Forgetting

Forgetting

Forgetting is inability to recall a learnt topic or inability recognize a seen object.

Definition

 “Forgetting means failure at any time to recall an experience when attempting to do so or to perform an action previously learned” – Drever

“forgetting is the failure of the individual to revive in consciousness an idea or group of ideas without the help of the original stimuli”- Bhatia 

Types of forgetting

Forgetting may be broadly classified into natural and morbid forgetting 

In natural or passive forgetting, forgetting occurs with the lapse of time in a quite normal way without any intention of forgetting on the part of the individual

In morbid or abnormal forgetting one deliberately tries to forget something.

Causes of forgetting

Meaninglessness of content : We forget meaningless and useless content as compared to meaningful and useful content, because meaningless content does not leave any imprint on the mind and it fails to establish any relationship with life.

Time Lapse: We forget with the passage of time. Memory weakens with the passage of time and forgetting strengthen.

Exercise : So long the knowledge or activity is not repeatedly exercised, it gradually forget. Forgetting occurs due to the absence of exercise, therefore more exercise is helpful in memory.  

Mental conflict or Mental illness : Situations like mental conflicts or illness people find himself  unable to retain a thing in memory for a long time.

Anxiety : Anxiety also cause in enhancing forgetting. An individual forgets many things or does them wrongly when he is anxious.

Learning methods : When the teacher does not use the method which are according to the physical, mental, emotional and social levels of the child, then the forgetting occurs more by the use of these methods.

Intoxicants: Excessive use of different type of intoxicants has ill effect on the mind and memory power weakens.