The encoding specificity principle states that
A) forgetting is due only to the passage of time.
B) forgetting is usually due to interference from competing memories.
C) retrieval failure is often due to a mismatch between the available retrieval cues and the memory code.
D) forgetting involves purposeful suppression of memories.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The encoding specificity principle suggests that if there is a mismatch between the retrieval cues (what triggers the memory retrieval) and the memory code (how the memory was originally stored), retrieval will fail. This can result in forgetting, as memories cannot be recalled without the appropriate cues. The principle is supported by research showing that memories are more easily retrieved when the context at encoding (i.e. where the memory was formed) is similar to the context at retrieval.

The Encoding Specificity Principle States That