Option 2:

Memory is a complex concept, why can we remember every word to a song we heard 10 years ago, but can't remember why we walked into the kitchen less than 5 minutes ago?

We can remember the song because it is stored on the long-term memory. Once information transitions from short-term memory to long-term memory, it enters a vast storage system with nearly limitless capacity. Similar to saving a new file on a hard drive, the data in long-term memory is organized and encoded, enabling us to retrieve it whenever necessary (Feldman, 2018) Another way to explain is when we like a song, we tend to listen to it several times or sing it over and over (for those who may enjoy singing) and that can also be consider rehearsal which according to Feldman (2018), the transfer of material from short- to long-term memory proceeds largely on the basis of rehearsal, the repetition of information that has entered short-term memory.

Forgetting can happen due to cue-dependent forgetting, which occurs when there aren't enough cues available to trigger the retrieval of information stored in memory. For instance, you might struggle to recall the whereabouts of a misplaced set of keys until you mentally retrace your steps and think about each location you visited. When you remember the specific place where you lost the keys, such as the library, the retrieval cue of the library itself can be enough to help you remember that you left them on the desk. However, without that retrieval cue, you may find it difficult to recollect the location of the keys (Weller et al., 2013).

Why do we forget certain information, but remember others?

There are various factors that contribute to memory failures, and one reason is the lack of initial attention given to the information. Memory failures can be attributed to processes such as decay, interference, and cue-dependent forgetting.

• Decay refers to the loss of information in memory over time due to nonuse.
• Interference occurs when the presence of stored information disrupts the recall of other information in memory.
• Cue-dependent forgetting happens when there are inadequate retrieval cues available to activate the recollection of stored information.

Briefly describe a recent situation in which you forgot something important, referencing one of the theories of forgetting.

When I worked for a company as a supervisor, I experienced the "tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon" when I forgot the name of an employee during a morning meeting. This temporary inability to recall the name can be attributed to a form of retrieval failure. Despite being confident that I knew the information, I struggled to retrieve it at that moment.

References:

Feldman, R. S. (2018). Understanding psychology. Dubuque: McGraw-Hill Education.

Weller, P. D., Anderson, M. C., Gomez-Ariza, C. J., & Bajo, M. T. (2013). On the status of cue independence as a criterion for memory inhibition. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 39, 1232-1245.

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