On a TV game show, you are asked which way Lincoln's head faces on a penny. You are unable to answer correctly, and you lose a large prize. Your memory failure is most likely a result of
A)the serial position effect.
B)repression.
C)encoding failure.
D)priming.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Encoding failure occurs when the brain does not successfully store a memory, often because the information is deemed unimportant at the time of encoding. In this case, the direction Lincoln's head faces on a penny is a detail many people do not actively commit to memory, leading to an inability to recall it later.

On a TV Game Show, You Are Asked Which Way