Forgetting | Memory | Definition | Characteristics of Forgetting | Causes of forgetting

 Forgetting                                                                

Forgetting is the process of fading of some impressions from the mind, or in simpler words, inability to remember is forgetting. It is not possible to remember everything that a person learns since his birth. So a person selects certain things to remember and forgets others in order of priority.

It can, therefore, be said that to remember, forgetting is necessary. The depth of impression of an object or idea depends on the learner’s understanding of the subject matter. If proper understanding of the learnt material occurs, it is retained in the mind for a longer period of time and can be recalled easily; but on the other hand, half-learned material and just a cramming of the subject matter results in forgetting.

Definition

"Sometimes forgetting unpleasant or painful experiences is helpful in remembering the useful and pleasant impressions."- Sigmund Freud

“True learning is judicious forgetting.”- Adams

“Forgetting is failing to retain or able to recall what has been acquired.” –Nunn

“ Forgetting means failure at anytime to recall an experience when attempting to do so, or to perform an action previously learned.”-  James Drever

Characteristics of Forgetting

The process of forgetting has the following characteristics:

Causes of forgetting

After a lot of research, different psychologists have pointed out different causes of forgetting.

Lack of Interest: One usually forgets about those objects or idea in which he has no interest. Sometimes one remembers something for a long time but eventually if he loses interest in it, he forgets it. Therefore a teacher should try to generate interest in the students while teaching in the classroom so that they remember the subject matter well.

Old Age: An old man forgets more easily than a younger one. This is mainly because of physical and nervous weakness. With age, body cells and organs degenerate and they affect the motor abilities as well as the mental processes like memory.

Brain Injury: Serious brain injury especially of the cerebrum area definitely affects the power to memorize. The cerebrum of the brain determines complex mental functions like thinking, learning, memorizing, imagination etc. If this part is injured them memorization becomes difficult.

Lapse of Time: Forgetting occurs with lapse of time. Impressions created in the mind as a result of learning fade away with the passage of time.

Lack of Practice: When the learnt material is not practiced frequently, then forgetting occurs. A well organized material is easily remembered and can be practiced frequently. A teacher should carefully organize the subject matter and encourage the students to practice so often that they can remember it well.

Emotional Condition: Uncontrolled emotions like fear, anxiety,, anger etc. lead to an individual’s forgetfulness. In situations where an individual is emotionally charged, i.e. if he is too angry or too afraid of something then he tends to forget a learnt material.

Retroactive Inhibition: If something is learnt soon after another, then the material previously learnt is forgotten. If no time gap is given between the learning of the two items then this retroactive inhibition results in.

Repression: Repression is the process of deliberately trying to forget unpleasant experiences and pushing them into the depth of the mind. However too much repression is not beneficial for the individual as these may find expression in undesirable manner.