The Motivational Dynamics of Retrieval-Induced Forgetting: A Test of Cognitive Energetics Theory

Gennaro Pica; Antonio Pierro; Jocelyn J. Bélanger; Arie W. Kruglanski

doi:10.1177/0146167213499237

The Motivational Dynamics of Retrieval-Induced Forgetting: A Test of Cognitive Energetics Theory

Gennaro Pica, Antonio Pierro, Jocelyn J. Bélanger, Arie W. Kruglanski

Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Two experiments addressed the phenomenon of retrieval-induced forgetting (RIF) from the standpoint of cognitive energetics theory (CET). Consistent with the inhibitory account of RIF and with the notion that inhibition can be demanding and resource dependent, we found that where the inhibitory activity was difficult (vs. easy), defining a high restraining force according to the CET, RIF occurred only in the presence of a high driving force combining an elevated motivation to inhibit with the availability of high resources. Overall, the current work highlights the crucial role of motivation in producing the RIF and the way in which this phenomenon abides by the general principles of motivated cognition.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1530-1541
Number of pages	12
Journal	Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
Volume	39
Issue number	11
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167213499237
State	Published - Nov 2013

Keywords

cognitive resources
inhibition
motivation
need for cognitive closure
retrieval-induced forgetting

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Social Psychology

Access to Document

10.1177/0146167213499237

Cite this

@article{93ea355dd19e4f65911030d1f07b59eb,

title = "The Motivational Dynamics of Retrieval-Induced Forgetting: A Test of Cognitive Energetics Theory",

abstract = "Two experiments addressed the phenomenon of retrieval-induced forgetting (RIF) from the standpoint of cognitive energetics theory (CET). Consistent with the inhibitory account of RIF and with the notion that inhibition can be demanding and resource dependent, we found that where the inhibitory activity was difficult (vs. easy), defining a high restraining force according to the CET, RIF occurred only in the presence of a high driving force combining an elevated motivation to inhibit with the availability of high resources. Overall, the current work highlights the crucial role of motivation in producing the RIF and the way in which this phenomenon abides by the general principles of motivated cognition.",

keywords = "cognitive resources, inhibition, motivation, need for cognitive closure, retrieval-induced forgetting",

author = "Gennaro Pica and Antonio Pierro and B{\'e}langer, {Jocelyn J.} and Kruglanski, {Arie W.}",

year = "2013",

month = nov,

doi = "10.1177/0146167213499237",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "39",

pages = "1530--1541",

journal = "Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin",

issn = "0146-1672",

publisher = "SAGE Publications Inc.",

number = "11",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Motivational Dynamics of Retrieval-Induced Forgetting

T2 - A Test of Cognitive Energetics Theory

AU - Pica, Gennaro

AU - Pierro, Antonio

AU - Bélanger, Jocelyn J.

AU - Kruglanski, Arie W.

PY - 2013/11

Y1 - 2013/11

N2 - Two experiments addressed the phenomenon of retrieval-induced forgetting (RIF) from the standpoint of cognitive energetics theory (CET). Consistent with the inhibitory account of RIF and with the notion that inhibition can be demanding and resource dependent, we found that where the inhibitory activity was difficult (vs. easy), defining a high restraining force according to the CET, RIF occurred only in the presence of a high driving force combining an elevated motivation to inhibit with the availability of high resources. Overall, the current work highlights the crucial role of motivation in producing the RIF and the way in which this phenomenon abides by the general principles of motivated cognition.

AB - Two experiments addressed the phenomenon of retrieval-induced forgetting (RIF) from the standpoint of cognitive energetics theory (CET). Consistent with the inhibitory account of RIF and with the notion that inhibition can be demanding and resource dependent, we found that where the inhibitory activity was difficult (vs. easy), defining a high restraining force according to the CET, RIF occurred only in the presence of a high driving force combining an elevated motivation to inhibit with the availability of high resources. Overall, the current work highlights the crucial role of motivation in producing the RIF and the way in which this phenomenon abides by the general principles of motivated cognition.

KW - cognitive resources

KW - inhibition

KW - motivation

KW - need for cognitive closure

KW - retrieval-induced forgetting

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84885669355&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84885669355&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1177/0146167213499237

DO - 10.1177/0146167213499237

M3 - Article

C2 - 23928398

AN - SCOPUS:84885669355

SN - 0146-1672

VL - 39

SP - 1530

EP - 1541

JO - Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin

JF - Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin

IS - 11

ER -

The Motivational Dynamics of Retrieval-Induced Forgetting: A Test of Cognitive Energetics Theory

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this