Proactive interference is a cognitive phenomenon that occurs when previously learned information interferes with an individual’s ability to learn and recall new information. In essence, it’s the idea that old memories or knowledge inhibit the formation and retrieval of new memories or knowledge. This interference arises because past information disrupts the proper encoding and consolidation of new information in the memory system.
A classic example of proactive interference is trying to learn a new language. If you’ve previously learned a language that’s structurally similar to the new one you’re trying to acquire, your existing knowledge may interfere with your ability to remember and use new vocabulary and grammar rules effectively. This is because your brain naturally attempts to apply the familiar language’s rules and vocabulary to the new one, which can result in errors and confusion.
Another everyday scenario where proactive interference is noticeable is when recalling someone’s new phone number or address after you’ve had their old contact information memorized. The old information interferes with your ability to remember and use the new data.
Proactive interference becomes more apparent when there is a significant similarity between the previously learned material and the new material. The stronger the connection between the old and new information, the greater the potential for interference.
However, the effects of proactive interference can be mitigated. Strategies like deliberate spacing of study sessions and using techniques such as mnemonic devices and mental organization can help reduce the interference, allowing the encoding and retrieval of new information to be more successful.
I have had a particularly hard time with proactive interference when learning languages throughout my life. Being as my father is an Italian immigrant, I grew up learning Italian in the household. However, in preschool I was also taught Spanish because of how prevalent the language is in America. This conflict continued into middle and high school, as Spanish was one of the few languages offered and Italian was not. However, over time I learned to separate the two languages and gain more control.