Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Forgetting01:21

Forgetting

248
Forgetting is an intrinsic aspect of human memory, characterized by the gradual loss or inaccessibility of information over time. Hermann Ebbinghaus, a pioneering psychologist, extensively studied this phenomenon and formulated the forgetting curve. This curve illustrates that memory loss occurs rapidly immediately after learning and then decelerates over time. Several mechanisms contribute to forgetting, including encoding failure, storage decay, retrieval failure, and interference.
Encoding...
248
Interference and Decay01:16

Interference and Decay

325
Forgetting is a complex cognitive phenomenon influenced by several factors, among which interference and decay are particularly prominent. These processes explain why individuals often struggle to retrieve specific information from memory, leading to lapses in recall that can be observed in everyday situations.
Interference occurs when competing memories hinder the retrieval of particular information. It can be classified into two types: proactive and retroactive interference. Proactive...
325
Cognitive Development During Adulthood01:30

Cognitive Development During Adulthood

596
Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...
596
Revisionist Views of Adolescent and Adult Cognition01:24

Revisionist Views of Adolescent and Adult Cognition

197
A revisionist approach to Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development has brought new insights that challenge and reinterpret his established ideas. Piaget proposed that the formal operational stage, emerging in adolescence, represents the culmination of cognitive maturity. During this stage, individuals are said to develop abstract thinking, engage in systematic problem-solving, and show a form of egocentrism, believing others are as preoccupied with their behavior as they are...
197
Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory01:26

Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory

1.8K
Memory is one of the most vital higher mental functions of the brain. Memory is closely related to learning because it enables us to retain information and experiences from our past to use them in our present life. It also helps us to remember facts, events, and skills, such as riding a bike or swimming. There are two types of memory — declarative memory, which involves memorizing facts or events, and procedural memory, which enables us to remember how to do something like writing or...
1.8K
High-Level and Low-Level Awareness01:19

High-Level and Low-Level Awareness

527
Controlled processes in human consciousness represent high-alert mental states where individuals deliberately focus their attention on achieving specific goals. Controlled processes can be seen in situations like mastering new technology, where a person might become so absorbed that they ignore surrounding distractions. Such processes involve selective attention, requiring one to concentrate on particular elements of experience while disregarding others. These are governed by executive...
527

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Practical Memory Concerns in Oldest-Old Adults.

International journal of aging & human development·2026
Same author

"Am I Too Old to Pursue a Degree?" Ageism at Midlife in a Community College Setting.

The Journal of genetic psychology·2024
Same author

"You can't wash your hands in a house without running water": pandemic precautionary behaviors after Hurricane Laura.

Current psychology (New Brunswick, N.J.)·2023
Same author

Longitudinal assessment of mental health after a flood: roles of social support, hope, recovery stressors, and prior lifetime trauma.

Aging & mental health·2023
Same author

Risk Factors for Substance Use across the Lifespan.

The Journal of genetic psychology·2022
Same author

Impact of cardiovascular risk factors on the relationships of physical activity with mood and cognitive function in a diverse sample.

Neuropsychology, development, and cognition. Section B, Aging, neuropsychology and cognition·2022

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 2, 2025

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions
10:38

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions

Published on: July 16, 2015

13.9K

Perceptions of Forgetfulness in Adulthood.

Katie E Cherry1, Susan Brigman2, Allison M Burton-Chase3

  • 1Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.

The Journal of Genetic Psychology
|November 5, 2020
PubMed
Summary

People judge memory failures differently based on age, often assuming older adults have cognitive issues. Consequences of forgetting significantly influence these perceptions for all ages.

Keywords:
Memory in a social contextage-based double standardageismforgetfulnessmemory failure appraisals

More Related Videos

Highlighting and Reducing the Impact of Negative Aging Stereotypes During Older Adults' Cognitive Testing
06:58

Highlighting and Reducing the Impact of Negative Aging Stereotypes During Older Adults' Cognitive Testing

Published on: January 24, 2020

7.6K
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation tDCS for Memory Enhancement
10:37

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation tDCS for Memory Enhancement

Published on: September 18, 2021

15.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 2, 2025

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions
10:38

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions

Published on: July 16, 2015

13.9K
Highlighting and Reducing the Impact of Negative Aging Stereotypes During Older Adults' Cognitive Testing
06:58

Highlighting and Reducing the Impact of Negative Aging Stereotypes During Older Adults' Cognitive Testing

Published on: January 24, 2020

7.6K
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation tDCS for Memory Enhancement
10:37

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation tDCS for Memory Enhancement

Published on: September 18, 2021

15.2K

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Social Psychology

Background:

  • Age-based stereotypes influence perceptions of cognitive abilities.
  • Memory failures are common and can have varying consequences.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how age and the consequences of memory failures affect judgments of fictitious characters.
  • To examine attributions of memory failures and opinions on cognitive health across different age groups.

Main Methods:

  • Two experiments were conducted with younger and older participants.
  • Participants rated vignettes of younger and older characters experiencing memory failures with varying consequences.
  • Evaluations included attributions for forgetfulness and opinions on cognitive health.

Main Results:

  • An age-based double standard was observed, with older characters attributed forgetfulness more to ability and less to effort.
  • Forgetfulness in older characters was more likely seen as a sign of mental difficulty, requiring intervention.
  • The severity of consequences significantly impacted attributions and opinions for both younger and older characters.

Conclusions:

  • Ageist assumptions about cognitive frailty influence judgments of memory failures.
  • Perceptions of memory failures are shaped by both character age and the situational outcomes.
  • Interventions addressing ageism in cognitive assessments may be necessary.