Question

People often report an annoying memory failure when they walk from one end of the house to the other for something and then forgetting what they went to retrieve when they reach their destination. As soon as they return to the first room, they are reminded of what they wanted in the first place. What does this common experience best illustrate the principle of?
a. the self-reference effect.
b. levels of processing theory.
c. encoding specificity.
d. maintenance rehearsal.

Answer 1

Encoding specificity is the common experience and the best illustrate.

Option C

Explanation:

This principle recognizes that the ability to recall can be made easier by matching the context or the occurrences when the memory was formed. Using the stored memory requires memory retrieval techniques that depend on encoding patterns.  

These patterns vary since the same retrieval techniques may not be used to recall similar information or occurrences. Encoding cues that are employed in the case of someone forgetting something in the room include recreating the scene by going back to where one started and maybe hold/touch the same item as before.