Which type of interference occurs when previously learned information disrupts the absorption of new information?

• A. Proactive Interference
• B. Retroactive Interference
• C. Source Misattribution
• D. Memory Decay

Answer: (A)

Proactive interference happens when something you learned before gets in the way of learning something new. The old material is already in your memory and can make encoding or retrieving the new information harder, which matches the scenario in the question. For example, if you memorize a friend's old phone number first, it can make it tougher to memorize a new number you’re trying to learn now.

In contrast, retroactive interference would be the opposite—new information disrupting the recall of older information. Source misattribution involves remembering something but attributing it to the wrong source, not about interference between old and new material. Memory decay is the gradual fading of memories over time, not about one set of information blocking another.