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 a build-up and release of proactive interference. Proactive interference occurs when older memories interfere with the recall of new information. Lamar's ability to remember the first group of names but not the subsequent ones suggests a build-up of interference as he met more people. However, learning a distinctive piece of information about the last person (the accountant) allowed for a release from this interference, making it easier for him to remember that specific detail.

Lamar Has Just Gotten a New Job and Is Attending