does this establish proactive or retroactive interference?
Answer
Neither direction is established. There is no learned target memory in the account, so the failure does not demonstrate one memory blocking another.
Card 35
Question
Repair this claim: 'Retroactive interference means earlier learning blocks recall of later learning.'
Answer
Retroactive interference means later learning blocks recall of earlier learning. The claimed direction was reversed.
Card 36
Question
Sam first learned to stamp bowls before glazing, then learned a revised studio procedure stamping after glazing. Asked for the revised procedure, the before-glazing instruction intrudes and blocks recall. Which interference direction?
Answer
Proactive interference. The earlier procedure hinders recall of the later procedure.
Card 37
Question
A baker first learned a round-loaf pattern, then an oval-loaf pattern. Asked for each in turn, the baker recalls both accurately and without difficulty; neither memory obstructs the other. Which interference direction is shown here?
Answer
Neither. This account explicitly describes successful recall without obstruction, so it shows neither proactive nor retroactive interference.
Card 38
Question
Repair this claim: 'Proactive or retroactive interference requires the competing fact to have become false.'
Answer
Both facts can remain valid. Interference concerns one learned association obstructing the requested other association, with direction set by acquisition order.
Card 39
Question
A helper first learned that bread deliveries arrive on Tuesday, then learned that the schedule changed to Friday. Asked for the former delivery day, Friday intrudes and blocks recall of Tuesday. Which interference direction?
Answer
Retroactive interference. The later Friday schedule hinders recall of the earlier Tuesday schedule.
Card 40
Question
Repair this claim: 'Learning two similar facts automatically establishes memory interference.'
Answer
Interference also requires one learned item to hinder learning or recall of the other. Similarity and two learning events alone do not establish that relationship.
Card 41
Question
Jo first learned that a circle token means rest in a travel game, then that it means swap in a puzzle game. Both meanings remain valid in their games. Asked for the puzzle-game meaning, rest intrudes and blocks recall of swap. Which interference direction?
Answer
Proactive interference. The earlier travel-game association hinders recall of the later puzzle-game association.
Card 42
Question
A pupil first learned a red flag for Group A, then a green flag for Group B. Asked for Group B's flag, the pupil says red. Nothing establishes why the answer was wrong. Is proactive interference proved?
Answer
No; the cause of the error is not established. Red matches earlier learning, but the account does not show that this memory obstructed recall of green.
42 cards
Proactive vs Retroactive Interference Flashcards
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