Similarity and inhibition in long-term memory: evidence for a two-factor theory.
Recalling a past experience often requires the suppression of related memories that compete with the retrieval target, causing memory impairment known as retrieval-induced forgetting. Two experiments examined how retrieval-induced forgetting varies with the similarity of the competitor and the target item (target-competitor similarity) and with the similarity between the competitors themselves (competitor-competitor similarity). According to the pattern-suppression model (M. C. Anderson & B. A. Spellman, 1995), high target-competitor similarity should reduce impairment, whereas high competitor-competitor similarity should increase it. Both predictions were supported: Encoding target-competitor similarities not only eliminated retrieval-induced forgetting but also reversed it, whereas encoding competitor-competitor similarities increased impairment. The differing effects of target-competitor and competitor-competitor similarity may resolve conflicting results concerning the effects of similarity on inhibition.
Anderson
M C
MC
Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene 97403-1227, USA. mcanders@darkwing.uoregon.edu
Green
C
C
McCulloch
K C
KC
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005793:Generalization, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D011939:Mental Recall; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011214:Practice, Psychological