title: Retrieval-induced forgetting is inversely related to everyday cognitive failures.
abstract: It has recently been suggested (Anderson, 2003) that forgetting is an adaptive process arising from successful inhibition of unwanted items, rather than arising from a failure of the memory system. This inhibition process is thought to make use of retrieval-induced forgetting (RIF). In the present study, individual susceptibility to RIF was measured in a group of 40 normal participants, whose RIF scores were then compared with their scores on the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ). A significant inverse correlation was found between RIF and CFQ scores, indicating that individuals who show a strong RIF effect tend to suffer a lower rate of cognitive failures and forgetfulness in everyday life. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that RIF might play a role in facilitating memory function by assisting selective retrieval.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Westminster, London, UK. groomed@wmin.ac.uk
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Groome
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Grant
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D011939:Mental Recall; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires