Thinking about 'why' eliminates retrieval-induced forgetting: Levels of construal affect retrieval dynamics

摘要

The present study examined how levels of construal affect retrieval-induced forgetting. Higher-level construal is associated with the focus on the similarities among stimuli, suggesting that high-level construal promotes relational processing. Based on this fact, retrieval-induced forgetting may be reduced or eliminated under high-level construal condition because of the effect of relational processing. Two experiments were conducted using a retrieval-practice paradigm with different stimuli while priming the level of construal. A meta-analysis synthesizing the results showed that retrieval-induced forgetting occurred under the low-level construal condition, whereas forgetting did not occur under the high-level construal condition. These results suggest that abstract thinking can eliminate retrieval-induced forgetting because of relational processing, demonstrating the role of the levels of construal on memory inhibition.