Jacob learned French in high school and is now learning Spanish in university. He finds that sometimes when he intends to write a Spanish word he instead writes a French word. Jacob's problem is due to:
A) blocking
B) persistence
C) proactive interference
D) retroactive interference

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Proactive interference occurs when previously learned information interferes with the ability to remember new information. In this case, Jacob's knowledge of French is interfering with his ability to learn new Spanish vocabulary, leading to the incorrect use of French words instead of Spanish words.

Jacob Learned French in High School and Is Now Learning