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.
Despre acest pachet
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.
Fișele din acest pachet
Fișa 1
Întrebare
Proactive interference: which learning hinders which memory?
Răspuns
Earlier learning hinders learning or recalling later material. The competing material was acquired first.
Fișa 2
Întrebare
In a memory-interference case, what is the target memory?
Răspuns
The information the person is trying to learn or recall. Identify it before deciding the interference direction.
Fișa 3
Întrebare
Retroactive interference: which learning hinders which memory?
Răspuns
Later learning hinders recalling earlier material. The competing material was acquired after the target.
Fișa 4
Întrebare
In proactive and retroactive interference, what makes a memory earlier or later?
Răspuns
When the material was learned. The time of its most recent recall does not set its acquisition order.
Fișa 5
Întrebare
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?
Răspuns
Retroactive interference. The later chess association hinders recall of the earlier hiking association.
Fișa 6
Întrebare
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?
Răspuns
Proactive interference. Earlier basil learning hinders recall of the later mint information.
Fișa 7
Întrebare
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?
Răspuns
No; the blocking relationship is missing. Two learned items alone do not show that either one interferes with the other.
Fișa 8
Întrebare
What is the term for earlier learning hindering recall of later-learned material?
Răspuns
Proactive interference. The hindering memory was acquired before the requested material.
Fișa 9
Întrebare
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?
Răspuns
The revised instruction to use dill. It is the information Leah is asked to recall; parsley is the competitor.
Fișa 10
Întrebare
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.'
Răspuns
Kite remains the earlier-learned memory. Recalling it on Wednesday does not change when it was originally acquired.
Fișa 11
Întrebare
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?
Răspuns
The later instruction to use four spoonfuls of white. It obstructs the requested earlier mix.
Fișa 12
Întrebare
What is the term for later learning hindering recall of earlier-learned material?
Răspuns
Retroactive interference. The hindering material was acquired after the requested material.
Fișa 13
Întrebare
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?
Răspuns
Proactive interference. The earlier location hinders recall of the later location.
Fișa 14
Întrebare
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?
Răspuns
Proactive interference. The earlier matinee association hinders recall of the later evening association.
Fișa 15
Întrebare
Repair this rule: 'If a memory-interference prompt mentions an old memory, the answer must be retroactive.'
Răspuns
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.
Fișa 16
Întrebare
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?
Răspuns
Retroactive interference. The later tick rule hinders recall of the earlier dot rule.
Fișa 17
Întrebare
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?
Răspuns
The earlier instruction to start softly. The requested arrangement sets the target, even though another arrangement was learned later.
Fișa 18
Întrebare
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?
Răspuns
Retroactive interference. Later mint learning hinders recall of the earlier basil information.
Fișa 19
Întrebare
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?
Răspuns
Not from this account; acquisition order is missing. The target and competitor are clear, but their earlier/later relationship is unknown.
Fișa 20
Întrebare
Repair this claim: 'Proactive interference is decided by which response comes to mind first during the test.'
Răspuns
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.
Fișa 21
Întrebare
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?
Răspuns
Retroactive interference. The later procedure hinders recall of the earlier procedure.
Fișa 22
Întrebare
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?
Răspuns
The earlier association between Dawn and wool. It obstructs recall of the requested Dusk association.
Fișa 23
Întrebare
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?
Răspuns
Proactive interference. The earlier Tuesday schedule hinders recall of the later Friday schedule.
Fișa 24
Întrebare
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?
Răspuns
Proactive interference. The earlier hiking association hinders recall of the later chess association.
Fișa 25
Întrebare
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.'
Răspuns
This is retroactive interference. The later right-step learning obstructs the requested earlier left-step ending.
Fișa 26
Întrebare
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?
Răspuns
Retroactive interference. The later puzzle-game association hinders recall of the earlier travel-game association.
Fișa 27
Întrebare
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?
Răspuns
The second map's association between triangle and lookout. The requested map key identifies the target.
Fișa 28
Întrebare
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?
Răspuns
Retroactive interference. The later location hinders recall of the earlier location.
Fișa 29
Întrebare
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?
Răspuns
Not from this account; the requested target is missing. You need to know which association obstructs recall of which other association.
Fișa 30
Întrebare
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?
Răspuns
Retroactive interference. The later evening association hinders recall of the earlier matinee association.
Fișa 31
Întrebare
Repair this claim: 'Forgetting something learned yesterday proves retroactive interference.'
Răspuns
Forgetting alone does not prove retroactive interference. You need evidence that later-learned material hinders recall of that earlier target.
Fișa 32
Întrebare
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?
Răspuns
The earlier inward-fold method. It obstructs recall of the later outward-fold method.
Fișa 33
Întrebare
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?
Răspuns
Proactive interference. The earlier dot rule hinders recall of the later tick rule.
Fișa 34
Întrebare
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?
Răspuns
Neither direction is established. There is no learned target memory in the account, so the failure does not demonstrate one memory blocking another.
Fișa 35
Întrebare
Repair this claim: 'Retroactive interference means earlier learning blocks recall of later learning.'
Răspuns
Retroactive interference means later learning blocks recall of earlier learning. The claimed direction was reversed.
Fișa 36
Întrebare
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?
Răspuns
Proactive interference. The earlier procedure hinders recall of the later procedure.
Fișa 37
Întrebare
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?
Răspuns
Neither. This account explicitly describes successful recall without obstruction, so it shows neither proactive nor retroactive interference.
Fișa 38
Întrebare
Repair this claim: 'Proactive or retroactive interference requires the competing fact to have become false.'
Răspuns
Both facts can remain valid. Interference concerns one learned association obstructing the requested other association, with direction set by acquisition order.
Fișa 39
Întrebare
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?
Răspuns
Retroactive interference. The later Friday schedule hinders recall of the earlier Tuesday schedule.
Fișa 40
Întrebare
Repair this claim: 'Learning two similar facts automatically establishes memory interference.'
Răspuns
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.
Fișa 41
Întrebare
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?
Răspuns
Proactive interference. The earlier travel-game association hinders recall of the later puzzle-game association.
Fișa 42
Întrebare
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?
Răspuns
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 de fișe
Proactive vs Retroactive Interference Flashcards
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