#AP Psychology: Memory Failures - Your Final Review 🧠

Hey! Let's break down memory failures. It's a big topic, but we'll make it super clear. This guide is designed to be your go-to resource the night before the exam. Let's get started!

#Why Do We Forget? 🤔

Memory isn't perfect. It's a complex system prone to errors. We'll explore the main reasons why our memories sometimes fail us. This section covers the core concepts, so pay close attention!

This section is crucial because memory is a high-value topic on the AP exam. Expect multiple-choice questions and at least one FRQ that touches on these concepts.

#Time and the Forgetting Curve ⏳

• The Forgetting Curve: This shows how time impacts memory. It's not linear—forgetting happens fast at first, then slows down. Think of it like this: you lose most of the info soon after learning, but what sticks around stays longer.

  • Rapid Initial Forgetting: You forget a lot right after learning something new.

  • Slowing Over Time: The rate of forgetting decreases as time passes.

  • Example: You might forget most of a lecture by the next day, but you'll likely remember about the same amount a week later.

#Retrieval Difficulties 😫

Sometimes the info is there, but we can't get to it. These are retrieval issues:

• Encoding Failure: The info never made it into long-term memory in the first place. It's like trying to find a book that was never put on the shelf.

• Interference: Other memories get in the way.

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