Lamar has just gotten a new job and is attending a company party where he will meet his colleagues for the first time.His boss escorts him around to small groups to introduce him.At the first group,Lamar meets four people and is told only their first names.The same thing happens with a second group and a third group.At the fourth group,Lamar is told their names and that one of the women in the group is the company accountant.A little while later,Lamar realizes that he only remembers the names of the people in the first group,though he also remembers the profession of the last woman he met (the accountant).Lamar's experience demonstrates
A)The phonological similarity effect
B)A build-up and release of proactive interference
C)The cocktail party phenomenon
D)A partial-report procedure

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Lamar's experience demonstrates proactive interference, where earlier learned information (names from the first group) interferes with the recall of later information (names from subsequent groups). However, the distinctiveness of the accountant's profession helped release this interference, allowing him to remember her profession.

Lamar Has Just Gotten a New Job and Is Attending