AP Psychology Practice Test

What is the effect of proactive interference?

1. The disruptive effect of prior learning on the recall of new information

2. The enhancement of the recall of new information due to prior learning

3. The inability to remember information encountered in the past

4. The improved recall of old information due to new learning

The correct answer is: The disruptive effect of prior learning on the recall of new information

Proactive interference refers to the phenomena where previously learned information interferes with the ability to learn and recall new information. In this case, when an individual learns something new, the existing knowledge or skills can inhibit or disrupt the process of absorbing and recalling new information. This is particularly evident in situations where the new information bears similarities to the old information, causing confusion and difficulty in retrieving the new details. For example, if someone learns to play one sport and then tries to learn a different sport that requires similar skills, they may find that the first sport's techniques interfere with their ability to learn the new sport effectively. This demonstrates how prior learning can disrupt the recall of new information, which aligns perfectly with the definition of proactive interference.